In the software industry, programmers release “beta” versions of new programs that they get a select group of users to test. This way, any kinks can be worked out before it becomes available to the public.

When it comes to publishing, the concept is the same, except the product being tested is a book, and the hopeful outcome is that potential negative reader reactions can be anticipated before publication. If authors are not sure which aspects of their book are working, this is a chance to find out.

In this guide, we’ll give you pointers for finding beta readers and working with them in a way that’s constructive. But first, let’s clearly define what beta readers are and what they do.

What are beta readers?

What are Beta Readers

Beta readers review finished manuscripts before they're published, providing the author with feedback from the reader’s point of view.

Beta readers can be friends or family members — anyone who will approach the book as a casual reader, pointing out things they liked and disliked, and highlighting the elements writers become blind to during countless revisions.

A beta reader is the opposite of an alpha reader: the first person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript, usually while it’s still a first draft.

Beta readers also differ from critique partners, as the former reviews the book from the reader perspective, while the latter looks at a manuscript with a writer’s eye — paying close attention to any craft issues.

Authors might also work with fact checkers at the final revision stage — especially if the author is writing about a culture or time period that is not their own, or if they are dealing with real life or sensitive topics.

Finally, a sensitivity reader is a type of beta reader

Beta readers do not replace editors

While beta readers are a form of quality control that authors can use before publishing their book, you should not rely on them to do the job of a professional editor. A professional editor will go through your book with a fine-tooth comb looking for plot holes, pacing or character development issues, grammatical errors or typos, and more — depending on the type of editor you hire.

Typically, an author will:

1.   Take their manuscript through many rounds of self-editing. Then...

2.   When they are happy with it, they will submit it to a few beta readers. After…

3.   They might have sensitivity readers look it over. Finally…

4.   With as much of the revision work completed as possible, they will give it to an editor.

This way, if you are self-funding a professional editor, the editor doesn’t need to waste their time — and your money — looking over issues you could have spotted yourself. They can focus on really fine-tuning your manuscript for publication.

How many beta readers do you need?

The number of beta readers you decide to work with will depend entirely on your manuscript, and how much work you feel is needed at this stage. That being said, ideally you will work with more than one beta reader — while also keeping in mind there is such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak.

The benefit of working with more than one beta reader is, of course, that you’ll get a more diverse range of feedback. You’ll also be able to get a general consensus on any potential issues with your book — while one beta reader might feel like a certain scene should be cut, it could be that if you asked five other beta readers, they’d all feel like that scene plays a crucial role in the book.

While it’s smart to gather a group of beta readers, you don’t necessarily want to enlist the help from as many beta readers as possible. That would require a lot of coordination on your end, and could lead to an overly prolonged round of revisions. At the end of the day, everyone enjoys different things. While a group of ten beta readers is more than enough to provide you with consensus on your books, each of those ten people will also like/dislike varying elements of your book — and no matter how many beta readers you work with, you won’t be able to please everyone.

Do beta readers get paid?

While there are professional beta readers available for hire, most indie authors work out unpaid arrangements, simply due to budget restraints. If you are looking for free beta readers, decide ahead of time what you might offer them for their help: a free copy of the published book is fairly standard. Sometimes, especially if a beta reader goes above and beyond, authors will mention them in the acknowledgments of their book.