Introduction
As an author, you’ve put a lot of time and effort into your book. You’ve written the story, revised it, and even edited it. But before you hit publish, it’s important to get feedback from a beta reader (someone who reads your book before it’s published and available to everyone!) to get feedback on the overall story, characters, plot, and pacing. They can help you identify areas that are working well and areas that need improvement
Here are some of the benefits of having a beta reader:
- They can identify plot holes. When you’ve been working on a book for a long time, it can be easy to overlook things. A beta reader can help you catch any plot holes or inconsistencies that you may have missed.
- They can give you feedback on your characters. Are your characters believable and relatable? Do they have clear motivations? A beta reader can help you flesh out your characters and make them more engaging.
- They can help you improve your pacing. Is your book too slow or too fast? A beta reader can help you identify any pacing issues and make sure your book flows smoothly.
- They can give you an overall impression of your book. What did they like about your book? What didn’t they like? A beta reader can give you valuable feedback on your book’s strengths and weaknesses.
How to work with a beta reader:
- Once you’ve found a beta reader, be sure to give them clear expectations. Let them know what you’re looking for in terms of feedback. You may want them to focus on specific areas of your book, such as the plot, characters, or pacing.
- Be respectful of the beta reader’s time. Give them a reasonable amount of time to read your book and give you feedback.
- Be prepared to receive both positive and negative feedback from your beta reader. It’s important to listen to their feedback with an open mind and use it to improve your book.
Finding the right beta reader
There are a few ways to find a beta reader. You can ask friends, family, or fellow writers if they would be willing to read your book and give you feedback. You can also join online writing communities where you can find beta readers.
Bound also offers manuscript evaluation and beta reading services. Our expert editors provide a 5-6 page evaluation of the book analyzing plot, pacing, language, characters, titles, and viability. Read more here.
Conclusion
If you’re serious about publishing the best version of your book, we encourage you to find a beta reader and get their feedback! It might just be the best decision you ever make for your book.
Written by Rheea Mukherjee
Rheea Rodrigues Mukherjee is the author of The Body Myth (Unnamed Press /Penguin India 2019) which was shortlisted for the Tata Literature Live First Book Award. Her work has been published and featured in Scroll.in, Southern Humanities Review, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Vogue India, Out of Print, TBLM, and Bengal Lights, among others. She co-founded Bangalore Writers Workshop in 2012 and currently co-runs Write Leela Write, a Design and Content Laboratory in Bangalore, India. Rheea has an MFA in creative writing from California College of the Arts.
