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Gone are the days of writing alone in the middle of the night with a quill pen and the only source of light being a singular candlestick. I mean, unless that’s your vibe. The point I’m getting at is that being a writer no longer locks you into a life of solitude. Thanks to modern-day technology, authors have been able to find supportive communities to help them with their inspiration and writing techniques. As a writer, you have to utilize all the tools at your disposal to make certain your novel is exceptional. One of these tools that tend to be overlooked is beta readers! Beta readers are people who read your novel before publication and provide feedback on the story, character, pacing, and other elements.
Where Do Beta Readers Roam?
Before we dive into how valuable our beta readers are, let's tackle the elephant in the room: how does one find these beta readers? I know I alluded to social media and technology being that special tool, but there’s more to it! Here are some suggestions for finding your next beta reader:
Join writing communities: Online writing communities like Goodreads, Reddit, and writing forums often have sections for beta readers. You can ask for beta readers in these communities or offer to beta read for other writers in exchange.
Social media: You can use social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to ask for beta readers. Use hashtags like #betareader, #amwriting, and #writingcommunity to reach a larger audience.
Local writing groups: Check with local writing groups or writing centers in your area. Many of these groups may have beta reading programs or events that connect writers with beta readers.
Friends and family: Reach out to friends and family members who are avid readers and ask them if they would be interested in beta reading your novel.
Writing conferences: Attend writing conferences or workshops and network with other writers. You may be able to find beta readers in this community.
Now that we’ve established where you can find your beta readers, let's establish why this is a great investment of your time as a novelist.
I. Fresh Perspective
Do you know that moment when you’re writing for a long time and your eyes begin to cross and everything blurs together? Well, when you’re writing for a period of time, you tend to become used to your little mistakes, continuity issues, and plot holes. They can become virtually invisible to you at some point. This is when those beta readers really come in handy.
Beta readers are a fresh set of eyes to check for those pesky errors that all authors make from time to time. Additionally, they can catch any inconsistencies, areas of improvement, plot holes, or any other confusing parts of your novel.
II. Objective Feedback
This is specifically for beta readers that aren’t your close friends are family. Since these beta readers aren’t emotionally invested in your novel - the characters, the plot, the vision - then they’re able to really lay into your novel. Their constructive criticism will be unbiased and, whereas it may be hard to hear strong criticism of your writing, it’s imperative to your novel’s progression.
Whether it’s critiques about your story specifically, the formatting, or your writing style, the beta readers will let you know where you’re falling flat and suggest how you can do better.
III. Reader Reactions
Beta readers are typically invested in the literary community. Whether they’re just avid readers or they’re writers themselves, they’re able to give you something beyond valuable to you. They’re able to give you a sense of how your target audience might react to your work.
They’ll be able to give you in-depth feedback from the reader’s perspective, which is something you can’t get after you’ve released your work to the public. Sure, the public can review your work, but it won’t be beneficial to you since the work is already published. However, with a beta reader, you’re able to get an inside look into how engaging, relatable, and impactful your story can be to audiences before it’s released. That way, you can make the necessary changes before it's too late.
IV. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses
It can go without saying that beta readers can scope out your weaknesses, but we’re going to say it again to emphasize this point. There will always be areas where you can improve, and as humans we all have weaknesses. No one’s writing is flawless. Beta readers can point out these weaknesses, not to wound your ego, but to help you improve. They can offer suggestions from their own expertise. Bonus points if you get multiple beta readers for more knowledge.
Beyond that, beta readers can highlight strengths in your writing as well! It’s so easy to get focused on our shortcomings and things we need to do better, but what about the things we do really well? Do you give yourself enough credit for how great your writing is? As authors, when someone compliments our writing, it’s an instant morale boost. Having a beta reader point out what you excel at in your writing can not only make you feel fuzzy (in a good way) but can show you what you should really hone in on in your story.
V. Motivation and Accountability
When we work alone and on our own schedule, it can feel free and afford us a lot of flexibility. Unfortunately, with that freedom, we can also slip into patterns of procrastination that prevent us from working on our work for weeks or even months.
However, having a beta reader waiting for your work can put a fire under you to finish your draft. Additionally, if you find someone who's okay with it, your beta reader could put stricter deadlines on you if you’d prefer. I know a lot of people work better when they have a specific due date, and someone reminds them of that specific due date.
VI. Marketability and Genre Fit
If you’re drifting into new genres or aiming for a particular market, a beta reader is something you’ll especially want to utilize. Getting a beta reader in that specific market or who is an avid reader (or writer) of that genre can give you much-needed insight.
They can help you determine whether your story aligns with genre conventions or tropes, meets the reader’s expectations, and has the potential for commercial success. This information is simply not something you can get if you’re working alone.
The Necessity of Beta Readers
Now that we’ve established how beneficial beta readers can be to you, you should strongly consider adding them to your writing process. Honestly, I can’t think of any negative side to this idea. I can, however, can think of a lot of things you’d be missing out on if you decide against this (see the list above). It’s ultimately your choice, but don’t keep living in the past if you don’t have to! There are so many beta readers out there willing and ready to read some new stories.
Keep in mind though that having a beta reader - or multiple readers - is a collaboration and should be treated as such. As much as you may love your cousin, if they’re often flakey or cannot commit to reading your draft by a certain time, then maybe they aren’t the best beta reader for you. A good beta reader is someone you’re able to trust, who’s proven to be reliable, and has some knowledge of books and/or the writing process. It may take some trial and error to find some reliable beta readers, but it’s well worth the extra time investment.
Lastly, you are the author here. This is your story, your words, your writing. Don’t compromise your story or values. Take the beta reader’s feedback and use your judgment as an author and the creator of your novel to make your final decisions.
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