How To Find Beta Readers

How do you find beta readers for your book?

You’ve dedicated countless hours to brainstorming, writing, rewriting, and more rewriting.

All of your hard work has paid off, and you’re closer than ever to publishing your first book!

Before you move forward with publishing, you need to share your book with beta readers. They will share helpful suggestions and help you improve the quality of your work.

Never heard of beta readers? Not sure what they do or why they matter?

This guide is for you.

It explains everything you need to know about beta readers, their benefits, and how to find the best ones.

What Is a Beta Reader?

Beta readers serve as a test audience for your book. They will read the finished draft and offer constructive feedback on your writing.

Beta readers can identify potential gaps in your story’s plot or tell you if you’re relying too much on overused tropes.

A beta reader can also share subject-matter expertise to make your story more realistic.

For example, let’s say you have a medical professional character in your book.

You can look for a beta reader with medical experience to ensure you’re accurately portraying someone in that industry.

Some authors share a questionnaire with beta readers and ask them to fill it out as they read.

They may also provide a list of questions for the beta readers to answer after finishing the draft or simply ask them to share their thoughts.

Beta Reader vs. Editor

It’s important to note that a beta reader is not an editor.

Beta readers provide some quality control after you’ve finished a draft of your book. However, you’ll still need to send it to a professional editor for a more rigorous review.

Working with a group of beta readers can help you deliver a more polished draft to your editor. The better your draft is, the less revision you’ll need to do (although you should still plan on extensive modifications before your book is ready to publish).

Beta Reader vs. Alpha Reader

Before beta readers get a hold of your draft, you should share it with alpha readers.

Alpha readers are people like spouses and close friends — the people you’ve been bouncing ideas off of for weeks, months, or years.

It’s helpful to ask alpha readers to review your work. However, they’re often biased because they’re close to you. Their bias may prevent them from providing valid criticism and helping you improve your story.

Why Hire Beta Readers?

Some writers question the benefit of hiring beta readers.

You might assume it’s enough to share your book with some alpha readers and then send it to a professional editor. In reality, beta readers provide a valuable intermediate service that improves your book’s quality.

Here are some specific reasons to invest in beta readers:

See Your Book Through Fresh Eyes

As the author of your book, you likely have a clear idea of the story you want to tell, the moral you want to share with your audience, etc.

Because this information is clear to you, it’s easy to presume it’s also clear to your readers. That’s not always the case, though.

When you share your writing with beta readers, you get a chance to see it from a different perspective.

Beta readers will let you know if your story is straightforward or if the moral comes through at the end of the book.

With these insights in mind, you can then refine your story to ensure it has the desired impact.

Connect with Your Target Audience

Working with beta readers also gives you a chance to connect with members of your target audience.

Let’s say you’re writing a young adult book, but you’re in your early 40s. It can be challenging to put yourself in a teenager’s shoes.

When you share a draft of your book with teens and young people, you get a valuable perspective from the people you want to buy your book.

This perspective can help you refine your characters’ dialogue or write in a way that better resonates with your target readers.

Ensure Accuracy

As a writer, you know the importance of accuracy and attention to detail.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a 1,000-page novel or a 30-page short story. The closer you get to real life, the more impactful your finished book will be.

You don’t necessarily have to be an expert in something to write about it. However, you must be willing to seek feedback from experts.

Remember the medical professional character mentioned earlier? That’s a prime example of a time when an expert’s feedback matters.

Asking a medical professional to beta-read your story lets you know if you’re creating scenarios that could happen in real life, if the character speaks the way an actual doctor or nurse would, etc.

Ensure Cultural Sensitivity

Accuracy and attention to detail also matter when you’re writing about people who are part of a different culture.

For example, imagine you’re a white woman with a Muslim character in your story. You should look for beta readers who are Muslim themselves or have spent a lot of time around Muslims.

A reader with this life experience can let you know if you’re portraying the Muslim character accurately.

They can also tell you if you’re relying on stereotypes or being unintentionally offensive in your depiction.

Get Your Book Editor-Ready

After pouring weeks, months, or even years into your manuscript, you desperately want it to be ready to send to an editor.

If you haven’t shared it with anyone else, there’s a good chance it needs some additional polishing before you give it to an editor and move forward with the publishing process.

Although beta readers aren’t editors, they can still offer valuable insight and help you improve your draft.

With beta readers’ feedback, you can tighten up your story and improve critical aspects of your book before an editor gets their hands on it.

As a result, you’ll likely get better feedback from your editor (and possibly fewer revision requests).

