You’ve written a book. A whole book.  You’ve just written the magical words, “The End” and now you’re dreaming about the day you’ll hold this book in your hand. Sure, you’ll need to go through a couple of reads and minor wordsmithing, then you’re ready to publish, right?

Maybe. If you have successfully written a few dozen novels, you might be right. If you’re like the rest of us, you might benefit from working with a beta reader or five before deciding your book is finished.

What is a Beta Reader?

Beta readers, or betas,  are the first people who read your finished book as readers. They provide feedback on how they found your book before its published. This is important because you can still fix your story.

If you publish your book without beta readers, the first readers will find the issues. And they’ll let everyone else know what they found. Negative reviews can affect the online ranking of your title and make it harder for people to find your book. And it doesn’t feel good.

A bad review is like baking a cake with all the best ingredients and having someone sit on it. – Danielle Steel

Beta readers can tell you if your book is hard to read, or confusing, or had an unsatisfying ending. They can provide feedback on the characters they loved, hated, or worst of all, couldn’t give a fig about.

A really good beta reader can also tell you which scenes don’t work and why. If the feedback stings, try not to take it personally.

Remember that you asked for reader feedback to improve your book.

Who needs Beta Readers?

Every writer. Every one of us with the exception (maybe) of the magical writer I described above.

As a writer, I see the scene visually. I know what the world looks like, I know who is speaking, and I know what the clues mean. Because the story is alive in my mind, I often forget that a reader, new to my world and with little knowledge of what’s coming next, might need a little help to see my vision. A beta reader can point out where you’ve left out details critical for understanding what’s happening in a scene.

Even writers who outline their stories meticulously can create story inconsistencies and plot holes. Worse, after revising your book a number of times, you can become blind to the plot holes you’ve created by removing scenes and characters. A beta reader is critical for finding these if you don’t want a plot hole exposed in a reader’s public book review after you’ve published your story!

You’ve Convinced Me. How do I find a Beta Reader?

This is something that many writers struggle with, especially new writers. The good news is, anyone who enjoys reading can beta read. The bad news is, finding a good beta reader can be challenging.

“I’ll just ask my mom. She’s been dying to read it.”

Cool, cool, let her read your book. But realize that her gushing may have more to do with you being her child than your story. Same goes for the best friend who has been your biggest cheerleader, and your partner who has been listening to you agonize about your writing.

So where then do we look to find these magical readers?

• Online forums such as WritingForums or  AbsoluteWrite and writing groups either online like  CritiqueCircle  or in-person can be a good place to find betas, especially if you agree to reciprocate.  Word of warning, writers often read as writers and not as readers so you may want to find some non-writing betas too.
• Reach out through your socials and see if you have an acquaintance who’d like to give your book a read. Use your blog, Facebook, or Twitter to reach out. Psst, I’m in the market for beta readers.
• Utilize sites set up to match you with beta readers. Check out TCK Publishing’s free Beta Reader Connection service, Goodreads, and  Facebook’s Beta Group.
• Pay for betas on sites like CritiqueMatch, Fiverr, and Upwork.
• Other places such as Craigslist, library bulletin boards, book clubs, book fairs, blogs, and genre-dedicated websites.

Ultimately, your story is your story. As the writer, you’ll need to make (and live with) all decisions on setting, character, and plot. Beta reader feedback can provide insight to help you improve your book.

Have you ever used a beta reader? Have you ever been a beta reader? How did it go?

Header Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash