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What to Ask Your Beta Reader
A beta reader is going through a completed, polished manuscript much like a random reader would do. While they may be fellow writers, there’s no rule that says they must be. The main criteria for a beta reader is that they are widely read in the genre of your story, they know what they like and don’t like, can make a guess as to why they have either reaction—and aren’t afraid to tell you.
A fellow writer is going to give you plenty of opinions about metaphors, punctuation, cliches, and grammar, which is why they’re more likely to fit the bill as a critique partner than beta reader. A beta reader isn’t analyzing that stuff, at least not on purpose. She’s in there for the story. If the story keeps her attention, she won’t comment on those nitty-gritties, or even notice them.
In fact, a beta reader may get to the end, hand the manuscript back, and say, “Oh, that was great!” Of course we writers like to hear those words, but giving a beta reader a list of questions to answer will help her to give you more helpful feedback.
You don’t want to overload the reader with questions. Offer something like the following as a guideline, but tell her she doesn’t need to answer every one.
The basic purpose of all the questions is to find out what interfered with her ability to sink completely into the story for the duration.
Questions about the characters:
- Any confusion on keeping characters straight?
- Did you like the ones you were supposed to like?
- What characteristics endeared them to you?
- What did you dislike about them?
- Did you dislike the ones you were supposed to dislike?
- Did the dialogue seem natural or was it stilted?
- Did any of them feel cliched?
- Were their actions and thoughts understandable?
Questions about the setting and backdrop:
- Could you clearly see the story settings?
- Which sections needed better, more detailed description?
- Which sections were bogged down with too much description?
Questions about the pacing:
- Where did things move too slowly?
- Where did events feel too rushed?
- Were there events that should have been given their own scenes but weren’t?
Questions about the reading experience:
- Was the opening compelling?
- What page/chapter were you on when you took your first break?
- Did your mind ever wander?
- What made you laugh or cry?
- Were there parts that seemed awkward?
- Is there anything you are still wondering about?
Questions about the plot:
- Was the progression of events believable?
- Where there events that seem like a digression rather than adding to the story?
- Were there holes in the story?
- Did anything happen that seemed unbelievable?
- Did you see the ending coming?
- Was the ending satisfying?
Tweetables
- Questions for beta readers about characters, pacing, setting, plot, & more. click to tweet
- But what does a beta reader DO? Here’s a list of questions to ask her.click to tweet
Questions such as these help the beta reader understand what, in fact, she liked about the story. They may also jog her mind about minor glitches she almost noticed while reading. By that I mean, she may say she loved the story, but when she reads the question about whether some parts felt rushed, she may remember that one scene she didn’t quite get.
As a writer, the answers to questions such as these are very valuable to you. Treat them with respect, as the opinion of one reader who likely represents a substantial percentage of all your future readers. You have a golden opportunity to adjust the story based on your beta readers’ input before you send it to an agent, editor, or Kindle Direct Publishing.
What kinds of questions do you ask your beta readers? Is there anything that should be on this list but isn’t?
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH BETA READERS
A beta reader is one of the most important people you can have on deck during the revision and editing process. Beta readers are essential to the writing process for many authors, and yet not everyone knows what they are and what they do. If you’re curious about beta readers and want to learn more about working with them, keep reading.
WHAT IS A BETA READER?
A beta reader is a person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript before publishing.
WHY DO YOU NEED A BETA READER?
You’ve self-edited your manuscript. You’ve inspected it for typos, grammatical errors, and structural integrity. Your manuscript looks perfect. No, scratch that. It is perfect. Is it really necessary to hand over a perfect manuscript to a beta reader who’s only going to rip it apart?
Here’s the thing: While your work may be perfect technically, it may not offer a compelling story or a riveting read. Your manuscript may suffer from plot-hole-itis or another common ailment known as changing-point-of-view-osis.
Beta readers help you see your story from another set of eyeballs.
