Do you really need Beta Readers? What do they do? How do you find them? We’ll cover all that right here. Named after the second letter in the Greek alphabet, they are the second ones to see your ms. (If Beta Readers are second, then who is first? We’ll cover Alpha Readers farther down…) Using Beta Readers can save plenty of time and effort, but remember: they don’t replace a good Critique Group nor an editor. (Keep us in mind when you’re ready for that step.)
It’s always a good idea to have a second set of eyes look over your story. You don’t want to expend effort polishing a marble statue if the figure has three arms and two heads (unless it’s supposed to). Clean up the big things first, then work your way down to the details. Beta Readers consider your work as a whole. They don’t have the investment that you do, so they can give an honest assessment. Be aware that you might discover a lot of issues at this point, too many—it might be time to step back and consider whether this project is one worth doing.
You’ll want to know how they react to the story. Are there parts that interest them? Are there parts that bore them? What do they ask you after reading it? What have you left out because “it’s so obvious”, but they don’t know? Would they buy the book after it’s done? Would they urge their friends to buy it?
Beta Readers do their job because they love reading, but many authors also offer a copy of the book once released. If the author feels the input from some Beta Readers is particularly helpful, then an acknowledgement in the Front Matter of the book would be appropriate.
Beta Reader’s Job
Beta Readers are readers (preferably members of your intended audience), not writers, so although they can sense problems with your story’s overall structure, they may not have the vocabulary to describe the problem exactly. You’ll need to work carefully with them to understand what they are trying to tell you.
Acting as the first line of defense (or the initial attack), they let you know if your story is ready for the next step. Not at the level of a full critique or a Developmental Edit, their expertise lies in finding overarching problems with the story in general. They may not know it by name, but their focus is on a few key items:
- Believability—does it sound as if it could really happen,
or are the actions so farfetched that it doesn’t seem possible? - Characterization—do the characters feel real,
or are they cardboard cut-outs being pushed around the scene? - Continuity—are the characters consistent throughout,
or do they mysteriously change from beginning to end? - Flow—is the story revealed appropriately,
or does it jump around, not making sense? - Originality—is the story unique or at least distinctive,
or does it sound as if it’s a rehashed version of other stories? - Pacing—does the level of action vary from scene to scene,
or is it all the same, causing reader burnout? - Plot Holes—do the characters follow logic in solving problems,
or are there places where something seems missing? - Structure—does each scene flow from the previous one,
or are there confusing gaps in the action?
Don’t expect comments on grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Save that stuff for later…much later.
How to Find Beta Readers
Although there are many sites out there that will work to connect authors with Beta Readers, we feel the requirement for honest, yet feeling, feedback is often lost in the random world of readers. On the other hand, if you think you are ready for some honest, and often brutal, feedback, you might check out a few of these sites. (Many of these are forums, so whether you are familiar with that style or not, be certain to read all their rules before you jump in.)
- The Critters Workshop—good support for speculative fiction
- Beta Readers, Mentors, and Writing Buddies on Absolute Write—has some good resource pages
- The Beta Reader Group on Goodreads—of course there’s a group on Goodreads
- Critique Circle—recognised by Writer’s Digest multiple times
- Lit Reactor—plenty of things going on here
- The Forums on Nathan Bransford’s site—run by the author of How to Write a Novel
- My Writers Circle—rather basic but seems legit
- Writing.com—a lot of things to do
- CP Matchmaking—if you have a long term relationship in mind
Our recommendation is to find folks you already know and trust to be your Beta Readers.
Alpha Readers
Long before you get to Beta Readers, there are Alpha Readers, also named after a letter in the Greek alphabet, but this time the first letter, because they get to hear your story ideas first…before you’ve even written them down. These “readers” are the friends you have lunch with, just hanging out and talking about all your interesting and clever ideas.
Those ideas…floating around in your head…need to be managed, arranged, given structure…before they can be shaped into a full-blown story. Sharing those ideas with close friends firms them up, helping you work out the details…before you even know what the details are going to be.
Alpha Readers are the friends who take your ideas and respond with, “Wouldn’t it be neat if…” urging you to consider alternatives in your story. You may not use any of their ideas, but at least you have the inspiration you need to continue.
Your cheerleaders in the writing world, Alpha Readers are important for your emotional wellbeing. They champion your cause, encouraging you to keep writing…not pointing out problems with your story. (Leave that to the Editors!) They give you some well-deserved support as you figure out what your story is going to be.
Keep them close…to your heart as well as to your manuscript.