Beta readers: what are they and why do I need them?

When it comes to publishing your book, I bet you’ve heard of editors (hi!), book cover designers, proofreaders, and marketers.

But have you heard of beta readers?

You’re not alone if you haven’t. Most first-time authors I speak to haven’t heard of beta readers, but it’s something I recommend any self-publishing author adds to their publication timeline.

By the end of this blog post, you'll know:

-              What a beta reader is

-              Why you should use beta readers

-              Where to find beta readers

-              What questions to ask your beta readers

-              When to use beta readers

-              How to use feedback from beta readers

What is a beta reader?

Beta readers will be some of your first readers, reading your book (I know, mind-blowing), before it’s published.

Essentially, they’ll let you know what they think your book, but they’re not reading it to provide reviews or endorsements – those are your ARC readers (advanced reader copy). And they’re not going to come up with suggestions for improvements – that’s what a book editor is for (again, hi!).

Beta readers will be able to tell you if they enjoyed the book or not, what they thought of certain aspects of the book (exercises, questions posed, etc.), if they were confused at any point, what they thought of your research etc. (see below on ‘how to get the most out of your beta readers’ for more help here).

Photo credit: Siân Smith

Why should you use beta readers?

There are two main reasons to use beta readers: 1) so you get used to someone reading your book and 2) so you can see how your book is currently landing.

The first point might seem a bit odd. You’re writing a book, so surely you want people to read it? Yes, that’s the natural assumption. But writing a book is rather different to the idea of people reading it, especially if you’re revealing private, painful, or emotional details from your life.

If you can’t even bear the thought of anyone else reading it, that could be a sign you’re not ready to share it with the public. Don’t think if it as a waste if you come to that conclusion: just think of what you’ve written as a much-needed catharsis and see what you feel like writing next (many writers use their first manuscript they write to work out what they really want to write and share).

The second point (see how your book is landing) means getting feedback from your ideal reader: did they understand the point of the book? What did they think was the overall tone of the book? If you want it to be funny, did people laugh? What did most people think the overriding purpose of the book was?

Where to find beta readers

Finding your beta readers will depend on the subject and purpose of your book.

If you’re writing a book to complement your business, then you can start with your clients. I’d advise asking past clients or clients you had a particularly good relationship with (it might be a bit awkward saying to a new client, ‘Hey there! Fancy giving up a few hours of your time to read this book I’m writing?’).

For this type of book, previous clients will likely be the ideal reader of your book (or at least, they were before they became your client). They should be able to give you useful feedback if you’ve been able to communicate what you offer in a workshop or 1:1 sessions into a book (there will be differences, of course, but you should be able to give readers a decent start).

If your book is personal or based on knowledge you’ve acquired that has nothing to do with your business, then you’ll need to look elsewhere for your beta readers. Start with family and friends, and then ask if they have any keen readers who would be likely to help. These friends of friends are more inclined to give honest feedback (whereas friends and family members will try not to hurt your feelings).

Maybe don't ask random strangers to read your book... Photo credit: Siân Smith

Fellow writers can be another great place to find beta readers – though, of course, this will be a two-way offer: if they make time to read your book, be sure to make time to read theirs. You may already be part of a writing group as part of a writing programme for your book, but if not, there are plenty of informal writing groups, both in your local area and online. These are often organised through your local library or business networks, or you can look for an online writing group.

You can also find beta readers online: some will do so for free and others will charge a small fee for their time. Be sure to do your due diligence here, however.

How to get the most out of your beta readers

To get the most useful feedback from your beta readers you need to be specific. If you just ask a generic question like ‘did you enjoy it?’ you’re likely to receive a simple yes/no answer with no explanation.

As above, the questions to ask your beta readers will depend on your book and its aims, but use these as a guide:

·      If you could summarise this book in one sentence, what would it be?

·      How did the book make you feel?

·      Did you find the book funny/sad/hopeful/helpful? (Whichever applies to your book.)

·      Did you find the exercises helpful/too complicated/too overwhelming?

·      Did any part of the book make you cry?

·      Did you laugh at the jokes? (If so, which were the funniest ones?)

·      Do you have any favourite quotes from the book?

·      Did you think the level of research included was too light/too heavy/just right?

·      Was there anything that confused you? (Please provide examples.)

·      Did any part of the book seem to jump from one point to another?

·      Did the conclusion of the book seem natural or a bit far-fetched?

Also be sure to draft a basic NDA (non-disclosure agreement), so that beta readers can’t share any content of the book. This should also include readers not uploading any of it to AI.

Photo credit: Siân Smith

When to use beta readers

The timing of these beta readers will depend on your publishing timeline and which services you are using for self-publishing. As a basic rule, try to time it for after structural edits and before line or copyedits (check out my post on the editing process if you have no idea what I’m talking about here). https://www.siansmitheditorial.co.uk/post/how-long-does-it-take-to-edit-a-book

Having the structure of the book sorted will mean beta readers shouldn’t have a problem following the flow of your book, but you also want to allow some time to consider their feedback before you enter the final couple of stages of editing. If you send your book to beta readers after copyediting, you’re quite likely to need another round of copyediting if you make changes to your book.

A ‘structural edit’ could mean after working with a writing coach on the first few drafts, after a developmental edit with a book editor, or after a manuscript appraisal with a book editor.

If your self-publishing budget means one round of copyedits, with no structural edits, you can use beta readers in two rounds: one when you’ve done some self-edits and another when you’ve applied any changes from the first round of beta reading.

You can use the same beta readers for each round, using the second round to see if they prefer the second version, or you can use different beta readers for each round, so you can see if the same things are still coming up after your self-edits.

Should you only have enough beta readers for one round, use them after you’ve done some self-edits and before your book is edited.

In any scenario, don’t send your first draft to beta readers. The only person who should read your first draft is you!

How to use feedback from beta readers

All being well, with the helpful questions you’ve sent your readers to answer once they’ve read your book, you’ll receive plenty of helpful feedback for your book.

But do bear in mind that reading is always subjective. Even bestselling books aren’t loved by everyone. So first of all, if you don’t receive the adulatory praise you were hoping for (and who wouldn’t?), try not to take it to heart. Hopefully, any beta reader will tread softly if they have any negative feedback, especially if they know this is a draft.

I always tell my authors to look for patterns in feedback, rather than trying to incorporate every observation. If most beta readers comment on one chapter being particularly confusing, or the exercises not fitting in with the rest of the chapter, or the tone not quite hitting the mark, or not being moved by your story, that’s when you should review those particular aspects of the book.  

And remember, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t work out how to make the changes or improvements these beta readers are spotting: editing your own work is hard! All the bestselling authors have a book editor (a whole editorial team, in fact), so should you be struggling with self-edits, consider saving up for manuscript appraisal, as this would identify any issues with your book and also provide solutions for them.

With the right approach, you can use beta readers to inform your self-edits and get your book in the best possible shape for your book editor. Just be sure to add this step to your publishing timeline so you don’t end up rushing or skipping later steps in the process. https://www.siansmitheditorial.co.uk/post/how-long-does-it-take-to-self-publish-a-book