Let’s face it: You don’t have the necessary emotional distance to read your own work objectively. For the same reason that you need an editor, you also need a beta reader to give you unbiased feedback on your manuscript.
Here’s a list of questions to ask your beta readers.
HOW MANY BETA READERS DO YOU NEED?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer here. You may have five or six beta readers, or you may have several dozen.
Why so many?
Human nature predicts that some of the beta readers who commit to reading your manuscript won’t actually complete it. To ensure that you don’t waste time with non-starters or non-completers, you need a variety of beta readers.
Another reason to go for more than one beta reader? A more accurate sampling of your ideal audience. If you’re only relying on the feedback of one reader, it’ll be difficult to decide what’s personal opinion and what’s general consensus. However, if you have 11 different readers, and nine of them return with the same feedback, you minimize the guesswork.
Speaking of numbers, some writers prefer to have an odd number of readers. Theoretically, it’s possible to have 10 beta readers with five saying, “Do this,” and the other five saying, “Do that.” To avoid a tie from happening, choose an odd number. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’ll end up with an odd number (because, human nature), but at least you tried.
DO BETA READERS REPLACE EDITORS?
Ideally, you’ll submit your manuscript to beta readers after self-editing but before sending it off to a professional editor. Here’s a 9-step path you may take:
1. Write the first draft of your book
2. Revise the story (i.e. your second draft)
3. Edit your completed story for mechanical errors (typos, grammar, etc.)
4. Share your manuscript with beta readers
5. Incorporate feedback and make edits that you agree with
6. Submit your manuscript to a professional editor for a developmental edit
7. Submit your revised manuscript for a comprehensive edit
8. Complete the manuscript
9. Self-publish or secure an agent for traditional publishing
2. Revise the story (i.e. your second draft)
3. Edit your completed story for mechanical errors (typos, grammar, etc.)
4. Share your manuscript with beta readers
5. Incorporate feedback and make edits that you agree with
6. Submit your manuscript to a professional editor for a developmental edit
7. Submit your revised manuscript for a comprehensive edit
8. Complete the manuscript
9. Self-publish or secure an agent for traditional publishing
It’s important to note that not all authors take this same path. Some authors work with beta readers earlier in the process. For example, you may work with a beta reader during step 2 while still writing your second draft. In this example, you’d share your book chapter by chapter, or section by section, with the beta readers. This allows for real-time feedback. You won’t have to wait to make necessary corrections.
The drawback of this method is that your beta readers won’t have the luxury of seeing the whole story before providing feedback, so their feedback may be resolved and therefore unnecessary.
Although beta readers are part of the editing stage, they don’t replace professional editors. Professional editors are paid to comb through your entire manuscript and check for discrepancies, pacing, plot holes, and more.
Most professional editors (like the ones you’ll work with here at NY Book Editors) have years of editing experience. Some of our editors have also worked as literary agents, too. When working with a professional editor, you’ll have access to an industry professional who has an eye for detail and knows exactly what to look for in a manuscript.
HOW TO FIND BETA READERS
Let’s start out by saying that beta readers are most likely not your friends and family. Your loved ones love you. Unfortunately, that’s a disqualifier.
So, where do the perfect beta readers hang out?
FIND THEM IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Are you a part of a writing community? If so, you have a candy store full of beta readers to choose from. Most writers, especially those within a supportive community, are willing beta readers– but remember that not all beta readers are writers. Here’s a list of 11 top writing communities you should join and why.
LET THEM COME TO YOU
Do you have a website? Do you receive traffic on your website? If you don’t have a website, what about a social media presence? Do you have fans/ followers on your social media pages?
If you’ve already built a fan base, you can invite them to become beta readers of your work in progress.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BETA READER
Here are the most important qualities for any beta reader:
FAMILIARITY WITH YOUR GENRE
Ideally, your beta reader should be well-read and familiar with the genre of your manuscript. You don’t want to court a beta reader who enjoys romance for your sci-fi novel. It’s not the end of the world, but probably won’t give you the most insight with your target audience.
