Plus a COVER REVEAL!!
by Anne R. Allen
The term “beta reader” gets thrown around a lot in writerly circles, but I’ve discovered an awful lot of writers don’t really understand what they do.
The term “beta” reader seems to come from the gaming industry. Early game developers would ask certain customers to test games before they went on the market. These were not the “alpha” users who worked on actually developing the game, but “betas” who tested the game when it was about to go into the marketplace. They helped find glitches and could give marketers an idea of their target audience.
Beta readers are like those beta game users — they are sample “customers” who give opinions on a new product. They generally read a book that has already been edited by the author, but is not yet ready to go to the publisher or professional editor for a final polish.
How to Find Beta Readers
These days there are professional beta readers who can give your book a thorough beta read for a price. A quick Google search can turn up a list of beta readers if you’re looking to hire one.
But most authors can find free beta readers, either through social media groups or their blogs or newsletters. Fans often enjoy being the first to read a new book by a favorite author, so they’ll welcome the chance for a first read.
How Many Beta Readers Do You Need?
I think a lot of new authors go overboard with beta reads. Too many beta readers spoil the soup, to garble the old saying. Ruth warned us last week that trying to please too many commenters can take the sparkle and passion out of our work. Too many beta readers can suck the life out of your story, too.
Professionals often only use one trusted beta reader. I think three is the maximum you should go for.
Sensitivity Readers
A relatively new type of beta reader is the sensitivity reader. These are readers who look for issues that involve a specific demographic. They can be people of a particular ethnicity, ability, training, or background. Sensitivity readers can be very important these days when you’ve written characters who are differently abled, or belong to a marginalized group you don’t belong to yourself.
I used an Irish sensitivity reader when I wrote an Irish character I wanted to show as a contemporary Irishman, not the typical stage-Irish cartoon. My reader called her process “weeding out the shamrocks” and was very helpful.
For more about sensitivity readers, see my post “Do You Need a Sensitivity Reader?”
Exchanging Beta Reads
The best way to get a helpful beta read may be to offer one. Exchanging beta reads with a fellow author in your genre can be an excellent way to get a free read, and you’ll have the expertise of someone who truly knows your genre.
That’s why learning to be a good beta reader can save you time and money in finding beta readers for your own work.
A Beta Reader Doesn’t Need to be a Writer.
The operative word here is “READER.” A Beta Reader is primarily a reader. They are not editors, proofreaders, English professors, book reviewers, or critics. Their job is to tell you how your readers and customers are likely to respond to the book, and what they like and don’t like about it.
But whether the person is a writer or not, if you’re using a beta reader for the first time, be specific about what you expect.
1. Beta Read in a Genre You Like
I made the terrible mistake of asking a person to beta read one of my Camilla books without making sure she liked my blend of mystery, rom-com, and satire. It turned out she hated it and kept trying to eliminate the humor my fans look for in my work. I thanked her politely, but needless to say, I didn’t take her suggestions, and everybody’s time was wasted.
2. Read for Story, not Typos
It’s best to beta read in your comfy chair, prepared to enjoy the book, not at your desk with red pencil in hand. Different beta readers work with different tools, but I find what works for me is a simple pad of ruled paper and a pen. I keep them on the table next to my reading chair, along with my tea cup. I jot down the chapter, paragraph and line number for specific comments, but mostly I make comments after finishing a section.
If you happen to see a typo, you can make note of it, but it’s not your job to proofread, and no author should expect that of you. You may find yourself taken out of the story when there’s a word missing, or one is repeated several times in close succession. Then definitely jot down the information, but it’s not your job to search for those things.
3. Note Anything that Takes You out of the Story
As a beta reader, you are not required to do a line-by-line analysis of the work. You’re also not required to suggest major story changes, like eliminating an entire subplot. If you did that kind of stuff, you would be an editor and could charge big bux. 😊
But you do want to point out things that stop your enjoyment of the book, like:
a) “Continuity” problems.
