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Writer's pictureS. A. Crow

How to find Beta Readers



How to find and set up a Beta Read. Learn the difference between the reads a writer can use to advance their craft. Why would you want to do a beta read? How to set it up and get readers.


What is the difference between Alpha, Beta, and ARC reads?

You might have seen these terms in your favorite author’s newsletter along with a link. Or in my case, when I was just a wee writer a few years ago, seeing these terms in authors’ Instagram accounts. So here is what they mean and what they often entail.

Alpha reader: According to Blueprint Press’s article, What is an Alpha Reader?

“The alpha reader, or often called the first reader, reads the author’s work-in-process prior to finishing it. This could occur as soon as the author completes the first draft, or could be a little later. Then, perhaps, the author reads the first manuscript, makes any necessary corrections, and then shows the second manuscript to the alpha reader.

If an author uses an alpha reader, they will want them to review their manuscript before sending it to an editor (if the author has the plans of having one).

Many authors omit the usage of alpha readers entirely. If the author opts to proceed, the earlier they do it, the greater it is. The author wants to minimize the time spent refining portions that can be changed or even eliminated due to input from the alpha reader.

An optimal period to gain the alpha reader is between the start of the material and the completion of the first output. It is all up to the author. If the author wants to determine how they perform as a writer and whether the plot makes sense and is going forward in the right direction, involving the alpha reader is an excellent approach.”

Beta Reader: similar to the Alpha reader, a beta reader, reads the work for specific questions the author has. The best time to utilize a beta reader is before sending or after sending the manuscript to an editor.

ARC Advance Reader Copy: This is a reader that gets a free completed copy of the novel before its publication date so the reader can have a review ready to post when the novel goes live or for sale on sites. Often the author will give the links to certain locations they wish the review to be posted.


I know there doesn’t seem to be much difference between an alpha and beta reader, but there is a slight difference when it comes to the time to utilize that type of reader. We can use an alpha reader while you're still in the idea stage, whereas a beta reader is more useful after the first revision stage to before publication.



Why would you want to do a Beta read?

Beta readers can often catch things the author hasn’t caught, like plot holes, character deviation, sensitive issues, representation, plot choices, and twists. You can seek sensitivity readers and representation readers to give honest feedback on characters and situations in the novel.


 

If you would like to learn more about sensitivity and representational readers, comment below.


 

A beta read is often an event that requires social media marketing and a way to share the document and ask the readers’ questions. There are professional beta readers that you can hire, but most authors work out deals with readers. That gets us to our next point.


How can you set up a Beta read?

There are several ways to set up a beta read, so let’s break it down between free and not free options.

#1 establish a deadline for not only your project of setting up a beta read but also when your beta read will begin and end.

How I created beta reads in the past with 0 cost.

Start with Google docs.

Create a folder for your beta read.

I like to break my document into chapters with a questionnaire at the end of each chapter. We will get more into that in a moment. But you can also keep your document as one large document or as a safer alternative have your document as a pdf or other type of file.

Open Google forms

Create a standard question form for each chapter or the document as a whole.

Here are a few question ideas from reedsyblog’s post What are Beta Readers’ https://blog.reedsy.com/beta-readers/

“Questions to ask beta readers

The opportunity to find out what readers think of your book before you send it out into the world is extremely valuable. If there are specific areas of your manuscript that you're not sure about, take notes and put them on a list. If your beta readers don't mention these issues their own feedback, you can bring them up yourself. Here are a few question ideas to get you going.

⏰ Pacing

  • Are there any parts of the story that drag?

  • Does each scene flow naturally into the next?

  • Did you feel there were any areas that skipped over information?

  • Does the pacing feel balanced — and are there any areas that are too slow or too intense?

  • Are there any exposition dumps (places I over-inform the reader) you struggled to get through?

🌎 Worldbuilding

  • Can you see the world clearly while reading?

  • Can you see the action clearly while reading?

  • Can you see the characters clearly while reading?