THE ABILITY TO BE HONEST
This is the reason you can’t go with friends and family. Try as they may, they can’t be completely honest with you about your work for fear of hurting your feelings and damaging your relationship. You need readers who don’t have a reason to hold back and are willing to be brutally honest. When reaching out to potential readers, make this one of the first questions that you ask: Are you able to be brutally honest?
Tweet ThisDO YOU PAY BETA READERS?
Most beta readers are not paid for their services. However, you should send your beta readers a free copy of your finished book, whether in the form of a hardcover or an eBook. It’s also a nice gesture to autograph the copy. If you want to proclaim your never-ending gratitude, you can also list their names (not necessarily the role that they played) in the “Acknowledgement” section of your book.
WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT WORK WITH BETA READERS?
Beta readers almost always provide a benefit to authors. However, if you’re writing certain genres, a beta reader may be limited in their helpfulness. For example, if you’re writing a sci-fi novel that deals with quantum physics, you may need help from a subject matter expert, not your average beta reader.
Or, if you’re writing a nonfiction book, it may be better to opt for a fact-checker instead of a beta reader. Because of the sensitive and laborious work involved, fact-checkers are usually professional editors who are paid for their efforts.
Another reason to forego beta readers is if you’re in a time crunch and want to get your book published as soon as possible. In this case, consider only working with a professional editor who can provide both developmental and comprehensive edit within an agreed upon time frame.
HOW TO WORK WITH BETA READERS
Let’s go over the best practices of working with beta readers.
DEVELOP A TOUGH SKIN
You’re going to need tough skin as a writer anyway. But if you haven’t yet, now’s the time to adopt a steely mindset. You’re not looking for ego boosters, but people who can help you shape up your manuscript.
That said, it’s not easy to let someone dismantle your work right in front of you. Just remember that they’re critiquing your work and not your self-worth (and they’re not always right). Also, remember that sharing your art with others requires bravery.
ASK QUESTIONS
Not sure if something’s working? Are you on the fence about a character or a plot element? Ask your beta readers what they think. It’s almost like crowdsourcing your novel. Instead of waiting for the reviews to figure out what your readers reallythink, you can ask them during the beta process. These are real readers, and you’ve given them permission to share their real thoughts with you.
Remember to be as specific as possible with these questions. Don’t say “whatever you can offer is fine”. Instead, include a questionnaire with your manuscript that defines what you most help with (for example, What did you think about the character reveal in chapter 4? Did you get a sense of the world, or should I include more of the setting into the story?). Specific answers are much more valuable for you. Beta readers will also appreciate the guidance.
DON’T IMPLEMENT THE FEEDBACK RIGHT AWAY
You’ve waited weeks for the feedback from these beta readers. You’re ready to get cracking– but don’t. At least, not yet. Read the feedback and let it wash over you. Think about how this feedback impacts your story and the characters within it. After a few days of thinking about it, you may decide to incorporate it or scrap it altogether.
OFFER DIFFERENT WAYS TO READ YOUR MANUSCRIPT
While many (if not most) beta readers will prefer an ebook version of your manuscript, some beta readers actually want it printed on copy paper. Be flexible. Keep in mind that your beta readers are providing you with an invaluable service (and you’re not paying them for it).
GIVE THEM A DEADLINE
Give your beta readers a specific deadline for finishing your book. Be realistic. A good time to set for beta readers is one month.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Check out these related posts:
- How to Make the Most of Working With a Professional Editor
- DIY Your Edit: 10 Tips to Shape up Your Manuscript
- What’s the Difference Between Copyediting and Proofreading
Don’t forget to download your free list of questions to ask your beta readers!
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Writing Feedback: The Ultimate Guide to Working with Beta Readers
Is there a better feeling in the world than writing “The End” in your manuscript? It’s a moment to be celebrated: you’ve done it. You’ve written and completed an entire book. Not everyone can say they have.