When the heroine was wearing Prada shoes in Chapter 4, and she’s strutting around in Louboutins in Chapter 5, without having gone home to change shoes, that’s a continuity problem. Ditto when the hero’s name changes from Jack to Jake after Chapter 8.
b) Repetition.
If every time the sun sets, some character says, “there’s nothing like a sunset after a healthy day.” You need to remind the author she said that already. Three times. Also if every character uses the word “buttload” somewhere in their dialogue, suggest the author needs a thesaurus. (I plead guilty to that one.)
c) Wooden dialogue.
If every character talks as if they stepped out of a badly-dubbed Swedish film, let the author know it put the brakes on the story for you.
d) Bad pacing.
If everything slows to a crawl for twelve chapters and then ten plot twists hit you in the last two, tell the author you found the whiplash confusing. You could suggest that maybe he put those aliens on the roof a few chapters earlier, or mention that the dog can talk sometime before the last chapter.
e) Too much description.
If you’re dying to know if Helen is going to get out of the trunk of the gangster’s car, but the author hops into the gangster’s head and describes the scenery on the way to the gang’s hideout for ten pages, let the author know this was when you wanted to throw the book across the room.
f) Not enough description.
“What the heck does the alien spaceship look like? How does it fit on the roof? Suddenly it’s sitting on Jack’s roof and somebody says it’s purple, but then there’s nothing more about it. We need to know! And did Helen ever get out of the gangster’s trunk?
4. Read at a Normal Pace: “Play the Game”
Don’t read slower than normal, or feel you should be constantly on the lookout for stuff to criticize. That’s negates the point of the read. You need to approximate the reactions of a normal reader.
Like the original “beta users” of videogames, your job is to “play the game.” When problems arise that get in the way of your enjoyment of the “game”— that’s when you should make a note of them.
5. Get Back to the Author in a Timely Manner
It’s best to establish expectations before you take on a book. If the author needs a 2-week turnaround and you’re a busy person and a slow reader who needs at least 3 weeks for an 80K word book, don’t take it on. Also give a firm no if you can’t start for two months.
I had one beta reader who was still trying to give me notes six months later, when the book was in galleys. If you can’t read the book in the required timeline, just decline.
6. Make Sure You Note What You DO Like
This isn’t a fault-finding mission. It’s just as important for the author to know what’s working as what isn’t.
If you’re beta-reading a book and find you have nothing positive to say about it, bow out of the gig. The author needs a balanced opinion, not a 100% negative one. That amount of negativity will only make the author shut down and not trust your judgement on anything. Plus you’ll come across as a bully.
7. Keep a Friendly Tone in Your Notes
A lot of the rules for helpful beta reading are similar to the rules for good critiquing.
Remember authors don’t make mistakes on purpose to confuse or upset you. So anger isn’t an appropriate response when Jake/Jack gets working on fixing the space ship and forgets that Helen is still in that trunk. Just say that storyline doesn’t work for you.
Remember “I” phrases are the best way to get your point across. Say :“I was taken out of the story when Helen started singing the Monty Python lumberjack song to the Mafia boss.” That is more helpful than “Cut the singing. It’s stupid. Were you high?”
8. Remember You’re Not the Author’s Boss. Or the Spanish Inquisition
A beta reader isn’t a publisher or the morality police. The author is under no obligation to take your advice. You’re not doing this to rewrite the book according to your own specifications and moral or political code.
It’s the author’s work and their own style. Don’t try to remake the book according to your personal taste.
Also, remember it’s not your job to make moral judgements on the characters or their use of language. If you’re upset by the use of swear words, you can make note of it, but don’t order them removed or say they make it a ‘bad’ book.
You also aren’t there to “correct” a purposely clueless character. Not all characters are supposed to be Mensa members or paragons of virtue. That’s why reading fiction is fun.
9. A Beta Read is about the Big Picture
A beta read is not a critique. Critiques tend to focus on line-by-line issues. A beta reader should look at the whole picture. Does the protagonist’s story arc work for you? Is the antagonist a worthy adversary? Is the love interest appealing?