  • Can you describe what the main characters look like?

👫 Characters

  • Was it clear who is talking?

  • Does the dialogue sound natural and realistic?

  • Does the character development feel natural?

  • Are there any out-of-character moments?

  • Do any of the characters feel cliche or stereotypical?

📚 General

  • Who is your favorite character and why?

  • Who is your least favorite character and why?

  • What’s your favorite part and why?

  • Did you have a least favorite part? What is it and why?

The more you tailor these questions to your book, the better. So instead of asking “Is there natural flow between the scenes,” look for specific scene cuts you’re not sure about and mention them specifically.”

At the top right corner of your form is a share button. Click that button to get the link address. Add that link to the bottom of your chapter or document so the reader can click and answer your questions.

Non-free options for setting up a beta read. You can use some of these to go along with the free option.

Head over to BookFunnel and get a membership https://bookfunnel.com/pricing/

Fill out the information and add your document to your Book Funnel

Under landing pages, you will find Email Signup pages fill in the information and include a landing page from your newsletter provider. I use Mailerlite and created this landing page.

I then collect people on my newsletter landing page for beta readers and soon I will give them the download link to the beta read when the read begins.

You can still use the Google forms to create your question form and email it to your beta readers or attach it to your document for them to click at the end.

Now that your beta document and question form are set up. It’s time to search for beta readers.

Look for readers that read your genre using social media hashtags. Example: I write romantic suspense so I would make a campaign with the hashtag #romanticsuspense or #romancereaders

Also, look for readers you wouldn’t think would read your book with hashtags like example #suspensereaders #thrillernovel #betareaderswanted these are general hashtags for the reading community and might get you readers that normally wouldn’t read your major genre.

How to get readers for your Beta read.

The first option is to ask for help from your friends and family. Message them and share your progress on your work and ask if they would like to do you a favor.

Check out writing communities on social media, twitch, discord, reddit, and tiktok. I have an article on finding writing communities, especially inclusive writing communities but here are 15 of the best online writing communities for aspiring authors.


Your author's website, Facebook page, Tiktok account, Twitter, Instagram page.



Local Writing Groups


On the Wings for Writers Critique options.

We are a writing group and offer a channel for critique help and a monthly live critique read night.

The 2nd Wednesday of the Month at 5pm Central US time.



What do you do when it’s over?

When it is all over and your readers have filled out your questions or sent you feedback. Collect the feedback and then take a break. Yes, you heard me walk away from it. Work on something else. One, you need time to not be sensitive about the feedback. When it is time to look at the feedback, be open-minded and remember that you don’t have to do everything they tell you to. Cherry pick the feedback that works for your vision of the story. Remember that it’s still your story and you will have to read it several more times before you are ready to publish it yet.

One of the most interesting things that happens is reader headcanon. Sometimes a reader will see your characters or story with their own filter and it’s exceptional to see. Often you will learn more about the reader than what they thought about the story.


Story-time

Book 2 of my Fire Series The Fire Inside is a 2nd-Chance, bodyguard, suspense, thriller, romance. I have a kidnap and rape victim as the main character. My male lead knows how to handle dealing with a victim. So he asks permission if he needs to touch her. He announces his presence often so as not to spook her. I had a reader say that him asking her if he can touch her was ridiculous. I knew then that this person has never dealt with a victim of that magnitude before.

I’m also actively trying to change the alpha male archetype in my novels. I want to show that a man can be just as manly without feeding into toxic masculine traits. This reader did not understand what I was trying to do because of their preconceived ideas of the genre. So I just enjoyed learning about the reader and what I might encounter.


I hope this blog post helped you find and set up a Beta Read. We took the time to learn the difference between the reads a writer uses to advance their craft. Why we would want to do a beta read in the first place and how to set it up and get readers. Again if you would like to learn more about sensitivity and representational readers, comment below.



My Beta Read.


Click on the image above, to go to the sign up page.



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