But you’re not finished. No, not even after you wrap up your self-edits.
It’s time to pass your manuscript off to beta readers — volunteers who provide feedback on your book. If you’re thinking about skipping this stage and just hitting “Publish,” you might want to reconsider.
Why beta readers?
Software companies release beta, or test, versions of their programs to work out kinks and bugs before releasing to the general public. Businesses offer beta versions of their courses so they can tweak the content to ensure it serves the needs of their students.
Authors need beta readers to understand how people read their book and, like software companies and businesses, to identify confusing or irrelevant spots. Every author has weaknesses. You do too — but you’re blind to them.
Beta readers won’t be. And soliciting feedback from beta readers is your chance to address the weak spots of your manuscript before you publish and share it with the world.
Who you want as a beta reader?
As easy as it is to get them to help, best friends, significant others and family members are the worst beta readers. They know and love you, so they’re predisposed to loving whatever you write — no matter how good it is. While you might enjoy their glowing comments on your work, it won’t be the feedback you need to improve your manuscript.
Here’s who you want to enlist:
- An acquaintance or a friend of a friend. People close to you can muddle through confusing sections or sentences to guess what you meant. That won’t give you useful feedback. Pick someone who doesn’t know you well enough to figure out your meaning.
- A member of your target audience. If your book doesn’t resonate with your readers, you’re not going to sell copies.
- Someone who’s not afraid to be honest. You need positive and constructive feedback.
- Someone who’s reliable. This seems obvious, but people can overcommit. Be conscientious of your betas’ time and priorities.
You need more than one beta reader. There’s no set number, but three to five is a good start. If you’re bootstrapping your book, find even more betas: good beta readers can mean forgoing the cost of a developmental editor.
After you have an idea of who you want, it’s time to find them. Look at your network. Reach out to people already in your community who fit the criteria. Consider posting in writing groups or on your social media channels. Don’t be afraid to ask. Many people will be honored you want their help.
How do you prepare your manuscript for betas?
Even though betas help you edit, that doesn’t mean you can skip the self-editing step. Your betas can only raise the quality of your manuscript, not perfect it. That means you need to hit all types of editing (developmental, copy and proofreading) before handing it off to them.
As you edit, create a “needs-to-be-fixed” list. It might be something like “add character” or “move section to a different chapter” or “add description to opening scene.” Ask your betas to pay close attention to these items because they’ll be able to determine whether you’re on the right track — or not.
When you get ready to hand your manuscript over, ask your betas which format they prefer. Microsoft Word lends itself best to receiving feedback because it’s easy to add and delete comments, and most people have access to the program. Even if you prefer not to write in Word, converting to .doc from Scrivener or Google docs is simple. Some readers may prefer a hard copy, especially if your manuscript is long. Make it easy for them — they are donating their time to help you.
If you send Word documents, create and save a document for each person. Give it a specific name, like ManucriptNameBetaReader’sName.doc. You can merge these documentsinto one, but when you start incorporating edits and throwing everything together, it’s easy to accidentally delete a comment you need. If you preserve the originals with comments individually as well, you’ll be able to recover any lost feedback.
What do you want from your betas?
Feedback, yes. But don’t be vague: give your betas clear instructions about what feedback you need.
Remember that “needs-to-be-fixed” list you created during self-edits? Use that to guide what you need from your betas. Here’s a basic formula for instructions:
- Have betas comment with their thoughts as they read, even if it’s to say, “Ooh, I like this” or to make predictions about what will happen next. This shows you how people read your book.
- Specify what kind of feedback you’re looking for. My betas looked for:
- Areas they felt were missing something or weren’t developed enough
- Sections or scenes superfluous to the story
- Any part of the story, dialogue, or narrative they didn’t understand or found confusing
- The flow and pace of the chapters
- Ask them to focus on certain aspects of your book. My manuscript had weak worldbuilding, so I had them pay close attention to it.
