The tingly feeling that hits when you finally type ‘the end’ on the piece you’ve been writing for months or even years is exhilarating. You stretch daintily on your couch as you think of all the people who would come to read your book and you smile.
But what if I told you that writing ‘the end’ is only the beginning? That’s right. Finishing your book is the first phase, and the journey that follows is a different adventure.
After my editor worked her magic on the fourth draft of my memoir, The Girl in The Mirror: How 2020 Became the Year of My Grand Shift, I knew it was time to give it to my beta readers to assess. It was the scariest thing I’d ever done, yet it was the most necessary step.
I needed to know what they thought about my story. Would they like it? Would it resonate with them? Did I bare too much of myself or not enough? Would they think it was just another mundane memoir?
I had poured my heart and soul into it. It was a story about my struggles with identity, self-love, and self-discovery. I’d always felt like I was living someone else’s life, a stranger in my own body, and I wanted to share my journey with others who might be going through the same thing.
My beta readers were carefully selected—people I knew would be honest with me, people who would give me constructive feedback, and not sugarcoat their opinions. They were my ‘guinea pigs, my trial run, my first set of critics.
The feedback started trickling in, and I was pleasantly surprised. They loved it! My story resonated with them, and in so many words, they appreciated the honesty and vulnerability that went into it.
They pointed out a few areas that needed improvement, and I took note of their suggestions. In time, I produced a masterpiece that not only resonated with new readers, but was also therapeutic in the same breath.
The journey of writing a book is not a singular one. It takes a village. And writing is never just about telling a story but about connecting with your audience, pulling them in, making them feel something. With the help of beta readers, you can be well on your way to the success you know you deserve.
Beta readers are the first readers who read your book and offer you feedback. They are the sounding board—a litmus test to know how your audience would receive your book when it eventually hits press.
Here are seven things that beta readers do to help authors perfect their work.
1. Offer a fresh perspective: Beta readers provide authors with an objective view of their work, allowing them to identify areas of improvement.
2. Check for plot holes: Great beta readers detect inconsistencies in the story and highlight any plot holes observed.
3. Test the pacing: Beta readers can test the pacing of the story to ensure that it flows smoothly and isn’t too slow or fast-paced.
4. Critique character development: Beta readers can give feedback on character development and whether the characters are relatable and well-developed.
5. Give feedback on the ending: Beta readers often provide commentaries on the ending and whether it is satisfying and fitting for the story.
6. Offer suggestions: Some beta readers offer suggestions on how to improve the writing, such as suggestions on language, sentence structure, and dialogue.
7. Identify target audience appeal: Since your beta readers are your proposed target audience, they can help make the manuscript more appealing to that demographic.
As a book lover and avid reader, I’d always been interested in the publishing process. But it wasn’t until a friend of mine asked me to beta read their book back in ’19 that I truly understood the importance of beta readers.
I was given a manuscript and asked to read within a short period. Diving in, I took copious notes with every page turned. When I finished, I sat down with my friend and gave them honest feedback on what I thought worked and what needed improvement—purely from a reader’s point of view.
Seeing how much my feedback meant to my friend, and how it helped shape their book into a better version of itself, made me realize just how necessary beta readers are.
I know that not everyone has a friend who can give honest and constructive feedback, and that’s where I come in. As an experienced beta reader, I’m committed to helping you reach your book goals.
I pride myself on providing quick and honest feedback to authors, without sacrificing the quality of my critique. I understand the importance of timely feedback, and love to provide it while still giving thoughtful and helpful insights.
It can be scary to share your work with others, but a great beta reader will however offer constructive suggestions without putting your work down, as it transcends into a masterpiece that is valuable to you and your reader.
Having a prepared list of questions for your beta reader is also helpful, so that you can achieve your desired goals for your book.
Are you an author looking for someone to give your manuscript a fresh set of eyes? I’m here to help. Let’s work together to make your book the best it can be.
With a better beta, your book can be so much better.