And does the book have the dreaded saggy middle? Is there a point when you started to skim and “skip to the good parts?” That’s the stuff the author needs to know.
10. Don’t Get Caught up in the Dunning-Kruger Effect
Remember a beta reader is not expected to be an authority. You are a sample consumer, testing a consumer product. Don’t fall into a Dunning-Kruger trap.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is the thought process where the people who are the most ignorant about a subject can also be the most confident. Think of Cliff on Cheers with his “little known facts.” Like: “It’s a little known fact that the tan became popular in what is known as the Bronze Age.”
Beta readers may feel they ought to be authoritative with their opinions. That’s great if they actually have authority in the field they’re talking about — the way a disabled sensitivity reader may be an authority on backing up a wheelchair.
But if you don’t have that knowledge, keep quiet about it. Criticizing the author for not following some non-existent rule for the use of gerundives that you mis-remember from high school is a bad idea.
If you get dogmatic about things you know nothing about, not only will your comment be useless, but hilarity may ensue. 😊
by Anne R. Allen (@annerallen) February 5, 2023
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What about you, scriveners? Have you done any beta-reading? What has been your experience with beta readers? Do you have one reader you like to use for all your books?
BIG NEWS AND A COVER REVEAL!
I have a new publisher! I’ve been with a small international press for the past 10 years that has served me well, but they are phasing out their book operations. So I went on a hunt for a new small press that publishes light and humorous mysteries. I read a book last summer I really enjoyed and I loved the cover design, so I looked up the publisher —Thalia Press — and sent them off a query. And Ta-Da! They accepted my new book. Here is the cover they’ve designed for Catfishing in America. I just love it!
Catfishing in America is the 8th installment of the Camilla Randall Mysteries — a laugh-out-loud mash-up of mystery, rom-com, and satire.
At her beach-read bookstore in Morro Bay California, everybody tells Camilla their troubles. When the body of talkative widow Ginny Gilhooly shows up on Camilla’s doorstep, Camilla is sure the online scammer who has been “catfishing” Ginny has murdered her.
But Ginny’s body disappears, and Camilla’s unhoused friend “Hobo Joe” is accused of the murder.
Camilla, with the help of two precocious Nancy Drew wannabes, and her cat Buckingham, has to solve the mystery of the travelling corpse and prove Joe had nothing to do with Ginny’s demise.
The book should be available for pre-order in a few weeks. And I’m hoping to have digital ARCs to send to any of you who would like to be the first one on your block to read the book. (And maybe even leave an honest review.) I’ll keep you posted.
Catfishing in America! Funny cover.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition…
I have two beta readers I use and they are both just readers. (When I get to critique partners, I usually go with three.) Noting what you do like is helpful because the writer knows if he’s on the right track or not.
Alex–Thanks! I love the cover because it shows it’s a funny book. I did want to put in a Monty Python reference there with the Spanish Inquisition. People especially don’t expect the Spanish Inquisition in a beta reader’s notes. 🙂
You’re so right that positive reactions are sometimes the most helpful to the author.
Anne—Great cover! Love the palette, clean graphics & visual rendition of the title.
Thanks for the sane and practical guide to beta readers. I agree with Alex about letting the writer know what you *do* like. It’s so so helpful!
Ruth–Many thanks! I love this cover too. It really grabs you with the unexpected colors and then the little woman in the goldfish bowl. I think I’m going to be very happy with this publisher.
I love beta readers and welcome their feedback. However, we must be picky in selecting them. Great tips, Anne. Beta readers are the unsung heroes of publishing.
Ingmar–They are unsung heroes! I so much appreciate a helpful beta reader. But you’re right that we must choose well.
Well, after all these years I finally learned where the term “beta” came from in the book biz. I did not know that. Alpha… meet beta. Thanks, and Happy Sunday, ladies!
Garry–Actually I didn’t know the term came from gaming until I was doing research for this piece. We never heard the term when I was younger, and it seemed to appear sometime in the 90s. It made sense when I read it started with videogames.
I love my beta readers. I have a good mix of readers and writers, and they’re willing to give honest feedback.