- Tell them to supply “whys,” not “shoulds.” “I’m confused here because…” or “I don’t like this because…” will be more helpful than “You should do…” statements.
- Set a due date. But build in cushion — if you want it back in three weeks, tell them you need it in two.
How do you deal with feedback (without freaking out)?
It’s both exhilarating and terrifying to share something you’ve poured effort into. What if they hate it? The trick to dealing with feedback without freaking out is your mindset. Here’s what you need to remember:
- Your goal is to make your book better, and you can’t do that without constructive criticism.
- Your betas are nice people who want to help you write a better book, not tear you down.
- Having something to fix doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer or that your book isn’t worth publishing.
- You don’t have to accept every piece of advice you get.
- You can do it.
Dealing with beta feedback is where many writers give up. Don’t be one of them. Sorting through feedback — especially if it’s conflicting advice — gets overwhelming quickly. I had more than 500 beta comments on my novel. Cue the panic!
When you feel that panic and overwhelm — and you will — stop and take a deep breath. Remember: this isn’t about you; it’s about your book. They’re not the same. Pull your ego out of the equation and focus on writing the best book possible.
[bctt tweet=””Pull your ego out of the equation and focus on writing the best book possible.” says @amshofner at @thewritelife”]
And if that means deleting 7,000 words from the end of your book and rewriting it, gird your fingers and hit the delete key. That’s what happened to me, and look: I survived.
How do you implement beta feedback?
Once you’ve beat the inevitable freakout, you have to evaluate each piece of feedback to decide what to revise. Think critically about what your betas said and how it fits into what your book, characters or plot needs to accomplish.
If your book is about how you started your business, for example, and your beta says, “I want to know about your childhood,” but your childhood has nothing to do with the beginning of your business, you can ignore the comment. Yes, ignore. As the author, you have the power to accept or reject feedback.
Because I asked my betas to comment as they read, I created a new Word document with all 531 comments. New documents are important: If you decide your original wording is better, you want to be able to revert back. Tracking changes and creating new files makes this easy.
But before I changed anything in my manuscript, I went through each comment and made one decision: keep or delete.
Comment #1: “I like the disjointedness of the beginning.” Delete.
Comment #5: “You’ve used ‘eyes’ three times in two sentences.” Keep.
Comment #7: “The others didn’t notice the door?” Comment #8: “She’s been there how long, and she’s just now going through the door?” Keep. Keep.
Comment #13: “At what point does frostbite become an issue?” Though this is a good question, only one beta pointed it out, and she’s never experienced cold weather. Delete.
Once I’d gone through the entire document and deleted comments, the remaining ones became my new “needs-to-be-fixed” list. These items can range from tasks like copyediting (comment #5) to adding information (comments #7 and #8) to rewriting entire chapters (the last 7,000 words).
Don’t take feedback at face value — dig deeper. Notice how two comments expressed disbelief at the door. That’s a red flag. But it’s not just about answering their questions — it’s about understanding the missing story elements.
From their comments, I knew I had to flesh out the setting (why the door is hard to notice) and how the setting affects my characters (why one girl would wait to go through the door and why the others didn’t notice it). Confusion means you’re missing something, and it’s up to you to figure out what it is and how to fix it.
When you implement feedback, get in touch with your author gut. Your instincts will tell you what needs to be fixed and what’s fine as is. Listen to it. Not sure what a beta meant by a particular comment? Don’t be afraid to follow up with them to ask for clarification.
Finally, remember to thank your beta readers. They volunteered their time and effort to help you produce a better, stronger manuscript, so make sure to show your appreciation. If your betas are writers as well, you could even offer to be a beta for their future writing projects.
Once you’ve incorporated your beta feedback, you’re one step closer to hitting “Publish.” Congratulations — and best of luck with the final stages of the process!
Have you worked with beta readers — or been one?
