BY JESSICA SHEN
How to Choose Good Beta Readers.
First, what exactly is a beta reader? A beta reader is typically a non-professional reader who assists you in polishing your manuscript before you submit it for publication. You could consider them your first line of defense. They will typically look for spelling and grammatical errors, plot holes, etc. Think, editor-lite.
A good beta reader can be an invaluable resource; they can help you catch glaring errors before you pass them on to a potential publisher, errors that could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s discuss some qualities you should look for in a good beta reader. In no particular order:
- They should be someone in your target audience. Failing that, they should at least be familiar enough with the target audience enough to know what they like.
- In a similar vein, they should be someone who reads the genre you’re writing.
- They are not afraid to give their opinion. A beta reader exists to help you polish your manuscript—what help are they if all they will tell you is how great your story is, without giving any meaningful critique? And yes, every first draft will have SOMETHING wrong with it.
- They are writers. Writers understand writers, and will usually have some experience with you’re going through.
- Conversely, they are regular readers/non-writers! They just plain enjoy a good story for what it is, without necessarily worrying about voice or theme or symbolism.
- They’ve never read your manuscript before. The point of having a beta reader is to give you crucial outside perspective—if they’re already familiar with your work, some part of that outside perspective is already lost.
- They have some familiarity with the publishing industry. This will most likely be the most difficult quality to find, but can be very important. Someone who has worked in publishing before can give you an idea of what publishers are looking for, and what they’re not interested in.
If your story relies on some specialized experience—for example, a foreign language, a foreign location, deals with any kind of science, etc.—it can be very helpful to have a reader who is familiar with any of these things, and can give you guidance as to whether or not your usage is realistic.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you an idea of the type of person that you want to look for. There is obviously some conflicting advice in the list above, but ideally, you will have more than one beta reader. The more people you have looking at your manuscript, the better—but be discerning about your choices. Two to four solid beta readers with different combinations of the above qualities will do you a world of good.
Now, let’s talk about who NOT to ask to be a beta reader. You may have the immediate inclination to ask your friends, relatives, or coworkers—and they won’t necessarily be bad choices. However, one of the most important aspects of the beta reader is their ability to give you an honest critique—without worrying about damaging their personal relationship with you. To that end, first look outside of your inner circle.
If you are really unable to find someone, only then should you turn to people who are close to you, and make sure they are someone who not only has the ability to give you that honest critique, but who you can accept an honest critique from.
If you have decided to look outside of your immediate personal network—good for you! But where should you start? Check in with any local writers groups, or perhaps attendees from a writing class or seminar you’ve attended. You can also find readers on Facebook or Twitter (or even LinkedIn) by checking out fan groups for authors who write in the same genre as you. And, of course, writers’ forums can be a great resource. It also helps if you offer to be a beta reader in return!
So now, let’s fast forward. You’ve chosen your fabulous beta readers, they’ve provided you with invaluable critiques, and consequently, your manuscript has been accepted for publication! Woo! But wait—let’s take a quick breather, first.
Your beta readers have served their purpose—they’ve helped you get your foot in the door. But your manuscript is by no means completed. You may have written and rewritten your story many times before submitting it, but this is the first time that your publisher/editor has read it before—which effectively makes it your first draft. You’ve jumped the first hurdle, your beta readers giving you that extra boost along the way. Now, it’s time to pass the torch to your editors, who will really help make your story shine.
Jessica Shen lives, works, and edits from her home in northern California. Kingdom City: Resurrection by Ben Ireland, was released in February 2014. Her latest project, Vanguard Legacy: Reflected by Joanne Kershaw, was released in March 2014.
Jessica’s next project, On The Isle of Sound and Wonder, a Steampunk fantasy by Alyson Grauer, is slated for release in November 2014.