Also love the book cover! Good luck with Catfishing.
Kay–How great that you have regular readers you can trust.
Isn’t that a fun cover?
I think it’s important before undertaking a beta read for the reader to ask the writer what type of feedback would be most helpful at this point in the writing process.
Liz–Great tip! The best way to find out what an author is looking for in a beta read is ask! And it does depend on the point where you are in the process. I once made the mistake of asking a friend to read my rough draft and tell me what needed work. He told me the book was terrible and I should toss it. He had no idea that a rough draft isn’t a finished project.
Great cover, & brava to Thalia Press for knowing a good thing when they see it. When it comes to beta readers, I appreciate them hugely. I’ve had some fabulous beta-reads & a truly professional sensitivity read. We simply can’t get enough distance from our own work, so I find beta-readers incredibly helpful. Thanks for a fine post.
CS–Thanks! It sounds as if you’ve had great luck finding good beta readers and sensitivity readers. Distance is what it’s about, isn’t it? We’re too close to the work to see what needs to be fixed.
Thank you for the great tips. And I love the new cover! So fun and light!
Christine–Isn’t it fun? I love the pale colors and whimsical style.
Congratulations on your new publisher and fun cover, Anne! Wishing you great success!
Debbie–Thanks so much!
My experience with beta readers has been a very positive one. I’ve used a beta reader for all my manuscripts since…well, maybe ten years. Truth be told, she’s far more than a beta reader–more like a beta reader/editor. With her background as an English teacher, her feedback has greatly helped to improve my writing.
Recently, I asked a friend to be a sensitivity reader for one of my short stories. I felt uncomfortable asking him because I wasn’t sure it was my story to tell. But he gave me the support and encouragement I needed to claim the story.
Leanne–It makes you feel much more confident to use a sensitivity reader, doesn’t it? If there’s a chance something you write is inauthentic, or might offend, it’s great to know the problems have been dealt with before publication. You’re very lucky to have that trusted beta reader!
Some great advice and explanation on beta-reading, Anne. As someone who has been on both sides of the “game,” I appreciate your clear explanations.
Wonderful news on your new publisher. I would love to be added to your digital ARC list.
Phyllis
Phyllis–You are now on my ARC list! Thank you. I’m glad you find this post helpful.
Anne,
Fun cover for sure. Sounds as though you’ve found the perfect publisher.
A question I hear often from other writers is, “At what stage in your work, should you hand off your book to beta readers?” You mentioned the negative comments you received when a beta reader read ‘your draft.’
Would it be fair to say, the beta reader gets the draft, and the copy editor/mechanical editor gets the (hopefully) finished product?
Thanks, for another great column.
Judythe–What I do now is do as much self-editing clean-up as I can, then give the ms. to beta readers. After I get their comments, the book goes to my publisher for a real edit. If you’re self-publishing, it’s between self-editing and professional editing.
Good post, Anne! However, on the timing, with my latest, I found it better to have a Dev Editor go over it, make the fixes, and *then* go out to Betas for another read. Oh, and I’m an Indie Self-Pubber.
Harald–That’s interesting. I’ve always been trad-pubbed, so my publisher wants the last word. But I can see that an indie publisher might want to get a final okay from a beta reader. Either way works!
Hi Anne, after reading a nonfiction book, a crime story, or high adventure, I love to read a mystery/comedy/ rom-com. I’ve been a freelance feature writer for years and would like to beta-read. Should I post my interest in beta-reading on my FB page or the Writers’ Forum or both? Oh, and your title and cover are spot-on!
Diane–You could post it on your FB page, in a FB group or in a forum. I’ll bet you’ll get more offers than you can handle! Thanks for being a beta reader!
So glad you like my cover!
Love your cover, Anne! So cute. 😀 I’m a terrible beta reader because I can’t shut off my inner editor. Hence why I think readers, not writers, make better beta readers. Thanks for the history behind betas. Who knew?
Sue–It is hard to turn off that inner editor. I find myself wanting to edit published books all the time, and I have to walk around and work on shutting that down. So you may be right that the best beta readers are not writers.