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48 comments
- Thanks for this Amanda. I’ve been sharing chunks of my WIP with my critique group and that’s been helpful but I’ve had to disregard many of the comments because the readers aren’t seeing the entire story in one go. I often ask for specific feedback prior to sending the chapter or scene around and really like your suggestion about having the reader comment as they read, particularly about what will happen next. This guide goes into Evernote to be used later this year.
- Glad it was helpful, Keith! I agree that having people read in chunks can be frustrating. I send 500 to 1,000 word chunks to my alpha reader, and know that sometimes important set-up information gets lost. But recognizing that’s the reason behind their comments will be super helpful when it comes time to implement their suggestions. Good luck! 🙂
Sharon
I was a beta reader for a friend. I found several typos and wrote a critique of the manuscript when I was done reading.- I have the benefit of finding 5-7 people from my target audience who know me but not well each time I need a beta readers. I give them large chunks of my novel to read over the course of a week, then we all meet together on Friday nights to discuss.I totally agree with having multiple beta readers for your novel. I can’t count the number of times someone has said something and I’ve been able to ask, “Well, what did you think?” Sometimes I get an overwhelming, “Yes! That’s exactly what I was thinking!” (Okay, I need to change things.) But sometimes I get comments that garner the response, “Nope. That’s not how I viewed that at all. The way I saw it was…” and I can move on from there.A general consensus is always a great indicator that something’s not right (or something is right).
- April, I love the idea of getting together after. It’d be a great addition to soliciting comments, since you could get more in-depth and let everyone hash it out.
- Crazy helpful post! I struggle with showing/ sharing my works-in-progress. I am sure that it has something to do with wanting to be a perfectionist. This post has reminded me that letting others read my work will ultimately improve them!
- I totally understand, Angela! Sometimes I find that going into the editing process (both self-editing and betas) with a clear idea of my weak spots makes it easier to share. Betas shouldn’t expect your manuscript to be perfect anyway, so rather than toiling away trying to “perfect” my manuscript, I ask them for help.Good luck sharing — it’s not as scary as it seems! 🙂
Alice Grimes
This is a great article, Amanda. I have shared it to Facebook and will try to share to our writers’ guild FB page. I do some editing and see a lot of things that get missed because the writer cannot be objective or “stand outside” his/her work. The writer knows what was intended or meant and “sees it” that way.Keep up the good work.- Thanks for sharing the post, Alice — I’m glad you enjoyed it!Heather
TWL Assistant Editor
Debbie Oxier
I only have one person I know who reads the same genre as I read. Where do I go to find writers’ groups or beta readers? Help! Thank you for your article!- Where do I go to find writers’ groups or beta readers? I only have one person I know who reads the same genre I do. Help! Thank you for the article!
- Thanks for your comment, Debbie! Here are some places to look for writing groups and partners: http://thewritelife.com/join-writing-group/Good luck!Heather
TWL Assistant Editor
- Good article, Amanda. Plenty of my clients enlist beta readers (although I suspect many are what you classify as the ‘worst’ beta readers – friends and family). The other problem is that they also enlist the help of these beta readers to proofread their manuscript. I work with many new writers and one of the most common things I hear is, “It’s already been proofread; it just needs one final going over…” When I read the manuscript and send the client a sample edit, they are usually astounded how much work the manuscript actually needs. A good proofreader/editor can also fulfil the role of a beta reader. Whilst we do not necessarily fulfil the role of a manuscript assessor and are certainly not literary agents, we provide critical feedback and suggestions as well as obviously ensuring the grammar, spelling and so forth is up to scratch. I have also written about this in my July blog article, “It just needs a final proofread…”
- I’ve been there before with clients, so I completely understand, Sally. I’ve said before that people often have an inflated view of their own writing and think no mistakes = quality writing. And that could be a post in itself.
- I’ve used http://www.critters.org/(for science fiction/fantasy/horror; http://critique.org/ is the parent site). It is a large group of authors who critique each other. The neat thing is, the site explains how to write a polite and useful comment, especially when it is negative. This really cuts down on the anguish and let me get on with improving my story.
