-pointing out things they liked and disliked

-highlighting the elements writers become blind to

-sensitivity reader is a type of beta reader

-beta readers are a form of quality control

- number of beta readers you decide to work with will depend entirely on your manuscript, and how much work you feel is needed

-ideally you will work with more than one beta reader

- get a more -diverse range of feedback

-be able to get a general consensus on any potential issues

-At the end of the day, everyone enjoys different things

- no matter how many beta readers you work with, you won’t be able to please everyone.

- decide ahead of time what you might offer them for their help: a free copy of the published book is fairly standard

-if a beta reader goes above and beyond, authors will mention them in the acknowledgments of their book.

- best off also looking outside your inner circle to ensure the most honest and candid feedback.

Writing communities are ideal places to shop for beta readers, because will get it.

-set up a mailing list? In your newsletters, give people the option to sign up as a possible beta reader. In exchange, you can offer them a free copy of the final published title or an acknowledgment in your book.

- Look for beta readers with knowledge of your genre or subject matter

- familiarity with the genre can help them point out played-out tropes they feel have been - help ensure you handle delicate topics with sensitivity, and that there aren’t any glaring discrepancies or inaccuracies.

- also look for beta readers who don’t already read books like yours

- beta readers will appreciate knowing when you’d like their feedback. And this will ensure you -

Consider their feedback carefully, and look for any remarks that were made by more than one reader: this is a good signal something is obviously amiss.

- to give beta readers guidance 

- few question ideas to get you going.

⏰ Pacing

·            Are there any parts of the story that drag?

·            Does each scene flow naturally into the next?

·            Did you feel there were any areas that skipped over information?

·            Does the pacing feel balanced — and are there any areas that are too slow or too intense?

·            Are there any exposition dumps (places I over-inform the reader) you struggled to get through?

🌎 World-building

·            Can you see the world clearly while reading?

·            Can you see the action clearly while reading?

·            Can you see the characters clearly while reading?

·            Can you describe what the main characters look like?

👫 Characters

·            Was it clear who is talking?

·            Does the dialogue sound natural and realistic?

·            Does the character development feel natural?

·            Are there any out-of-character moments?

·            Do any of the characters feel cliché or stereotypical?

📚 General

·            Who is your favorite character and why?

·            Who is your least favorite character and why?

·            What’s your favorite part and why?

·            Did you have a least favorite part? What is it and why?

- The more you tailor these questions to your book, the better

-My Alpha is a personal friend. I recommend Amandanicoler on Fiverr. I used her to critique my second book. (I got a two-book deal, book cover for book one, coming out Oct 2 is below.)      

    She provided a professional easy-to-read report addressing both global issues and specific scenes. I gave her a hefty tip, I was so pleased. Basic charge was $60.

-A beta reader is a person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript before publishing.

- it may not offer a compelling story or a riveting read. -suffer from plot-hole-itis or another common ailment known as changing-point-of-view-osis.

-Beta readers help you see your story from another set of eyeballs.

- You may have five or six beta readers, or you may have several dozen.

Human nature predicts that some of the beta readers who commit to reading your manuscript won’t actually complete it

- you need a variety of beta readers.

- A more accurate sampling of your ideal audience.

- beta readers are most likely not your friends and family. Your loved ones love you. - writing community? If so, you have a candy store full of beta readers to choose from. Most writers,

    especially those within a supportive community, are willing beta readers

-If you’ve already built a fan base, you can invite them to become beta readers of your work in progress.

-Ideally, your beta reader should be well-read and familiar with the genre of your manuscript.

-You need readers who don’t have a reason to hold back and are willing to be brutally honest. -ask: Are you able to be brutally honest?

-Most beta readers are not paid for their services. However, you should send your beta readers a free copy of your finished book,

-It’s also a nice gesture to autograph the copy

-you can also list their names (not necessarily the role that they played) in the "Acknowledgement" section of your book.

