Hi there! And thanks for joining me to go over what to expect as a beta reader!
I wanted to write down a few quick tips, tricks, and guidelines to make sure everyone is on the same page with 1) what beta reading actually is, and 2) what to expect as you read!
What is Beta Reading
This is the big question! Beta reading is a service provided to authors by their lovely readers that gives them first glance into what readers might think about their stories. This is the step after an author’s edits, but before a final proofread and Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs).
Authors want to improve their stories before they get to the final reader, so while this might not be a complete and proofread document, it should have already undergone some editing to get it as close to a final version as possible. Then when beta readers give their feedback, further improvements are made so that it can be the best possible story once it hits the shelves.
We want to hear your unfiltered thoughts. We want to see heart-eye emojis when something hits your soul in the right way. We want to know when a chapter is boring and seems out of place. We want to know when a character you know you’re supposed to love is acting in a very unlovable way.
When you’re surprised. Touched. Healed. Sad. Hurt. Confused. We want to know these things so that we can craft the type of story that draws out these emotions when we want to and keeps them at bay when we don’t.
What to Expect as a Beta Reader
An author will likely share a document with you that contains the most recent version of their story. Some writers might use a service that provides an easy platform to ask and answer questions, but my personal preference is a simple word document! You can expect that there will likely be breaks throughout the doc (I like to go by chapter) where the author will ask questions about their characters or the progression of the story.
You should feel free to give any and all feedback that strikes you. Stop reading if you’re bored (I, at least, always check when answers stop coming in because that indicates the previously read portion wasn’t enticing enough to keep you going). Leave emojis or highlight sections you loved or hated (making a note of whether it’s a love or hate is always helpful here, too so I’m not sitting in the dark and biting my hair wondering which it is). Ask questions when something is confusing and write down your guesses when you have a hunch about what the next chapter might bring.
Every reaction is helpful for us to know whether we’re on the right track!
The Pitfalls of Beta Reading
Beta reading should first and foremost be fun. Beta reading does not require any experience, just a love for reading. It does require you to read un-proofread work in a different format though, so some flexibility goes a long way.
And unfortunately, stuff goes wrong! I try to keep my beta readers close and happy, with separate documents for everyone and direct email access to me, but because of this closer working relationship (and my seemingly supernatural ability to F stuff up), please expect something to go wrong. I’ve sent out documents to the wrong emails, I’ve screwed up formatting so that my lovely readers can’t read highlighted sections and I’ve copied documents in ways that prevent dark mode from working properly (still don’t know how that one happened).
I do my best but unfortunately this is an area where my humanity shows through. But please know you can always reach out to me and I will do my best to work through any issues with you.
In my experience, beta reading is most fruitful when you’ve read and enjoyed other works by the author. Some stories or authors you just won’t mesh with and that’s okay, but having some familiarity with the author’s work before getting into it makes the process smoother for everyone.
So, Do You Want to Beta Read for Me?
Please feel free to reach out to authorallywilliams@gmail.com if you’d like to be a beta reader for my next novel, and follow me on Instagram @authorallywilliams to be first on the list for my next beta call.
Happy reading!