I totally agree with your tips, Anne, especially wanting readers rather than authors as Beta Readers. In my experience, authors will tend to do an edit rather than a beta read which at that point is not what you need. And a great point that you need to let the Beta Reader know what you are looking for. Being aware of what the reader *likes* is helpful in knowing what *not* to change, too.
JR–I guess a reader is more likely to find stuff they like and be able to talk about it than a writer. And yes, that tells you what’s working. I’ve certainly had beta-reading writers who wanted to rewrite my whole book. One even told me “Don’t have a character who binges on chocolate when they’re upset. I can’t eat when I’m upset.” She honestly thought the book was supposed to be about her.
Absolutely love the cover! So crisp and modern. Immediately made me smile. :O))
Your post is, as always, timely for me and my editing since I work with a majority of 1st book authors. Those that have gone through self-editing, then using the strength of a good beta reader, always shows me that they are serious about their work and willing to do what’s necessary to accomplish the best iteration possible — before reaching out to me as their developmental support.
My edit process begins with reading the manuscript first. This allows me to be the ‘virgin reader’ and list those issues that create questions or holes or trip me up. Those initial impressions are really helpful when I begin editing.
Since I tend to ‘skim’ through that 1st read, repeated words or phrasing leap out, as do redundant scene staging or how Bob seems obsessed with wringing his hands. :O)
Great info I will be forwarding to all recent and current author clients!
Can’t wait for the new book!!!
Maria
Maria–Oh, good. Smiles are what we want!!
Very interesting to hear how a professional editor approaches a book. And you’re right: skimming is a great way to catch typos. Thanks for sharing the post!
I know…I know… what’s with all the exclamation marks… I was excited.
Maria–I just gave you more exclamation marks!!! 🙂
I worked for a CAD software company in the mid-80’s and we’d send out new versions to beta testers to catch glitches. Guess it took gaming to introduce the term to the outside world.
Great posts and I love the cover! Keep them coming.
Madelin–Great to know! “Beta testers” was the term. Yup. It took the gaming industry to introduce the idea. I don’t think writers used them before that. In those days, editors at publishing companies did a lot more actual editing. Now, you need to have a book polished before the editor sees it.
So glad you like our cover!!
Hi, I have read your blog on beta-reading and found it helpful.
! am a British line/copy editor taking my first shot at beta-reading for someone who asked for one in a Facebook group for writers that I belong to. He has paid me a small fee.
I have a problem because I know I should be positive about his book and to encourage him, but that is going to be difficult as I can find almost no redeeming features. As an editor, I obviously find the punctuation abuse hard to handle, but it’s not just that. There is relentless telling and no showing; many (many) characters with no descriptions at all – also true of places; no emotions are expressed, even though the story is set in the midst of the Holocaust and later, in Israel, New York and beyond. Events in the story are garbled and often incomprehensible and long passages of dialogue read like film or theatre scripts with no hints as to who is speaking, so I’m constantly having to go backwards to work it out (and that often doesn’t help!). Very few action tags in the dialogue, which might help with sense and character traits.
I am at a loss about how I can break the news that this guy simply can’t write without sounding cruel. I’d really welcome your advice if you have the time.
Julia–I’ve run into this a few times. You don’t want to tell them they can’t write because that will hurt without giving any help. Can you find any characters to praise? You can say, “Abe is such a survivor!” or “Your setting is one of the most dramatic times in history” or “I loved the glimpses of Israeli life in the 1950s.” The equivalent of a director telling an actor “You wore your costume and you didn’t fall down!” Otherwise, none of your comments will get through because he’ll dismiss you as an unkind person.
I’m so glad I found this post! I found so many articles on what an author needs to do, but yours is the first one I came across that I can pass on to my beta readers. Thank you for this informative and engaging article.
Jodie–I’m glad it’s helpful. I wrote it because I realized many beta readers don’t know what’s expected and they go overboard with edits and line-by-line critiques when they don’t have to. The whole point is to enjoy the read and look at the big picture.