-You’re going to need tough skin as a writer anyway. But if you haven’t yet, now’s the time to adopt a steely mindset. You’re not looking for ego boosters, but people who can help you shape up your manuscript.

-Not sure if something’s working? Are you on the fence about a character or a plot element? Ask your beta readers what they think.

-be as specific as possible with these questions.

-include a questionnaire with your manuscript that defines what you most help with

-Think about how this feedback impacts your story and the characters within it.

-many (if not most) beta readers will prefer an ebook version of your manuscript, some beta readers actually want it printed on copy paper. Be flexible.

-Give your beta readers a specific deadline

-good time to set for beta readers is one month.

-Every author has weaknesses. You do too — but you’re blind to them.

Beta readers won’t be

-soliciting feedback from beta readers is your chance to address the weak spots of your manuscript before you publish \.

-you want to enlist:

• An acquaintance or a friend of a friend. 

•  Pick someone who doesn’t know you well enough to figure out your meaning.

• A member of your target audience. If your book doesn’t resonate with your readers, you’re not going to sell copies.

• Someone who’s not afraid to be honest.  positive and constructive feedback.

• Someone who’s reliable.  Be conscientious of your betas’ time and priorities.

- three to five is a good start.

-You might send your first beta reader draft to two or three people. Then you’ll implement their feedback and send the next draft out to the following group two or three people. Do this a few

    times depending on how much work the book needs.

- always work with new beta readers?

- preferably one or two who have never read your work before so you get fresh eyes on your work. 

-Your betas can only raise the quality of your manuscript, not perfect it.

-something like “add character” or “move section to a different chapter” or “add description to opening scene.”

-ask your betas which format they prefer. Microsoft Word lends itself best to receiving feedback because it’s easy to add and delete comments, and most people have access to the program.

-Some readers may prefer a hard copy, especially if your manuscript is long. Make it easy for them — they are donating their time to help you.

-But don’t be vague: give your betas clear instructions about what feedback you need.

• Have betas comment with their thoughts or take notes as they read, even if it’s to say, “Ooh, I like this” or to make predictions about what will happen next. This shows you how people read your book. It also helps you pinpoint where changes need to be made and gives you a feel for how they reacted while reading.

• Specify what kind of feedback you’re looking for. My betas looked for:

  • Areas they felt were missing something or weren’t developed enough

  • Sections or scenes superfluous to the story

  • Any part of the story, dialogue, or narrative they didn’t understand or found confusing

  • The flow and pace of the chapters

• Ask them to focus on certain aspects of your book.

• Tell them to supply “whys,” not “shoulds.”

• “I’m confused here because…” or “I don’t like this because…”

• Set a due date. But build in cushion

-Another idea is to send your beta readers a list of questions. Since beta readers aren’t professionals, they don’t always know what to look for in your manuscript. Ask them questions to    

    help guide their experience.

• Did the opening scene capture your attention? Why or why not?

• Did you notice any inconsistencies in setting, timeline or characters? If so, where?

• Did the dialogue keep your interest and sound natural to you?

• Was the ending satisfying and believable?

- keeping your list of questions short (about 15 or less). never require anyone to answer my questions or take notes, but making the suggestion helps guide them and improves the type of

    feedback you receive.

• Your goal is to make your book better, and you can’t do that without constructive criticism.

• Your betas are nice people who want to help you write a better book, not tear you down.

• Having something to fix doesn’t mean you’re a bad

• You don’t have to accept every piece of advice you get.

• You can do it.

- this isn’t about you; it’s about your book.

-you have to evaluate each piece of feedback to decide what to revise.

-Once I’d gone through the entire document and deleted comments, the remaining ones became my new “needs-to-be-fixed” list.

-Don’t take feedback at face value — dig deeper.

-it’s not just about answering their questions — it’s about understanding the missing story elements.

- Confusion means you’re missing something, and it’s up to you to figure out what it is and how to fix it.

