

What Is a Beta Reader and How Can They Improve Your Book?
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard of beta readers. But what is a beta reader, and how can they help you improve your writing? In this article, we’ll explore what beta readers are, what to expect from them, and tips for working with them effectively.
What is a Beta Reader?
A beta reader is someone who reads a manuscript before it’s published or submitted, with the goal of providing feedback to the author. Unlike an editor, a beta reader’s focus is on providing overall feedback on the story, characters, and writing style, rather than making specific edits or corrections.
Beta readers are typically unpaid volunteers who are passionate about reading and want to help writers improve their work. Beta readers can be other writers, such as critique partners, but they don’t have to be writers at all.
At this stage, the writer is looking for general feedback, and oftentimes, simply noting what they did or did not enjoy about the story is sufficient input from beta readers. Betas can provide valuable feedback that can help identify areas for improvement and help the author make their work the best it can be.
How Can Beta Readers Help Improve Your Writing?
Beta readers can provide several benefits to writers, including:
- Unbiased Feedback: The best beta readers are able to provide objective, unbiased notes. Beta readers who have no personal attachment to the author will be most likely to offer honest feedback.
- Fresh Perspectives: Beta readers can provide fresh perspectives on the story and characters, identifying issues that the author might have missed. By the time you’re ready to send your work to betas, you have been deep in the story for a while. Receiving feedback from someone with no prior knowledge of the plot and characters can help you step back and reclaim that objective eye.
- Identify Problem Areas: Beta readers can help identify areas of the manuscript that need improvement, such as pacing issues, plot holes, or weak character development. This gives you a chance to correct major issues before you send the manuscript to a professional editor or submit to agents.


Tips for Working with Beta Readers
While beta readers can provide valuable feedback, it’s important to work with them effectively to get the most out of their feedback. Here are a few tips:
- Provide Clear Guidelines: It’s important to provide your beta readers with clear guidelines on what you’re looking for in terms of feedback. Let them know what aspects of the story you’re particularly interested in, and what you’re hoping to achieve with their feedback.
- Be Open to Feedback: Remember that the purpose of beta readers is to help you improve your work. Be open to their feedback, even if it’s not what you were expecting to hear. Take their comments into consideration, and seriously consider how to address issues that multiple beta readers note in their feedback.
- Consider Context: All beta readers are not created equal. Consider from whom each piece of feedback is coming and how that impacts their view of the story.
- Respect Their Time: Beta readers are often unpaid volunteers who are doing this out of a love for reading and a desire to help writers. Be respectful of their time and don’t expect them to provide feedback within a tight timeframe.
- Show Your Appreciation: Make sure to thank your beta readers for their time and effort. Consider mentioning them in the acknowledgments of your book or providing them with a free copy of the published book.
When to Send Your Book to Beta Readers
Deciding when to get beta readers for your work can be a difficult decision. Some writers prefer to get feedback early in the writing process, while others prefer to wait until they have a completed draft.
Like most parts of the writing process, there is no perfect answer to this question. You’ll find that the best time to work with beta readers depends on the manuscript and your relationship with the beta reader.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide when to get beta readers:
- After the First Draft: Your draft should typically be completed before you send it to beta readers. However, some writers exchange chapters of their WIP with critique partners to provide feedback along the way.
- Before Self-Editing: Some writers prefer to get beta readers before they begin revisions. This allows them to get feedback on the structure and overall direction of the story before they start their revisions. This option is best for writers who have a decent level of confidence in their first draft (and probably wrote from a deep initial outline). You may also want to use beta readers who are already familiar with your work.
- After Self-Editing: Other writers send their work to betas after fully revising and editing the manuscript themselves. This allows you to send the strongest possible version of the manuscript to beta readers. The only additional changes would be based on the beta readers’ feedback. Because you’ve already addressed some (or many) issues during your revision process, this method can lead to deeper beta reader feedback, as they’re able to hone in on specific lingering issues, rather than being distracted by many unresolved problems.
- Before Professional Editing: Regardless of whether you send your work to beta readers before and/or after your primary self-editing process, it is usually preferable to incorporate beta feedback before hiring a professional editor. This allows your editor to work with the most final version of the manuscript.
- Before Publishing: The only hard-and-fast rule about when to work with beta readers is that their part comes before publishing or submitting to agents.
Ultimately, the decision on when to get beta readers will depend on your writing style and preferences. You may also decide to get feedback from beta readers at multiple stages of the process, from the same betas or different ones.
How to Choose the Best Beta Readers
Choosing the right beta readers is crucial to getting the feedback you need to improve your writing. Here are some tips on how to choose beta readers:
- Choose Readers with Similar Interests: Look for beta readers who are interested in your book’s genre or subject matter. This will ensure that they are familiar with the conventions and expectations of your writing and can provide more relevant feedback. Someone who reads exclusively in the horror genre, for example, probably wouldn’t have the best feedback for a romance novel.
- Look for Diversity: Look for beta readers with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This can provide valuable insight into how different readers will respond to your work.
- Find Readers and Writers: It can be helpful to get feedback from both experienced writers and non-writing readers. This can provide a balance of perspectives and help you identify areas that may be confusing or unclear to a wider audience. While writers can often provide more in-depth reasoning for their feedback, readers won’t get caught up in how they would have written the story.
- Establish a Relationship: Building a relationship with your beta readers can help ensure that they are invested in your work and motivated to provide helpful feedback. Take the time to communicate with them and show appreciation for their time and effort. You’ll need their help again for your next book!
Choosing the right beta readers can be a challenging process, but with careful consideration and clear communication, you can find readers who will provide valuable feedback to help you improve your writing.


