How to Find Beta Readers

So you’ve done the hard part: writing the book. Congratulations! But now, it’s time to embark on the journey of publishing. Whether you’re seeking traditional publication or leaning towards self-publishing, you’re first going to need to cozy up to some beta readers.

Even if you’ve heard the term “beta reader” before, you may have some questions. Like, how many readers do you need, and how can you tell good beta readers from not-so-good ones, and where do you even find these people? Not to worry—finding beta readers is easier than you may think. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a beta reader?

A beta reader is a preliminary reader who “test drives” a novel before it’s released to the masses. They’ll offer the writer feedback on what worked well and what didn’t, including characters, plot, pacing, and worldbuilding. If there are any problems, a beta reader can flag them so the writer can address them before the book is published.

Why are beta readers important for writers?

When we’ve been staring at a manuscript for years and can see it in our minds from every possible direction, we forget how our work comes across to people who are not us. Beta readers come to a novel with fresh eyes.

If a character makes a decision that doesn’t fit with their actions so far, or if an element of setting feels anachronistic or out of place, or if you’ve forgotten to incorporate a detail from your beginning into your ending, your beta readers will point it out. Because if they don’t —the readers and the critics will.

Although a beta reader is useful for any writer, they’re especially important if you’re writing from the point of view of a culture you’re not personally a part of. This can be an ethnic culture or a social one—for example, a minority ethnicity or a highly specialized workplace or subculture. These kinds of beta readers are called sensitivity readers. A sensitivity reader will provide feedback and let you know if you’re unintentionally propagating any negative stereotypes, or approaching them from a misguided perspective.

Remember—as the author, you know the full layout of your novel, including behind the curtain. A beta reader will be able to tell you what your readers will experience when they open your book.

5 Ways to find beta readers for your novel

If you’ve gotten your novel into the best shape it can be on your own, beta reader feedback is the next step. Here are five places you can find beta readers to give you the external insight you need.

1. Through friends and family

They’ve been cheering you on throughout your writing journey. Now, they might be able to give you a lift up in connecting with first readers.

If your nearest and dearest are readers themselves (especially in your genre), you can ask them if they’d be willing to beta read for you. Or, you can ask them if they have any friends or colleagues that would be interested. They might know a few people who love reading exactly the sort of books you love to write.

Something to keep in mind when reaching out to those close to you, however, is that their feedback may be a bit more subjective than it would be coming from other sources. Your family members will be more inclined to be nice to you and tell you how much they loved every single word (even if, tragically, they didn’t). While this sort of response can feel good in the moment, it doesn’t offer much practical benefit when it comes to improving your book.

This is why it’s so important to provide them with some guidance on the beta reading process. We’ll look at how to do that below.

2. Through your author network

As you make your way through the literary world, you’ll notice a writing community springing up around you. Because stories are inherently about connecting with others, sharing your stories is a great way to connect with potential beta readers!

This means creating an author website, building an email newsletter list, being active on social media, attending literary festivals and events, making friends on Goodreads and the Scribophile forums, getting to know your local bookshops, and so forth. Then, when you’re at the stage in your writing process where you’re ready for beta readers, you can put some feelers out and ask around for anyone who might be interested.

The great thing about this method is it connects you with people who you know are already interested in reading your work. But, it does take some time to build the foundation. Seeking beta readers through your author community is a bit like scattering seeds: some of them will grow, and some won’t, but you won’t know which is which until you try.

3. Through local writing groups

Group workshops and support networks are popular, and there may already be a few in your area. In-person writing groups are a great way to connect with potential beta readers who will help you develop your work. They’re also a place to make solid friendships.

If you have a brick-and-mortar writers’ center, they’ll probably have one. If not, check local community centers, libraries, or arts centers.

If there doesn’t appear to be an established writing group in your area already, you can launch your own! If you’re taking any writing classes (or really classes of any kind—we writers like to spread our wings), ask around and see if any of your classmates would like to start one with you. You can also post announcements in the aforementioned places—community centers, libraries, arts centers—with your email address (you can create a new one for this purpose, if you’re worried about privacy) asking other writers to get in touch.

In writing groups, you can exchange support, news, and insightful feedback on each other’s finished work.

4. Through online writing communities

Joining an online writers’ community is one of the best ways to connect with beta readers. Because they’re not limited to geography, these online platforms bring together writers from all over the world and all possible genres from literary fiction to historical romance to hard sci-fi. This means you’ll have an easier time meeting beta readers who are part of your book’s target audience.

In these online forums you can find beta readers through an online writing group or through writing forums. Some even have dedicated beta reader directories. The benefit of this method is that you’ll receive valuable feedback from readers who know something about the writing craft. In exchange, they may ask you to provide feedback on their own work (more about compensation and exchange below). This will help you grow as a writer.

