A guide to beta reading

This article contains everything you need to know about beta readers and how they can be used effectively to provide valuable feedback on your book. Beta readers are especially important in the self-publishing process and can help you improve a book even when the budget is tight. However, it is important to understand how to use beta readers effectively to avoid unnecessary or harmful changes to your book.

What is a beta reader?

The best way to think about a beta reader is as someone who gives you big-picture feedback on your book, often in an informal manner. Beta readers tend not to be professionals, and their feedback tends to be more general.

Traditionally, a beta reader would be one of the first people to read a book after the author had completed and self-edited a draft but before publication. The idea was that they would identify any major issues before the book was professionally edited. That said, it is now common for authors to seek beta-reader feedback as the final step before publication, after the editorial process.

The main purpose of the beta reader is to identify where the reading experience does and does not match the author’s intentions. You will often find that the feedback is more about how the reader felt about the book than what was wrong and how to fix it. The latter is the role of the developmental editor.

To be clear, beta reading should produce observations and reactions, not a rewritten manuscript.

What does a beta reader look for?

The biggest problem you face as an author using a beta reader is that you are often asking a non-professional for editorial feedback. These readers might know that something feels ‘off’ in a book, but they may be unable to pinpoint the exact technical reason or suggest a solution.

This means that the feedback tends to be general and less actionable than the feedback you would receive from a professional editor.

However, there are general areas that a beta reader can help you assess:

Overall engagement and the points at which interest rises, falls, or disappears.
Confusing passages, missing information, and places where the reader has to make unintended assumptions.
Plot holes, inconsistent character behaviour, weak motivations, and pacing problems in fiction.
Clarity, organisation, usefulness, credibility, and unanswered reader questions in non-fiction.
The emotional impact of important scenes, arguments, revelations, and the ending.
Whether the book delivers the experience promised by its genre, subject, title, and intended audience.

When is a manuscript ready for beta readers?

The best time to use a beta reader is when you have completed the manuscript and carried out at least one substantial [self-edit] before sharing it.

As an author, you should have already resolved any known plot, structure, character, or argument problems. You should not be asking beta readers to confirm issues that you already know exist.

Your manuscript should also be as ‘clean’ as possible. Make the text readable enough that avoidable spelling and formatting problems do not distract from the book itself. Beta readers are not copy editors, but they will be distracted by obvious errors that should have been fixed. Remember that they may be giving up their time for free, so asking them to wade through a mistake-ridden book is frankly rude.

It can be helpful to give the beta reader a set of questions to answer, and there is more about that below. You can also give them broader guidance about any issues that you feel need particular attention. For example, if you are worried that a character is unlikeable or a certain section is boring, ask the reader to pay particular attention to it from the outset.

The different types of beta reader

Not all beta readers are the same, and in recent years a market has grown for ‘professional’ beta readers who expect to be paid for their feedback.

When deciding on the best type of beta reader for you and your book, consider the following:

What is their relationship to you? Will they be able to give honest feedback?
What is their reading experience?
What is their knowledge of your book’s genre?
How close are they to your intended readership?
Do they have time to read your book and give effective feedback?
Do they expect to be paid?

There is no single ideal beta reader, but consider all the questions above when deciding whether someone is right for your book.

Friends and family

These are normally your first port of call and may provide the first feedback you receive on your novel. They will be the easiest people to approach and will not usually expect to be paid.

However, they are also the trickiest to handle.

The first problem is that they may not be honest with you. They have probably seen you toil over your book and may be reluctant to give negative feedback, even if you specifically ask them to be harsh.

The second problem is that they may lack genre knowledge and be far removed from your target readership. This means they may object to elements that are appropriate for the genre but do not align with their personal tastes.

The third problem is that they probably do not have the expertise to provide the type of feedback you need. This is where a questionnaire can be helpful, giving them a framework for providing effective feedback.

All that said, they can be a great first point of contact for your book and will probably be able to spot any glaringly obvious issues.

I have a detailed article about [how to get effective feedback from friends and family].

Other writers

Other writers can make great beta readers, especially if they are writing in the same genre as you.

You will often find that writers are happy to arrange a beta-reading exchange in which you read each other’s books and provide feedback. This can be an effective and inexpensive way to use beta readers.

You may also find that writers have the technical insight to provide actionable feedback. For example, a less experienced reader might tell you that the book was ‘boring’ in the middle. A writer may be able to pinpoint that you had not established a character’s goals and motivations, and that they therefore lost interest in the second act. However, this can sometimes backfire: the feedback may be too technical, or the reader may suggest rewrites that go beyond either the problem or your desire to alter the manuscript.