- Very cool, Kate! Bookmarking those sites so I can send people who are looking for feedback there. I especially love their guide on how to phrase a critical comment. 🙂
- I wish I’d seen this prior to commencing my novel’s beta review! Great, concise advice and I agree with all of it.A few things I found:1. Find “Someone who’s reliable. This seems obvious, but people can overcommit. Be conscientious of your betas’ time and priorities.” Wow, so true. Three of my five beta readers never finished. They overcommitted by a long shot and eventually, we chatted and it didn’t seem they were going to finish prior to me moving on to my next round of revision. Frustrating. So, really find a way to ask, clearly, “can you make time for this? meet this deadline?” These people are doing us a favor, but there has to be some clear expectation about what you need and when you need it. It’s a tough bit of communication when you’re asking someone to read and critique hundreds of pages, but it’s crucial.2. The format. I sent out 4 manuscripts in hard copy. With printing, binding and shipping (return mail included), it cost a few hundred dollars. Bam – that was a surprise. Especially as several people never finished or returned the manuscript. Consider the cost of printing and shipping if you’re going to send hard copies. Sure, it’s probably a small cost in the long run, but it’s never fun when it’s a surprise.3. Be clear about what you want, but don’t ask for too, too much. My readers didn’t really answer any of my more meta questions. They focused on the big picture – which did end up helping a lot. But i probably should have either a) asked for a bit less or b) followed up with a phone call to clarify what I needed prior to them diving in.All of this is a great learning experience, and it’s a fun milestone to hit. After all, a beta review period means you have a finished novel to review (yay). So, take a moment to celebrate that, even if only briefly. The revision process can be long and daunting, so remember to go easy on yourself – you’ve accomplished something a lot of other writers never will.Thanks for the great post!
- I was wondering, how do ya’ll collect the comments. Word review comments, hard copy? I have some that like hard copy, some that want to meet one on one and some who like kindle. Any ideas?
- The author I beta read for sends his manuscript in Word format and I can use the edit function to “edit” typos, grammatical errors and enter comments for him in appropriate places and return the “edited copy” to him. He can then accept or reject the suggested changes once he reviews the copy and can evaluate the comments and decide what he wants to do about those.He writes very good books and is confident in his ability and I am somewhat of a “perfectionist”; we have a comfortable relationship where neither takes offense or is “shaken” when we don’t agree. We have become very good friends over the past couple of years but I don’t hesitate to give him an honest assessment and he doesn’t feel obligated to make every change I suggest. I think I can truthfully say we have mutual respect and trust for each other.
- Thanks for the very helpful article, Amanda. I found it after I had sent out beta reader copies, having read another article on this topic and had my editor suggest a beta read at this stage. Your article includes all the important points, especially finding readers who are not the people closest to you. I posted an announcement on Facebook and had writers I knew only a little volunteer. I know not all will finish, but one followup question I’ll have for those readers is to ask where they stopped and if they can honestly tell me why. Often a reader will hit a slow area and quit reading because there’s a problem but they don’t know how to articulate it until you gently ask. No one writes alone! I’m so grateful to all my readers.
- Great point about points that make a reader stop reading, Rachel — knowing where and why they hit a wall is so helpful as a writer. Best of luck with your edit!Heather
TWL Assistant Editor
- I’ve been developing a company that does beta reading for authors. Right now we have 750+ test readers from all across the US. Each author gets eight to ten targeted readers to read and critique their whole manuscript. The results are a 35+ page report full of feedback, both quantitative and qualitative. The author can also add personalized questions to the survey, and I go over everything in a 30 minute SKYPE/phone call. We just soft launched, so are offering a $200 coupon code – HIVE – off the normal $499/per test market price. If you want more info – check us out – http://www.book-hive.com
K.Kiani
Meghan GreeneSpeak Your Mind
http://www.laurakayellis.com/2016/03/the-beta-reader-experience.html