Per NYBookEditors – ‘A beta reader is a person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript before publishing.’ A beta reader is the person who ‘test drives’ your story and points out anything that is good, or needs to be better.
Do you want to be a beta reader? I promise you, there’s some effort involved. Some readers are great at pointing out plot inconsistencies, while others focus on spelling and grammar. In any case, it’s almost like doing a book report. You won’t enjoy it, unless you like what you’re reading.
What / How / Why?
I’ve discussed beta readers on other blog posts so I won’t do it here. If you’re curious – here are some questions I’ve answered. ‘Why do I need a beta reader?’ ‘What’s a Beta Reader do for me?’ ‘Why isn’t my first draft good enough?’ ‘How can I accept criticism correctly?’ Let’s assume you’re 100% with Beta Reading, so now it’s time for a guideline!
That’s right – here are some questions that a beta reader should be answering as they read your work:
Questions Beta Readers Should Answer
Feel free to copy / paste these questions and send them to your Beta Readers when considering your work. The questions are broken down into key areas of writing success: Plot and pacing, Characters, World-building and Setting, Dialogue, Plot and Pacing, Writing Style and Tone, Themes and Messages, Emotional Impact, Ending, and Reader’s Enjoyment. You may only be focused on one area, or you may want to get feedback on all nine – it’s up to you!
1. Plot and pacing
- Does the story flow well, or are there parts where it drags?
- Are there any plot points that feel confusing or unresolved?
- Is the pacing consistent, or are there sections that feel too slow or rushed?
2. Characters
- Are the main characters compelling and believable?
- Do their actions make sense in the context of the story?
- Are there any characters that feel unnecessary or underdeveloped?
- Can you empathize with or understand the characters’ motivations?
3. World-building and Setting
- Does the world feel immersive and well-developed?
- Is there enough description to visualize the setting, or does it feel thin?
- Are there any inconsistencies in the rules of the world or the timeline?
4. Dialogue
- Does the dialogue sound natural?
- Are the characters’ voices distinct, or do they all sound the same?
- Does the dialogue move the plot forward, or does it feel like filler?
5. Writing Style and Tone
- Is the writing style engaging?
- Does the tone of the writing match the genre or mood of the story?
- Are there any repetitive phrases, awkward sentence structures, or unclear passages?
6. Themes and Messages
- Do the themes of the novel come through clearly?
- Are the themes or messages consistent, or do they get muddled?
7. Emotional Impact
- Did any scenes evoke strong emotions (e.g., laughter, sadness, fear)?
- Are there parts that feel emotionally flat or fail to connect?
8. Ending
- Does the ending feel satisfying and appropriate for the story?
- Are all the major plot threads resolved?
- Are there any unanswered questions that should be addressed?
9. Reader’s Enjoyment
- What parts of the novel did they enjoy the most and why?
- Were there any parts where their attention waned?
- Would they recommend the book to someone else?
Beta Readers Suck: Change My View
I can understand why an author would be reluctant to subject themselves to potentially biased criticism on their work. The simple question to be asked is: when do you want to hear that your your work isn’t what it should be – before or after it comes out? Me, I’d rather know before it comes out and you probably do, too.
Some authors don’t think so. Dean Wesley Smith, for example, will tell you that beta readers harm rather than help you. Nonsense. Beta readers are incredibly valuable to the writing experience. Without a Beta Readers, an author can spend ten years sending out query letters with no response because their work isn’t sellable and they never asked an objective audience to tell them the truth.
If you’re an author, you NEED to hear what people think of your work. The painful ego-bruising work of reader feedback is nothing – NOTHING – compared to getting lampooned in the press or social media. Don’t believe me?