How Many Beta Readers Do You Need?

You must work with multiple beta readers. Don’t give your draft to one person, get their opinions, and assume you’re all set.

There’s no clear-cut answer to the question of how many beta readers you need. However, some writers prefer an odd number to avoid a tie (e.g., half of the readers love the book and half hate it).

You receive various opinions and insights when you share your story with several beta readers.

The more feedback you get, the easier it is to decide which elements of your book to keep and which ones to change.

If you have seven beta readers, and they all tell you they don’t like a character’s arc, you’ll know without a doubt that you should improve it.

If you only ask one beta reader to review your work and they love a character, that doesn’t tell you much about what your target audience will think, does it?

How Much Should You Pay Beta Readers?

Some beta readers might be willing to review your work for free. However, most professional and freelance beta readers expect payment for the time spent reading your book and writing notes.

On average, freelance beta readers charge between $20 and $50 per hour. Some might also charge a one-time fee in exchange for their services.

Whether they charge hourly or a flat fee, beta readers’ set their rates based on various factors, including their experience, the length of your book, and the subject matter.

Why Should You Pay Beta Readers?

It might be tempting to look for beta readers who will review your work for free (and you might even find some great ones if you’re willing to look hard).

It’s worthwhile to pay beta readers for their time and effort, though.

When you pay beta readers, you show them that you value their time.

If they know you appreciate them, they’re more motivated to carefully read your book and offer valuable feedback.

What Makes a Good Beta Reader?

You might find several people willing to be your beta readers. However, not all of them have the skills and experience needed to provide quality insights.

Good beta readers should check the following boxes:

Represent Your Target Audience

If you’re writing a book for young adult women, you probably don’t want or need to know what men in their 50s and 60s think about it.

Conversely, if you’re writing a book with members of the Boomer generation in mind, a bunch of Millennial and Gen Z beta readers probably won’t give you beneficial feedback.

This isn’t to say that your beta readers should be homogenous.

It’s important to get perspectives from people of different ages, genders, races, etc. However, you should also choose beta readers who represent your target demographic.

Working with these readers will provide more valuable insight into your book and give you a better idea of how it’ll sell after it’s published.

Have Experience Sharing Feedback

If you can, try to find beta readers who have shared feedback on books before.

Experienced beta readers typically know how to deliver actionable notes and suggestions.

They won’t just tell you whether or not they liked the book.

Are Interested in Books Like Yours

If you send your draft of your fantasy novel to a group of beta readers who aren’t interested in or don’t like fantasy, they’ll likely already be biased against you.

They also might not be aware of familiar tropes fantasy authors use or stylistic choices they make, hindering their ability to give helpful commentary.

Put simply, if your readers do not accurately represent your target audience, the quality of their feedback will be limited.

When you’re advertising for beta readers, make sure you clarify what kind of book you’re working on writing.

This clarification will help you avoid sharing the manuscript with people who don’t understand your genre, don’t like books like the one you’re writing, etc.

Are Honest

If you’re going to spend time and money sharing your draft with beta readers, you need to make sure they’ll be honest with their critiques. There’s no use recruiting beta readers who just tell you what you want to hear.

Every author wants to hear that they’ve written the next Harry Potter or Twilight. If someone lies and doesn’t offer honest feedback, though, they’re not helping you become a better writer.

At best, you’ll be in for a rude awakening when you send your draft to your editor. At worst, you’ll publish a book that no one buys and won’t get any kind of return on your investment.

Know How to Read Books Critically

If someone is looking for and responding to ads for beta readers, they likely enjoy reading.

However, it’s not enough for a beta reader to like to read. They also need to know how to read books critically.

Do they understand the basics of good storytelling?

Are they good at identifying themes and messages in a particular book? Can they differentiate between a cliche and an original story?

In addition to ensuring your beta readers have some experience reviewing manuscripts, you should also make sure they know how to dig deep into a story and pick it apart.

Remember, there’s no value in someone who simply says they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy the story or tells you they found it funny or intriguing. You need detailed feedback and criticism to make your book better.

How to Find Beta Readers

Where do you find people who meet all the criteria discussed in the previous section? Here are some tips to help you find beta readers for your book:

Clarify Your Target Audience

As we’ve mentioned, your beta readers should represent your target audience.

To find readers who meet this criterion, you first need to clarify who makes up your target audience.

Who do you want to buy and read your book? Are you writing for teens?

Middle-aged women? Older men?

Don’t stop with these questions. Peel back the onion layers and get more specific.

Do your target readers belong to a specific ethnic group?

Are they part of the LGBTQ community? What is their political affiliation?

What other books do they love? What are their hobbies? What are their struggles?

The more you know about your target audience, the easier it is to find the right beta readers.

Furthermore, having a specific audience in mind while writing helps you refine your story and make it more impactful.

Decide How Many Beta Readers You Want to Hire

Remember, you need beta readers, not a beta reader. It’s up to you to decide how many people you want to hire.

Start by considering your budget and the length and complexity of your book.

If you have a lot of money to spare, you can hire more beta readers. If your book is relatively short and straightforward, you might decide you can get away with fewer readers.

No matter how many people you plan on hiring, try to recruit an odd number of readers to avoid a tie.

Decide Your Pay Rate

Your budget plays a vital role in the number of beta readers you can hire.

Figure out how much you can afford to pay readers before hiring a bunch of people to assist you.

If you have a limited budget, you’ll need to decide whether you want to employ many people and pay them less or hire fewer people and pay them more.

There are benefits and drawbacks to each option. If you pay your readers less, you might get lower-quality feedback. However, you’ll also get a lot of opinions from various people.

On the flip side, higher wages can lead to better-quality feedback.

You’ll have fewer opinions at the end of the day, though, which could backfire later.

Write Good Job Advertisements

Once you’ve clarified your target audience, decided on a budget, and ascertained how many beta readers you want to hire, you’ll be ready to start your search.

You need to write an intriguing job advertisement to connect with the best beta readers.

Not sure how to write a good job ad? Follow these guidelines:

• Write with your target audience in mind
• Specify your ideal reader demographics (age, subject matter experience, etc.)
• Clarify your story’s genre
• Give a brief description of your story (just enough to catch people’s attention)
• Provide a short author bio to introduce yourself
• Include your pay rate and specify if you’re paying hourly or a flat fee
• Include the deadline

Make sure your job ad is easy to read. Use clear headings, bullet points, etc., to save people from wasting valuable time deciphering it.

Search Writing Communities

A good start pointing for connecting with beta readers is your local writing community. Do you know of any writing groups in your area?

If you aren’t part of any, reach out to local bookstores, libraries, and community centers to find out if these groups exist.

Once you know where these groups meet, you can look into attending a meeting and pitching your book.

Let your fellow writers know that you’ve completed a draft of your book and would like some feedback. Make sure they know this is a paid opportunity, too.

Advertise on LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t just for entrepreneurs and gurus hocking their latest overpriced online course.

This professional social networking platform is also excellent for connecting with fellow authors and literary enthusiasts.

Conduct a search for writers in your area, writers who are familiar with your preferred genre, and literary critics.

Once you’ve made a shortlist of potential candidates, send them a private message and ask them if they’d be interested in being a beta reader for your current project.

You can also search for and join author support groups and advertise for beta readers there.

Just be sure to read each group’s guidelines before posting. Some have restrictions about what you can post, and breaking the rules could result in a ban (not great for your image as an author).

Advertise on Facebook

Do you have a lot of authors or literary enthusiasts on your Facebook friends list? If so, you might want to draft a public post letting people know that you’re looking for beta readers.

People in your network will see your post and reach out if they’re interested in helping you out.

Some might even be willing to read your book for free (it’s still good to offer to pay them for their time, though).

If you don’t know many other writers, look for author and beta reader Facebook groups you can join.

Various communities on Facebook are full of people willing to beta-read manuscripts and offer honest feedback.

As is the case with LinkedIn groups, just be sure to review posting guidelines before you start recruiting.

Advertise on Freelance Job Sites

Freelance job sites like Fiverr and Upwork can help you connect with skilled and experienced beta readers.

If you don’t know anyone in your network who can beta-read or aren’t having good luck with social media groups, check out some freelance sites instead.

When you take this approach, in addition to connecting with seasoned readers, you might also be more likely to get honest feedback.

Freelancers don’t know you personally (unlike some of your Facebook friends or LinkedIn connections). Because they don’t know you, they don’t have any reason to sugarcoat their comments. They understand they’re being paid to do a job (critique your work) and are more likely to fulfill that job’s requirements.

Advertise on Writing Subreddits

There’s a subreddit (communities that connect via the Reddit website or app) for just about everything, including writing.

Search Reddit for writing communities and beta reading communities. Then, publish a post letting people know that you’re looking for beta readers.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly you start to receive responses. Before you know it, you’ll likely have a list of people who are eager to read your story and share their insights.