It can be helpful to compare feedback from writers with feedback from non-writers and see where the responses overlap. This is probably the area that needs work.

Members of your target audience

If you can find beta readers within your target audience, they can be very useful indeed.

These readers can be found in book groups or online communities, and they represent the people most likely to buy and read the finished book. Perhaps the most useful feedback they can give concerns genre expectations, the [use of tropes] and the possible appearance of clichés. They will know what a book in your genre should be doing and can quickly tell you when you are going off track.

This can be especially valuable for judging engagement, clarity, tone, and satisfaction.

Professional beta readers

This brings us to professional beta readers.

The biggest advantage of paying for feedback is that you can agree on a defined service, deadline and deliverable. Depending on the service, the feedback may also be more detailed and actionable.

These readers will often offer a defined service, with a clear deadline and a set price. In the age of AI, you should also ask how the reader uses AI and confirm that you will receive their own assessment of your book. That said, there are many good paid beta readers. When choosing one, assess their sample reports, testimonials, experience and clearly stated scope.

Ideally, you will employ readers with demonstrable knowledge of your genre and the book’s intended audience.

So, where can you find a professional beta reader, and how much can you expect to pay?

Professional beta reading is a relatively new field, and prices vary greatly.

Fiverr can be a source for finding a reader, but the quality of services varies and authors should assess sellers carefully. If you are thinking about using Fiverr, read this article about [hiring an editor on Fiverr].

You can also look elsewhere online. Reddit is one place to start: you can look in the subreddit for your genre or ask directly in the Beta Readers subreddit.

Paid beta reading can cost anywhere from around $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on the manuscript and the service.

The cost will vary according to the length of your book, the experience of the beta reader and the service they offer.

Examples reported by self-published authors include:

$50: A typical flat payment mentioned for one manuscript.
Around $1 per 1,000 words: Approximately $150 for 150,000 words or $200 for 200,000 words.
$4–$6 per 1,000 words: For a more professional, editor-led beta read—about $320–$480 for an 80,000-word book.

If you want more details about potential costs, read [What does a beta reader cost?].

How to get effective feedback from beta readers

So, you have found a beta reader and now want to ensure that you receive feedback that works for you.

The most important thing to remember is that you need actionable feedback; vague and general comments are not useful. You also need to remember that you are probably dealing with readers who lack the knowledge to give you the feedback you need directly.

This means that you will have to do some detective work. Readers will often focus on how a book makes them feel, and you will need to turn those feelings into actionable insights.

One essential thing to remember is that not all feedback carries equal weight. Just because a reader says something about your book does not mean that you have to make a change. It is perfectly acceptable to ignore or reject feedback if, after assessing it, you feel that it is wrong or unhelpful.

That said, you are looking for trends. If two or three readers point towards the same issue, it is probably time to make a change.

Create a brief

The section below contains a list of potential questions to ask readers, but first let us consider the general approach.

You should give your beta readers a brief that directs them towards the type of feedback you need. For example, if you have a particular concern about your book, mention it in the brief and ask them to assess it directly without telling them what answer you expect.

However, also consider the following:

Create a brief that directs attention without telling readers what answers the author hopes to receive.
Combine open-ended questions with focused questions about the book’s most important uncertainties.
Ask for specific moments and examples instead of general verdicts such as whether the reader liked the book.
Give readers permission to be candid and explain that criticism of the manuscript is useful.
Make the task manageable and show appreciation for the reader’s time.

Give readers a deadline

One problem you may encounter is that it takes the beta reader much longer to read the book than they expected. They may start keenly, but life gets in the way and they can easily become distracted.

Your job as the author is to set clear expectations from the start.

One useful approach is to agree on a realistic return date before sending the manuscript. If you can both agree on a timeframe before they start reading, the reader is far more likely to meet the deadline.

It can also help to explain where the reader fits within your publishing schedule. State when you hope to start revisions and, if relevant, mention your proposed publication date. Avoid making a volunteer feel solely responsible for the progress of the book.

When setting a timeframe, consider the book’s length and the reader’s other commitments. Do not be unrealistic, and be respectful of the reader’s time.

It can be useful to arrange one polite check-in rather than repeatedly chasing a volunteer. Suggest at the start that you check in after a set period, and then stick to the agreement. When you do, politely remind the reader of the agreed completion date.

Useful questions to ask beta readers

It can be helpful for you, and reassuring for the beta reader, to provide a framework of questions for them to consider while reading. This might be the first time a reader has provided feedback, and they may have no idea how to formulate their thoughts. Without guidance, you may receive feedback such as ‘I liked the book’, which is not very useful.

