How To Choose Your Beta Readers (And Why It Matters)
Choose your beta readers wisely!
A beta reader is a fantastic resource for an author before they publish their book. A good beta reader will provide general feedback to authors about what works well in their book, but they'll also ask questions and point out areas that don't make sense.
Authors have the challenging task of figuring out what critiques are valid and what may just be a beta reader's personal bias. However, some beta readers make this job a lot easier than others, which is why it's essential to figure out who you want to take part in this process!
Before we talk a bit about how to choose a beta reader, let's talk about when you want to employ a beta reader.
The ideal time to have a beta reader is after you've had your manuscript copy edited but before your book is published. Often, authors will ask for beta readers to read their work before the authors receive a printed proof, too. This helps cut down on the number of printed proofs authors need to review.
Typically, authors give beta readers digital copies of manuscripts rather than printed versions of the book. This is in part to save on expenses (printing and shipping costs) and in part to save time.
We normally encourage authors to give their beta readers a rough deadline to keep the process moving along.
Why is it important to be selective about your beta readers?
Beta readers serve a specific purpose for authors, and their feedback can help you as an author determine what changes you may want to make to your manuscript prior to publication. You want your beta readers to be a representation of your audience in one way or another.
If you want your beta reader to be representative of your audience, though, that means that you probably don't want a beta reader who will gloss over potential issues or won't ask questions. That might mean that you don't want to ask your best friend or mom to be your beta reader (unless they can be a bit objective). On the other end of the spectrum, you also don't want a beta reader who's hyper-critical of your work, pointing out every conceivable flaw.
Having too many beta readers can muddy the waters, however, just as having too few beta readers can. If you're getting a dozen opinions thrown at you at once, you might struggle to discern what information is helpful and what may be a personal opinion rather than a pattern. If you have too few beta readers, you're more likely to rely too heavily on the feedback you receive, which could cause you to make a last-minute change that makes your manuscript harder to read.
Where should you find your beta readers?
There are a multitude of ways you can find beta readers, and how and where you do this depends on how quickly you want your manuscript to be read, the kind of feedback you’re looking for, and whether you are willing to pay your beta readers (or read someone else’s book in exchange).