Advertise on Goodreads

As a writer, you’re likely familiar with the book review site Goodreads. Did you know, though, that it’s not just for people to review published works?

You can also advertise for beta readers through this site.

Goodreads is a great place to meet potential beta readers because it’s full of people who love to read and leave reviews.

If there’s anyone who’ll give you honest feedback on your story, it’s someone who frequently visits the Goodreads site.

Check Dedicated Beta Reader Sites

If you still need ideas for places to advertise for beta readers, be sure to check out dedicated beta reader websites. The following are some of the most well-known platforms:

• io: The free version lets you upload one manuscript and share it with three beta readers. The paid version ($10) gives you unlimited manuscripts and readers.
• Pro Beta Reader: This site accepts manuscripts from multiple genres and charges US$0.001 per word (that works out to $5 for 50,0000 words).

Both of these sites are pretty inexpensive. However, your feedback might not be as detailed as you’d get if you hired individual beta readers to review your work.

Narrow Down Your Options

If you’re lucky, you’ll get responses from several people who are interested in reading your manuscript.

You don’t need to hire every single person who wants to read and comment on your work, though.

Make a list of people who have responded to your ad.

Then, narrow down your options based on the criteria for a good beta reader mentioned earlier in this guide.

For example, you might need to eliminate those who don’t represent your target audience or who don’t have previous beta reading experience.

It’s okay to be particular when choosing your beta readers. Just don’t be so picky that you get rid of qualified candidates or don’t have anyone left to review your draft.

Tips for Successfully Working with Beta Readers

It’s not enough to choose the right beta readers.

You also need to go into your partnership with a plan.

The following tips will set you up to have a positive experience with your beta readers:

Create a List of Questions

It’s easier to get quality feedback from your beta readers if you give them a little guidance.

Don’t just ask them to tell you what they thought about your book. Give them a list of questions.

Here are some specific questions you might want to ask:

• Was it easy for you to identify with the main character?
• Was the setting believable?
• Was the dialogue realistic?
• Was there anything you wanted to happen that never did?
• Were you satisfied with the ending?
• Did you find any scenes or chapters boring?
• Do you think any of the characters were unnecessary?
• After finishing the book, do you have any lingering questions?
• Do the scenes flow naturally from one to the next?
• Can you see visualize the characters while reading?
• Does the character development seem natural?
• Who is your favourite character? Why?
• Who is your least favourite character? Why?
• What’s your favourite part? Why?
• What’s your least favourite part? Why?

If you have concerns about a particular character seeming authentic or believable, be sure to include those in your list as well.

Decide When Readers Should Answer Questions

You have a few different options for giving your readers questions to answer.

Some authors provide a list of questions upfront so readers can keep them in mind.

Others send the list of questions after the reader has finished the manuscript.

When you share questions in advance, it’s easier for readers to focus on key details while reviewing the book.

When you wait until the end, you can feel more confident that you’re not swaying the reader or taking away from their experience.

If you’re unsure which approach to take, ask your readers which they prefer. Those who like to have some guidance can get their questions early, and those who want to read without any outside influence can wait until the end to respond.

Set a Clear Deadline

Some people read quickly, and others like to take their time. Keep this fact in mind when deciding when you’d like your readers to submit their comments on your book.

To avoid waiting several weeks or months to receive feedback from all your readers (or not getting any feedback at all), set a clear deadline.

You might also want to ask your readers to sign a contract agreeing to submit their responses by a specific date.

Be Realistic and Respectful of Readers’ Time

When choosing a deadline, be realistic about what people can accomplish.

Remember that your beta readers likely have other jobs or responsibilities.

They might not be able to get through your book in a week or two, especially if they’re reading carefully and taking lots of detailed notes.

Avoid setting a deadline that’s too strict. If a reader asks for an extension, do your best to accommodate them.

Yes, they’re getting paid for their work, but they’re also doing you a favour and helping you improve your final draft.

Once you’ve set the deadline, leave your beta readers alone to do their job.

Don’t pester them by requesting progress updates or asking when they think they’ll be finished.

If the deadline has passed and you still haven’t heard from a reader, then you can reach out, remind them about their agreement (if they signed one), and ask when they’ll send it to you as soon as possible.

Provide Different Versions of Your Book

Take your beta readers’ reading preferences into account.

Some people might want to read a hard copy of a manuscript, so they can write notes in the margins as they go.

Others might prefer a digital copy to type their comments more efficiently.

If you let people read in the most convenient way, they’ll have a more positive experience reviewing your book.