They might also be reluctant to hurt your feelings, so providing a list of questions will help them understand the types of answers that will give you the information you need to improve the book.

Here is a refined and expanded questionnaire you could give to a beta reader.

General questions

What was your overall impression of the book?
What do you think the book is trying to achieve?
Who do you think the intended reader is?
Did the book meet the expectations created by its title, description, subject, or genre?
What did you enjoy most?
What did you enjoy least?
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Would you recommend the book to its intended readers? Why or why not?

Engagement and pacing

Did the opening make you want to continue reading?
At what points were you most engaged?
Were there any places where your interest began to fall?
Did you ever feel tempted to stop reading? If so, where and why?
Did any sections feel rushed, repetitive, or unnecessarily long?
Were there sections you wanted the author to explore in greater detail?
Did the book maintain your interest through to the ending?

Clarity and comprehension

Were any passages difficult to understand?
Did you ever have to reread a section to understand its meaning?
Was there anywhere you felt important information was missing?
Did you have to make assumptions that the author may not have intended?
Were any names, terms, events, or ideas introduced without enough explanation?
Did you notice any contradictions or inconsistencies?
What questions remained unanswered when you finished the book?

Fiction questions

Did the plot make sense from beginning to end?
Did you notice any plot holes or unexplained developments?
Did the characters’ actions and decisions feel believable?
Were the characters’ motivations clear?
Did any character behave inconsistently without a convincing reason?
Which characters did you find most and least engaging? Why?
Did the relationships between the characters feel convincing?
Did the central conflict feel important enough to sustain the story?
Were important developments properly prepared, or did any seem to come from nowhere?
Did you predict any major twists? If so, when?
Were there any scenes that felt unnecessary?
Did the climax feel satisfying?
Did the ending feel earned and complete?
How did the important scenes make you feel?

Non-fiction questions

Was the book’s main purpose clear?
Was the information presented in a logical order?
Did each chapter contribute to the book’s main purpose?
Were any explanations incomplete or difficult to follow?
Did the author provide enough evidence and examples?
Were any claims difficult to believe or insufficiently supported?
Did any sections repeat information unnecessarily?
Did the book assume knowledge that its intended reader may not possess?
Was the advice practical and useful?
After reading the book, do you feel able to apply what you learned?
What additional information would have made the book more useful?
Did the conclusion bring the ideas together effectively?

Emotional impact and ending

Which moment produced the strongest emotional reaction?
Were there scenes or arguments that should have had more impact than they did?
Did your feelings about the characters or subject change as you read?
Did the ending create the emotional or intellectual response you expected?
How did you feel immediately after finishing the book?
What part of the book remained with you afterwards?

I have also written a detailed article about [how to get effective feedback from beta readers].

What to do with beta-reader feedback

The last stage in the beta-reading process is to work out what to do with your feedback and convert it into actionable insights.

My first tip is to gather all responses before beginning major revisions. The temptation will be to jump into edits, but it is important to collect as much feedback as possible before making major changes.

I would also suggest recording feedback in one place and organising it by chapter, issue or priority. This will allow you to see the wider picture and make more informed choices.

Having created a feedback document, you can now separate reports of the reader’s experience from the solutions they propose. The feelings a reader had while reading your novel can be very informative, but they will not always align with the solution the reader suggests, if any. It is therefore useful to ensure that the two types of feedback can be viewed independently.

The next step is to look for patterns. Give particular attention to issues noticed independently by several readers. Track repeated confusion, loss of interest, disbelief or unmet expectations. Also notice when readers identify the same problem but propose different causes or solutions. Remember, just because a reader suggests a solution does not mean that they are right. However, do not dismiss a serious problem solely because only one reader articulated it. You need to use your own judgement, weighing patterns according to the reader’s relevance to the intended audience and the quality of their explanation rather than votes alone.

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to separate a reader’s reaction from any proposed solution. Instead, treat the reaction as evidence that deserves investigation. You might find that three readers feel your main character is unlikeable but that all three suggest different solutions. This tells you that you have a problem; it does not give you the solution. It is your role as the author to find that solution.

It is essential to recognise that a suggested fix may not address the underlying cause. When you see a pattern, ask what in the manuscript produced the response before deciding what to alter. You can then develop a solution that remains consistent with the rest of the book. If you are unable to find one, consider seeking a developmental edit.

For more detailed information, read this extensive article on [how to self-edit your book].