5. Through a paid beta reading service

There are also services that specialize in connecting writers with beta readers. These can be helpful if you find the whole process a bit overwhelming and want someone to do the talking-to-humans part for you. They’ll pair your book with readers who they think will be a good fit and who enjoy your chosen genre. Then, those readers will be given questionnaires to fill out regarding their experience of your book.

The great thing about paid beta readers is that they’ll feel invested in reading (and finishing) your novel—you won’t have to chase after them reminding them that their deadline is coming up. They’ll also have a clear idea of what to look for and how to communicate any issues they come across while reading.

The downside, of course, is that they’re a bit more of an investment than the other avenues we looked at above.

How many beta readers should you have?

Between three and twelve beta readers is a good place to start. A minimum of three means you’ll get a range of perspectives, and a “tie breaker” if two readers have different experiences of a particular plot point or character. Up to a dozen beta readers means you’ll get a sense of how your novel will come across to a more general readership. But more than a dozen can become a bit overwhelming.

What you can also do is manage your beta readers in segments. You might entrust your novel to five to eight beta readers initially, and make substantial revisions around their feedback. Then, you can send the polished version to another five to eight readers to make sure those issues have been addressed and get one last sweep of constructive criticism before you send it out.

What to do once you’ve assembled your beta reading team

By using at least one of these methods, you should have accumulated a small support group of beta readers to review your work. Now what? Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin the beta reading process.

Establish compensation

In general, beta readers aren’t paid for providing their honest feedback (unless they’re part of a beta reading service, as we looked at above). But it’s still a good idea to discuss what your beta readers are getting in return for their time, so that there’s no miscommunication or disappointment.

At a minimum, you should promise to mention your beta readers by name in the acknowledgments section of your finished book. Depending on your budget and how many beta readers you have, you may also promise them a free copy of the book once it’s published.

If your beta readers are fellow writers, you may be promising to beta read for them in return. Or, you might give them a positive review for their book on Goodreads. If your beta readers are close friends or family members, their compensation might be that you make them cookies or watch their house while they’re away.

Remember: offering a reward, however small, will make your beta readers more likely to commit to doing the work.

Offer guidance

No matter how well-intentioned they may be, most readers will need a little help when it comes to giving feedback. It’s a good idea to put together some questions for your critique partners to work through as they go.

Here are some examples:

• Did you encounter any plot holes or moments that didn’t add up?

• Was the protagonist’s character development convincing?

• Who was your favorite character, and why?

• Did you believe in this romantic relationship, or did it feel forced?

• Were there any moments where the pacing started to drag, or where you felt restless?

• At what point did you figure out who the culprit was—or was it a surprise?

• Was the worldbuilding convincing? Did any elements feel anachronistic or out of place?

• Did the story turn out the way you were hoping it would?Did you catch any writing craft issues, like unconvincing dialogue or confusing sentences?

• Do you have any other suggestions for things that could be improved?

Once they know what you’re looking for, your first readers can provide great feedback that will help you get your novel ready for publication.

Set deadlines

This is very important. If you don’t give your beta readers a time frame, the beautiful book that you’ve written will get shuffled down the list of priorities forever.

In general, four to six weeks is a good benchmark for beta feedback. Remember to give them a concrete date, rather than a vague idea: “Can you try to get this back to me by June 30th? ” is something they can write on their calendar; “I need your comments back in about a month” is less tangible.

Keep track of all your first readers and the dates you’ve given them. You can follow up once or twice as the deadline approaches, but remember that these people have projects and problems of their own—they might not be able to prioritize yours as easily as they had hoped. If you haven’t received feedback from everyone after eight weeks, move on to the next step.

Process and apply the right feedback

Once you’ve compiled all your beta feedback, it’s time to go over it with an objective eye. Especially look at areas where more than one person had the same experience—for instance, if multiple people thought that a relationship developed too rapidly, or the villain’s last-minute redemption was unconvincing.

But remember that even though these test readers can offer suggestions, it’s ultimately your story. Don’t feel pressured to incorporate any feedback that doesn’t feel right in your vision of this book.

If you feel resistant to some of the feedback you’re getting, try setting it aside for a few days so that you can look at it with fresh eyes. Once you distance yourself from your knee-jerk emotional response, you might think, Ah, they might be onto something. Or, I see what they mean, but it’s not quite what I had in mind for this character. Either way, you’ll know that you made the right decision for your novel.

A beta reader is your first line of defense

Although a beta reader doesn’t replace a professional editor, they’re a great way to get some external insight on what works well in your story and what doesn’t. This way, you can catch any problems with your novel early before it’s released into the world. And, you even make personal connections that support your career.