Where should beta reading fall in the editing process?

[Alyson]

I always did think that beta reading was very early...

[M.]

I guess it depends on how you define it.

In my case, I see beta reading as happening just before copy-edits.

[BR]

I solicit beta reads after I've polished the second draft. At that point, I think I have a decent book. Then the beta readers tell me all the things I can do to improve it, and we go through a second round. Hopefully, by the time it gets to an editor it will be readable.

[Lauryn]

B.R. wrote: "I solicit beta reads after I've polished the second draft. At that point, I think I have a decent book. Then the beta readers tell me all the things I can do to improve it, and we go through a seco..."

I do about the same. I'll go through my novel two or three times, then I send it off to betas for big picture editing. Then I make changes and after do lines edits then copy edits with a professional editor.

[Donnielle]

B.R. wrote: "I solicit beta reads after I've polished the second draft. At that point, I think I have a decent book. Then the beta readers tell me all the things I can do to improve it, and we go through a seco..."

I do the same. I run through it once or twice and then send it to my beta's - two who does big picture and one who line edits. Then I'll run through it on or two more times by myself. Then it's off to my copy editor. She runs through it two times with me re-reading between.

[Liz]

Donnielle wrote: "B.R. wrote: "I solicit beta reads after I've polished the second draft. At that point, I think I have a decent book. Then the beta readers tell me all the things I can do to improve it, and we go t..."

I've always worried I sent my stuff to betas too early, as if they are supposed to be waaaay later in the revisions process, so it's good to see other people do the same!