What is a Beta Reader? (Do I need one, and where can I get one?)


If you've done some writing, you may have heard the term "beta reader." A beta reader is just someone who reads your work before it's published and gives you some feedback. It's as simple as that. Beta readers are like a focus group where you can test out your project to see how it is received. 

Having beta readers is important if you are serious about selling your work. You need to understand how other people are seeing and processing what you've written before you thrust your writing out into the world in general. Ideally, you'll have several beta readers who represent different aspects of your target audience. 

Where do you get a beta reader? This is where things get trickier. There are many sources for beta readers, but some are more valuable than others. 

People you know

Chances are that someone in your life is willing to read your work and give you some thoughts and opinions. The problem is that someone who knows you is already coming at your writing from a unique perspective. No matter how honest that person is about the work, there is going to be some degree of bias. It doesn't mean that your bother or your best friend wouldn't be helpful. It's just that those opinions aren't necessarily indicative of a stranger reading your work. 

Social media contacts

If your social media accounts are comprised of people that you know well, know a little bit, and barely know at all, this is a good source for free beta readers. Put a posting on social media that says you're looking for people to read and critique your work. Then send it to anyone who offers. Some writers even keep a social media group specifically for beta reading. 

Other writers you know

This is where you can really get some good feedback for free. Writer's groups often serve as beta readers for each other, and that can be an excellent resource. Unless you are also besties with those in your group, the feedback is going to be less subjective. It's also nice to get another writer's point of view because that person may have specific suggestions for changes rather than just being able to to tell you that something is awkward or doesn't seem right. Of course, you have to respect the other writers in your group for this to work. If you secretly believe you're the best writer in the bunch and eons ahead of everyone else, having these people as beta readers won't get you far. 

Professionals

A professional beta reader is going to give you the most valuable feedback, but it's going to cost some money. In general, more qualified and experienced beta readers will cost more. You can find beta readers on various job posting sites, or you can create a listing of your own. Professional beta readers are useful because they are objective and know something about writing. They will give you experience-backed opinions and real suggestions. 

Your best bet is to get as many beta readers as you can from all of these categories. The more feedback you have, the more clearly you will be able to see issues and concerns across the board. Remember that you don't owe anyone anything. You are free to reject any of all suggestions made by beta readers, but knowing how your potential readers will respond to your work can be a huge advantage if you are planning on sales. 

Get yourself some beta readers. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Need writing services? Contact me!

Name

Email *

Message *

Popular posts from this blog

A List of Content Mills for Beginning Freelance Writers

Image
In my last post , I discussed content mills and why you might want to use one as a freelance writer. Here I'm going to list some popular content mills that are appropriate for writers beginning their freelance careers. These sites do require you to apply and may ask for samples of your work, but you don't need a publishing background to write for them.  Of course, information on these sites could change at any time. Content mills come and go on the regular. They've been known to disappear completely or suddenly shake up their platforms. So be sure to do your research on any of these sites that interest you.  Mills for Beginners Zerys This is a platform that is good for writers who want more experience. It doesn't pay much. Current reports are that most writers start at less than one cent per word but can work up to about 4 cents per word. Writers grab jobs from a list and are ranked with stars.  OneSpace This is another good option for those new to freelancing, but you ...
Read more

Fiverr Fail

Image
So who out there uses Friverr for freelance writing gigs?  I've seen Fiverr recommended so many times that I decided to give it a go. I'm trying to increase my presence on the great web - hence this blog - and set up a Fiverr account. But nothing.  I read some articles on making the most of your Fiverr account and tried some strategies like pricing some gigs very low.  Nothing.  This is Fiverr. This is me on Fiverr. Any ideas?  So far I'm finding far more clients on job boards and through previously made connections. I wonder if Friverr is just too saturated with writers and editors... or perhaps there's something about the site that clients don't trust? 
Read more

Dealing With Stolen Content

Image
I recently had some content stolen.  So sadly, I'm writing a post about how to avoid this happening and what to do once it does happen. I'm currently in the process of dealing with it and would welcome advice.  One thing I've learned is that it makes sense to use a couple of tools.  1. Google Alerts Pop your content into Google Alerts to get reports when that content is picked up on the web. You should do this with any work you're posting for sale.  It can also let you know when work you've legitimately sold is published, so that's a good side benefit.  2. Plagiarism Checker Grammarly has one, and I love Grammarly but I'm all about free stuff. People like Scribbr, but they charge a fee too.  I found this one  and it seems to be okay.   I'm definitely open to (read begging for) recommendations.  I've also discovered that plagiarism is one of those words I never learned how to spell.  I still haven't heard back from the site that curr...
Read more