Reader Feedback on Your Work in Progress: Beta Reader Dos and Don’ts

What if there was a way to find out what your readers thought about your book, before you published it?

What if the information allowed you to make the book even better?

One of the great uncertainties of writing is that we don’t know how what we write is going to be perceived…until we release it into the wild. And then, if the reaction is terrible, the horse has left the barn. We can’t take it back and say, “Do over!”

Good news, folks: there is a way to do this, and they are called beta readers.

Now, while beta readers can be amazing, that’s amazing with an asterisk—IF we choose the right readers, ask the right questions, and when we ask them to be part of the process.

Let’s talk beta reader do’s and don’ts.

What a beta reader is and isn’t

While there are professional beta readers—readers who charge a fee—historically, this term refers to those who “volunteer” to read your book, for free, in order to give you their feedback.

With “free,” you might think friends and family. Not necessarily. Beta readers don’t need to be people that you have a close personal relationship with. Some writers approach others in their writing groups or literary communities; some authors contact a pre-selected group of enthusiastic readers. (Admittedly, this works best if you’ve already published, and therefore have readers.)

Plus, family can be tricky…but we’ll get to that.

Importantly, beta readers are just that—readers—NOT editors. If you presume your betas are going to do your editing for you, you are doing them a disservice.

Choosing your betas

First and foremost, be clear: what do you want from a beta read?

Are you interested in whether the humor works? Are the characters believable? Does the book make sense? Or maybe you want feedback on a specialist topic: medical, legal, police procedure, engineering, you name it.

Pick your beta readers with this goal in mind.

Second, not everyone is a good beta reader. Let’s face it. Not everyone thinks about why they enjoy or don’t enjoy a book. Not even every avid reader! What if they’re avid, but totally uninterested in your genre?

Tips for choosing beta readers:

• Choose people in your target readership—those who LOVE your genre and topic.
• Make sure they like to think critically about the books they read, and can be specific about what they like and don’t like.
• Avoid readers who might get hung up on details like spelling and grammar—your book isn’t going to be perfect (though you should make it as clean a possible).
• Finally, can they give dispassionate feedback? Family and friends value their relationship with you. Can they be honest? Or will they wish to spare your feelings so they can maintain the relationship?

Ask the right questions

Don’t just drop the manuscript in someone’s lap and say, “I’d love some feedback!” Be specific. “Is this any good?” is about as helpful as the word “interesting.” You might get a useful answer, but the odds are against you.

Think back to what you want from the beta read, and ask your reader to answer those specific questions. The trick is to be specific, and to limit the number of questions. What if you are curious about different aspects of your book? Can you ask different beta readers different questions? The answer is yes! This process can be as customized as you like, and in fact, the more customized, the better.

Your reader gets a concrete goal and you get specific information—a win-win.

When to work with beta readers (and how many)

Some writers invite betas into the process very early, during the first draft. I usually recommend against this, because of the danger of losing your own view of the work. Discussing your book idea with a trusted advisor is great, but at this stage, having them read what you write is tricky. I’ve seen writers give themselves writer’s block by inviting others to read too soon, or inviting folks who are too critical.

That said, if you suspect you might get feedback that creates radical changes, and your reader knows the draft is rough, don’t wait until after you’ve invested in lots of editing and/or proofreading.

Tips for working with beta readers:

• Make sure the story is clear in your own mind, before asking anyone to weigh in. I recommend a full first draft.
• Limit the number of people you ask. Too many cooks in the kitchen is a real problem.
• Stagger your readers. You might have different readers for different drafts.
• Be ready to reject their suggestions. I know, some writers find this hard. Yes, you’ve chosen these people specifically—but their advice may not be useful to you. Readers may contradict each other. In the end, why they liked or didn’t like something is miles better than how they tell you to “fix” it.
• Show appreciation. Many readers find being involved in literary pursuits inherently rewarding, but a free copy of the book never hurt anyone. Remember that they are doing you a favor.

The bottom line

Beta readers can help you bring whole new dimensions to your book. Rather than theorizing about what your readers like and don’t, you can get the facts straight from the source! But like any relationship, beta readers need boundaries. Know what you want from the beta read, choose carefully who you ask, and give them a specific task.

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Beta readers can help you make your story better. CC image “Reader” courtesy of Paolo Braiuca on Flickr. Some rights reserved.