Beta readers--the behind-the-scene-crew to every great novel. And there seems to be a dearth of them. Before I go on, perhaps I should explain just exactly what is a beta reader. Basically, a beta reader is kind of like an informal editor. Authors approach beta reader to read a manuscript that has been lightly edited, but not quite ready to be published yet. Finding a good beta reader is important for authors because beta readers provide insight and (hopefully) honest feedback on the manuscript. However, it should be made clear that beta readers are not editors. Sure, we might correct a misspelled word here and there, but our main job is provide our opinions of the actual story itself. Did the plot flow well? Were there any loop holes? Were the characters lovable? A good beta reader should provide feedback on such points.
So, are you interested in being a beta reader yet? As I mentioned before, it seems as if there is a lack of beta readers. Being a beta reader is a rewarding experience, especially once the novel you helped get published into a book. There are many authors out there looking for beta readers to help polish their novel. Head on over to Goodreads and checkout The Beta Reader Group's forum and threads to connect with authors!
And now, here are some tips to make your beta reading experience enjoyable:
*find a manuscript that is a genre you enjoy reading; if you like reading fantasy, read fantasy stories. Of course it's good to expand your taste in books, but make sure you actually like what you're reading or else beta reading will seem more like a chore than something you actually want to do
*be the target audience of the book you're reading. That being said, it's okay if you're not exactly the target audience. For example, I know several adults who enjoy reading YA books whose target audience is teens. Vice versa, I know some teens who enjoy reading adult or new adult books. But being the target audience is kind of like an added bonus because you can provide feedback that the author can really utilize to reach and satisfy his/her target audience
*focus on the big picture! Don't spend too much energy on the nitty-gritty details, such as grammar. Make sure the plot makes sense and the scenes flow together; take note of the pacing of the story--is it too fast, too slow or just right?
*provide honest feedback! I cannot stress this enough--honesty is key here. Of course there is no need to be rude or crass, but don't try lie or sugar coat issues you found. Better to catch mistakes before than after the book is published!
*explain what changes you would make and why.
*be prompt with your replies. I'm not saying you have to rush through a 300 page manuscript in 2 days. But it's not nice to keep the author waiting for 1 month+ :-P A good rule of thumb is provide updates every 3-5 days, just to let the author know that you haven't forgotten about their book :-)
So, what are you waiting for?
So, are you interested in being a beta reader yet? As I mentioned before, it seems as if there is a lack of beta readers. Being a beta reader is a rewarding experience, especially once the novel you helped get published into a book. There are many authors out there looking for beta readers to help polish their novel. Head on over to Goodreads and checkout The Beta Reader Group's forum and threads to connect with authors!
And now, here are some tips to make your beta reading experience enjoyable:
*find a manuscript that is a genre you enjoy reading; if you like reading fantasy, read fantasy stories. Of course it's good to expand your taste in books, but make sure you actually like what you're reading or else beta reading will seem more like a chore than something you actually want to do
*be the target audience of the book you're reading. That being said, it's okay if you're not exactly the target audience. For example, I know several adults who enjoy reading YA books whose target audience is teens. Vice versa, I know some teens who enjoy reading adult or new adult books. But being the target audience is kind of like an added bonus because you can provide feedback that the author can really utilize to reach and satisfy his/her target audience
*focus on the big picture! Don't spend too much energy on the nitty-gritty details, such as grammar. Make sure the plot makes sense and the scenes flow together; take note of the pacing of the story--is it too fast, too slow or just right?
*provide honest feedback! I cannot stress this enough--honesty is key here. Of course there is no need to be rude or crass, but don't try lie or sugar coat issues you found. Better to catch mistakes before than after the book is published!
*explain what changes you would make and why.
*be prompt with your replies. I'm not saying you have to rush through a 300 page manuscript in 2 days. But it's not nice to keep the author waiting for 1 month+ :-P A good rule of thumb is provide updates every 3-5 days, just to let the author know that you haven't forgotten about their book :-)
So, what are you waiting for?
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