- get in touch with your author gut. Your instincts will tell you what needs to be fixed and what’s fine as is.

-remember to thank your beta readers.

-I’ve found that all the beta readers I’ve worked with have been more than happy to simply receive a book for free,

-Most are surprised and excited when I tell them they’ll also be receiving a print copy of the book when it’s finalized.

-authors can use what they’ve learned to better tailor their novel for marketable appeal,

- not all beta reader experiences are created equal.

- designed for the benefit of both parties.

- eight steps to follow

1. Identify Your Ideal Reader

    Think about the type of person most interested in your novel, then create a quick profile.

• What is their age and gender?

• Do they read to be entertained or emotionally engaged?

• What are their favorite books, television shows, and movies?

• What makes them happy, sad, or angry?

• What do they fear or regret?

• Why do they enjoy reading?

2. Cultivate Relationships with Beta Readers

    To read a novel may be a simple task, but to analyze each element with a critical eye in search of weak areas, errors, and inconsistencies is anything but.

-first identifying the group of prospective beta readers you’d like to work with-Begin by adding a headshot for your profile picture and a succinct profile bio. Then, like or follow the feeds of   

    other authors and notable creative figures. This will help potential beta readers gain a quick understanding of you and your interests as you begin to interact.

- your next step is to find and follow potential beta readers.

- suggest following at least thirty potential betas.

-follow popular writing tags like #amwriting and #writercommunity. Make sure to use these tags when you publish your own posts.

-find prospective betas in online writing groups, - begin interacting with them by liking and commenting on their posts and statuses.

3. Don’t Ask for Beta Readers—Offer to Be One

-your potential beta readers probably won’t be too inclined to read and critique your novel without receiving something in return.

- recommend sourcing your beta readers from the writing community.

-you should offer to beta read their latest manuscript in return.

-you’ll gain more practice in reading with a critical eye.

-make sure to be personal and professional. Let them know their services are highly valued by contacting them directly (and individually) through email

-ship them a copy of your manuscript.

-digital PDF or EPUB file is the most common option and both are perfectly acceptable. Ask your beta readers which format they’d prefer.

- including a list of questions you’d like answered.

-inquire about characterization, plot and character arcs, pacing, the quality of your prose, and any errors or inconsistencies your betas may have noticed.

- clarify that these critique questions are an optional guideline for the feedback you’d like to receive. Allow each beta to pick and choose how they present their feedback,

-include a preferred time frame for the critique

-learning to swallow your pride and accept an honest critique is a difficult endeavor. It’s also necessary. Learning to love criticism will only make you a stronger writer.

- to recognize critiques as advice

- recognize them for what they are: the potential for improvement.

-you can trust it to be an inside look at what future readers would think

- their criticism comes from an honest desire to see your work improve

-use them to your benefit.

- don’t make every change your beta readers suggest

-put that critique in context. A good rule of thumb is to only make a change to your manuscript if it’s something you wholeheartedly agree with or if more than 50 percent of your beta readers

    made the same critique.

-show your gratitude for the time and energy they’ve spent critiquing your novel.

If you previously offered to return the favor, make sure to follow up. Ask your beta readers if they would like you to critique their next project.

-offer to promote or review a project they have already published. Show them you care by taking time to inquire how you can return the kindness they’ve done you.

-offer to send them a few copies of your novel

-Make sure to sign each copy. You may also want to include a personalized note of thanks to show your appreciation.

-Beta readers, as the name implies, get a look at  your work after you’ve fixed what the alpha readers said was wrong.

-These folks look for broad things like characterization, pacing, and voice. They’ll also call out particularly good or awkward sentences. For many people, their beta readers are part of a

    writing group that reads one another’s work.

-Beta readers, then, are people who look at the second draft of your work. They take it from good-but-not-ready-for-general-consumption to ready-for-a-professional’s-eyes.

