Beta readers can provide authors with amazing data points: will readers like my story? Will they understand what I’ve done? Many authors will hire them before a developmental edit to help clean up the draft before an editor gets it, after the developmental edit to see if the revisions are working, or before querying to make sure they aren’t sending something in rough shape to agents.
But not all beta readers are the same, and if you don’t have an idea of what you’re looking for, you may come away feeling that you didn’t get what you needed.
Here are 5 ways to get the most out of your beta read:
1) Complete the manuscript.
Make sure the story has a beginning, middle, and end, and that you’ve at least touched up the pieces you know are rough. This ensures your betas can focus on the pieces you need them to focus on, rather than getting distracted by unfinished threads and messy details. (See my previous post on preparing for a developmental edit for an idea of what “complete” looks like.)
2) Choose readers who read and love your genre.
Understanding if your book has a wider audience is helpful, but at this stage your question should be: “Will the people it’s intended for want to buy it and will they like it if they do?” If the answer is no, there’s work to be done. Readers who know the genre and reader expectations of that genre are going to be able to help you more than someone who says, “Yeah, I liked it,” but can’t explain why or how it fits the genre.
3) Set clear expectations.
Beta readers are usually people who are passionate about reading and are willing to help authors assess a draft. There’s no set standard around how they will deliver their feedback. Some may leave a few comments in the margins, others will write a report, some will just answer your specific questions. Be sure to ask how they typically deliver feedback (or communicate how you would prefer to receive feedback) and agree to a deadline. (Just remember that, unless you are paying your beta readers, you may have to be flexible on these things.)
4) State what you want and need.
Beta readers should be providing macro-level feedback from a reader’s perspective, but some will try to do more on the micro level. Remember that beta readers are not editors. Be clear about what you are looking for (and what you’re not).
5) Ask specific questions.
There are general questions that betas are likely to touch on naturally: where in the story they got lost, pieces they really loved, if the plot made sense, etc. But if you have specific worries, ask for specific feedback. Here are real examples of things my clients have asked when sending me their work for a beta read (adjusted/trimmed obviously to protect them and their work):
- Is there enough (or too much foreshadowing) of [plot twist]?
- Does my representation of [character] feel authentic?
- Do you like the opening pages?
- Is the dialogue unique enough between characters?
- Do I do enough with my MC’s thoughts and emotions?
- Is there enough tension?
- How is the pacing?
- I changed the POV from [this] to [that]. Do you think I made the right choice/is it effective?
- Is my MC too unlikeable?
