How to hire a beta reader for free and the process and trust involved.

[Felipe]

Hello everyone,

This is my first time on Goodreads, and my first book written.

Can anyone help me with the process of hiring a few beta readers for free and how to go about working with them and trusting them.

Do I need to provide a non-disclosure agreement?

Any other questions or answers to questions that I might get would be helpful.

Thank you

[Thomas]

Non-disclosure agreement: let's assume your book is top-notch artistry + pure gold, and that someone decides to steal it. They still have to find an agent / self-publish, do the marketing, book promotion, spend money on cover design, layout (different formats) probably hire an editor, reach reviewers, maintain Amazon / Apple / whatever page, have their own website so they can entice the potential readers to join their mailing list... I can go on forever.
Now let's assume they do all that with the NDA signed. What are you going to do, sue them? Good luck.
And now some harsh truth - if this is your first book - it may not be top-notch artistry + pure gold (I don't know that, of course, but it's a good guess). In which case, you need to work on it until it is. Getting beta readers is the first step in the right direction. The more the merrier.
If your starting-point is: 'Oh, my God, they're going to steal my sweat and tears and get rich off it...' maybe it's time to change hobbies. Anything that lets you sleep at night.
So much for my two cents.

[Felipe]

Thomas wrote: "Non-disclosure agreement: let's assume your book is top-notch artistry + pure gold, and that someone decides to steal it. They still have to find an agent / self-publish, do the marketing, book pro..."

Hi, Thomas
Thanks for your two cents. And sue? Yes, but then break their legs. My blood, sweat and tears come at a price. And I sleep very well knowing this.