Now What? 5 Tips for Being a Good Beta Reader

You wrote a novel! Now what? NaNoWriMo’s “Now What?” Months are here—this January and February, we’ll be helping you guide your novel through the revision and publishing process. Today, Danielle Paige, author of Dorothy Must Die , shares her thoughts on finding good readers… and being one:

The scene: You’re at a party with a friend and she asks you to do a teeth check before going over to meet the potential love of her life, or maybe to take a once-in-a-lifetime selfie with Taylor Swift. You see a giant piece of spinach between her two front teeth. Do you:

a. tell her, or b. hope Photoshop will handle it. 

Clearly, the answer is to tell her. Reading a writer’s manuscript is the teeth-check moment but on a much bigger scale. You may very well be the writer’s last defense before sending his or her work out to agents and editors.

So before you pull out your red pen or start filling those multicolored note bubbles in Word, here are a few thoughts on being a good reader…

Be Honest. 

If you see something, say something. Whether you’re asked to do a line edit or offer general notes, tell the writer what you really think about the manuscript.

Be Kind. 

Respect the work. The writer has no doubt poured her heart and soul and at least a month’s worth of work into this manuscript so approach your critique with that in mind. I always start by telling the writer what I loved before I dive into what I think could be improved. And remember, it is the writer’s story, not yours, so don’t be offended if he or she doesn’t take all your notes.

Be specific. 

Character, plot, dialogue, conflict, world-building, description, pacing, action, dialogue… these are the things that I look at when I am critiquing a friend’s work. Be able to pinpoint what you think isn’t working and why.

Be Constructive. 

I make a list of questions along with my comments. Why is the character doing this? What is his/her motivation? You do not have to have a fix for the manuscript, but just by raising these questions, the writer might come upon a solution of his or her own. 

But if you do have a suggestion, make it. As a writer I am open to good suggestions wherever they come from.

Did I mention, Be Honest. 

This might be your writer friend’s big moment—do not let them go anywhere without telling them the truth.

Now, who do you ask to read? 

Not all of us are lucky enough to have Kami Garcia’s email address, so when you are looking for a reader, who do you go to?

I personally have three types of readers.

The Pro

This reader is someone whose work you respect—who knows structure and plot and dialogue and can see the thing that you can’t see anymore because you have gotten too close. 

It doesn’t have to be a professional writer. But it has to be someone who knows the ins and outs of storytelling.

The Fan

This reader is someone who reads a lot in your genre but may not be a student of writing. Still, they know when something feels off. And fans do not hold back on telling you the truth. 

Does your book have “the feels” and what I call “the thinks?” This reader will tell you whether or not the book tore at their heart strings and left them thinking about it hours and days and years after. They might not be able to tell you about hanging participles or close-third-person narratives, but knowing whether your book strikes a chord in the the “everyman or everywoman” reader is just as important for your work.

The Proofreader

I am the worst typist in the world. So before I send out a manuscript, I need someone to read for all the autocorrects and missing punctuation. Have someone who is an expert at dotting i’s and crossing t’s do a final read for you.

And to close, I just want to say good luck! If you are ready for a reader then you are almost at the finish line!

Danielle Paige is the New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die, its upcoming sequel The Wicked Will Rise, and the upcoming Stealing Snow series (Bloomsbury, 2016). In addition to writing young adult books, she works in the television industry, where she’s received a Writers Guild of America Award and was nominated for several Daytime Emmys. She is a graduate of Columbia University and currently lives in New York City. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Top photo by Flickr user hapticflapjack.