If they have a positive experience, they’ll be more inclined to leave helpful feedback and work with you again in the future.

Prepare to Receive Criticism

This tip ought to go without saying. However, many writers have a hard time releasing a draft of their book — especially their first book — for people to read and critique.

It doesn’t matter how skilled of a writer you are. Not all of the responses you receive will be positive.

Prepare yourself to receive criticism (hopefully constructive criticism), and remember that revising is part of the writing process. Nobody has ever written a perfect book on the first try (if ever).

Keep in mind, too, that the critiques you receive aren’t attacks on you as a person or your character.

They’re suggestions that will help you become a better, more successful writer.

Protect Your Intellectual Property

You’ve spent so much time on this book, and it would be awful if someone took your ideas and passed them off as their own.

Luckily, you have a few options for protecting your intellectual property.

Some authors ask their beta readers to sign a non-disclosure agreement (or NDA) before reviewing their work.

If your book contains confidential information that you want an attorney to review, it might be a good idea to use an NDA.

You can also attach a copyright page to the front of your manuscript to protect your ideas. There are lots of templates online that will help you create this document.

What to Do with Beta Reader Feedback

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed after your beta readers provide commentary on your writing.

Which suggestions should you implement?

Which should you ignore?

How long should you spend revising before sending your manuscript to a professional editor?

How you handle beta readers’ responses matters just as much as how you solicit them. Here are some tips that will help you manage the deluge of feedback coming your way:

Be Grateful

Before you say anything else to your beta readers after receiving their comments, thank them.

Even if you disagree with every single comment someone made, they still took the time to read your manuscript.

Let each reader know you appreciate their hard work and their commitment to providing valuable feedback on your work.

Don’t Argue

A beta reader’s comments and suggestions are for you, not for them.

The readers are telling you what they think about your work. However, they aren’t invested in whether or not you choose to make changes based on their critiques.

Our point in emphasizing this is to remind you not to argue with your beta readers.

If you fundamentally disagree with a suggestion or an opinion, you don’t have to do anything with it. At the end of the day, it’s your book, and you’re in charge.

Try Not to Get Offended

On a similar note, try your hardest not to get offended by criticism.

If a beta reader says they don’t like a character, don’t understand a scene, or don’t find your dialogue believable, they’re not trying to be rude.

They’re giving you valuable insight that will make your book better.

It can be hard to accept criticism when you’ve invested time and energy into a manuscript. Ultimately, the readers’ perspective can make your final draft better.

Take Your Time Editing

When you get feedback from your beta readers, you’ll find some suggestions you want to make immediately.

You’ll also get some that you’re unsure about implementing.

Perhaps you can see the reader’s point, but you also like what you originally wrote and don’t know if you want to change it.

It’s okay to take your time when making changes to your draft based on the readers’ reviews.

Let the text breathe for a bit before you dive back in and start rewriting. Then, when you do make changes, let those sit for a while longer before you finalize them.

Ensure at Least Two People Agree

A good rule of thumb when taking beta readers’ advice is to ensure at least two people agree.

If only one reader has a problem with something in your book, it might not be worth changing.

If two or more readers point out the same issue, that’s a sign that you should probably revise or at least revisit that part of your book.

You can also be the second person to agree with a critique or suggestion. In other words, if you only get a comment from one reader but you agree with it, go ahead and make that change.

Don’t Request Extra (Unpaid) Assistance

You’re paying beta readers to read your draft and give you feedback. That’s all.

You’re not paying them to go back and forth with you as you make changes to your draft and finalize it for your editor. You’re also not paying them to brainstorm with you or offer heavy proofreading.

If you want a reader to do these additional tasks, you must pay them extra.

Failing to pay your readers for extra assistance is disrespectful to them and their time. It will also likely turn them off from working with you again in the future.

Be Willing to Reciprocate

If you’ve recruited people from your local writing group or your social media friends to offer beta reading services, be willing to do the same for them (especially if they’re reading your manuscript for free or at a steep discount).

Let your readers know you’d be happy to review their next draft and give your thoughts.

Not only does this help you build goodwill with your community, but it also gives you a chance to improve your literary reviewing skills and learn from other talented writers.

Start Searching for Beta Readers Today

Beta readers provide valuable insight into your book’s strengths and shortcomings.

To get the best feedback, though, you need to find the right readers.

Are you ready to start looking for beta readers for your book?

Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll have no trouble finding the best people to review your writing, provide constructive feedback, and help you wow audiences with an incredible finished product.