-They provide the fresh eyes when you need them, and tell you what’s right and wrong with what they see.

-You can work with individual beta readers, who each read your work and report on it, working alone. Or you can be part of a writing group, where several people work together to review

    what you’ve written and help to make it better.

-With an individual beta reader, you send them your pages and they get back to you with their individual notes.

-Advantages of individual beta readers mostly center around time and convenience.

-With a writing group, your work isn’t the only work on each person’s to-do list.

-Further, even if somebody completes reading your pages quickly, they also have to wait until the next group meeting. During the meeting, it’s easy to rabbit-hole down a particular part of

    your work and not discuss other, potentially more important, factors. It’s a slower, more frustrating process.

-On the other hand, something special happens in a writing group you can’t get with solo beta readers. When the group all gets together and starts talking about your work, that synergy can

    find solutions and ideas that never would have come up with people working alone. - Writing is a solitary profession, and it often draws introverts.

-Reach out to your community

-Check the community bulletin board (or electronic equivalent) at your library.

- Make connections.

·            Similar to the above, check out online groups for your specific genre;

·            Join your local writers’ group

·        -a nearby community college.

·        -Check coffee shops and bookstores in your area for reading events.

·        -Look for (or create) ads for writers groups

·        -Sign up to offer your skills as a beta reader or to look for beta readers for your next book – or both!

- you want somewhere between three and five beta readers on your side.

-Do define the kind of notes you’re looking for.

-What did you like most and hate most about each chapter?” or “Is (character) believable in his motivations?” or “What questions do you have at the end?”  

-Don’t argue.

-Do perform a basic proofread.

- any issues that might confuse a reader or make it harder to understand should be taken care

-You want your beta readers to give their opinions on what you meant to write,

-Don’t stop with one round of beta reading.

- using new readers for each pass.

-Do triage the comments.

·            To Do —the comment is clearly accurate

    Ignore —off-topic or clearly wrong. delete them \

·               look for themes you can double-down on to make the rest of your work as good as those choice pieces.

·            Projects — these are like your to-dos, only they require more work.

·            Consider — some comments are neither clearly right nor clearly wrong.

·            Don’t ignore majority opinion.

-Other times, your disagreement will find a middle-ground solution where the wrong feedback points to what the real problem is.

-, if you get the same feedback from multiple readers, pay close attention.

-“Kill your darlings” is another writing truism, and for good reason. The harder you want to argue, the more likely it is they’re right.

-Do ask what format your reader wants.

-Don’t take feedback personally.

- It’s somebody who likes you doing their best to help you improve a craft that’s important to you.

-Do perform beta reading for others.

- beta reading for others also helps you become a better writer.

-seeing how writing can be good and bad, exciting and boring, elegant and awkward.

- you become better at identifying it in your own writing. And you help another writer improve. It’s a win-win.

-Don’t stick with problematic beta readers.

-Do let your beta readers know about your timeline.

-Do get beta readers even if you don’t want to.

-If you have great beta readers, they’ll already have torn your work (kindly) into shreds. There’s nothing an editor, reviewer, or reader can say about the finished work that a beta reader won’t  

    already have done worse.

-Don’t just work with your peers.

-Most writing groups and writing organizations are full of aspiring writers

-But many aspiring writers have illusions about good and successful writing that professionals have grown out of.

-Do compare beta reader feedback side by side.

-Wait for all feedback from all of your beta readers to come in, then look at it side by side. - contradictory opinions, which can help you identify what to ignore.

-places where they agree, which can help identify what needs changing even if you don’t want to change it.

Most important, you’ll find themes to the feedback. If you look for those themes actively, you’ll create another list of feedback the readers didn’t think to put down. Sometimes those   

    themes are the most important factors to change or celebrate about your work.

-Don’t ever complain about your beta readers.

-Do keep looking for beta readers.

-More beta readers means more potential voices.

-Don’t let the feedback get you down.

-Look at your beta readers like coaches.