Where to Find Beta Readers
One of the biggest challenges for writers is finding beta readers who are willing to read their work and provide feedback.
Here are some places where you can find beta readers:
- Writing Groups: Joining a writing group is a great way to connect with other writers and find beta readers. Many writing groups have dedicated beta reading or critique partner programs where members can exchange feedback on their work.
- Online Writing Communities: There are many online writing communities where writers can connect with other writers and beta readers. Join our Facebook group, The Pack.
- Social Media: Social media can be a powerful tool for finding beta readers. Many writers use social media platforms to connect with other writers and readers who may be interested in becoming betas. If you put out a call for beta readers, be sure to note the genre and age category.
- Writing Conferences: Attending writing conferences is a great way to meet other writers and connect with potential beta readers. Many conferences have dedicated sessions or workshops on beta reading.
- Book Clubs: Look for local book clubs who are interested in your genre. The members might be willing to beta read your manuscript. Platforms like Meetup can be a great resource for finding these local communities.
- Friends and Family: Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family to read your work and provide feedback, especially those who you feel would be honest. Friends who read extensively in the genre can be a great resource for providing feedback from a reader’s perspective.
When looking for beta readers, it’s important to keep in mind that not all readers will be a good fit for your work. Make sure to clearly communicate your expectations and provide clear guidelines to ensure that your beta readers are providing feedback that is helpful and constructive. And always prioritize beta readers who are familiar with and interested in your book’s genre.
FAQs About Beta Readers
Q: What should I expect from beta readers?
A: Beta readers can provide a variety of feedback, from general impressions to specific suggestions on how to improve your work. The feedback you receive will depend on the individual beta reader and their expertise, but in general, you can expect honest and constructive feedback that will help you improve your writing.
Q: How many beta readers should I use?
A: There’s no set rule on how many beta readers you should use, but most writers aim for three to five beta readers. This allows you to get different types of feedback without becoming overwhelmed. Having multiple beta readers also allows you to find patterns in their feedback.
Q: Can anyone be a beta reader?
A: Technically, anyone can be a beta reader. However, it’s important to choose beta readers who have the skills and experience to provide useful feedback on your writing. The most important qualifications are thoughtfulness and an interest in your book.
Q: What are the benefits of being a beta reader?
A: Being a beta reader can be a great way to improve your own writing skills. It can also provide an opportunity to read new and exciting work before it’s published.
Q: What is a toxic beta reader?
A: A toxic beta reader is someone who provides negative or unhelpful feedback in a way that is hurtful or damaging to the writer. This can include personal attacks or overly harsh criticism that is not constructive.
Q: What is the difference between a beta reader and proofreader?
A: A beta reader provides feedback on the overall structure, plot, characters, and other aspects of the writing, while a proofreader corrects errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Proofreading is a paid service and should be done after all other beta reading and editing processes are completed.
What Is a Beta Reader and Do I Need One?
Beta readers can be an invaluable resource for writers looking to improve their work. Betas can provide unbiased feedback and help identify problem areas that the author might have missed. By working effectively with beta readers and taking their feedback into consideration, writers can improve their writing skills and become better storytellers.
If you’re interested in using beta readers for your work, be sure to provide clear guidelines, be open to feedback, respect their time, and show your appreciation. Remember that beta readers are doing this out of a love for reading and a desire to help writers, so treat them with kindness and respect.
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