What are BETA readers?

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How many beta readers should have? What do you send them? All your burning BETA questions answered.

Beta Readers 101: What They Are, How to Use Them, and Key Tips for Writers

Hi, friends! I’m Allison Spooner, self-published author of The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story and The Things We Cannot Change, a story about the ghosts created by addiction. Today, I want to dive into a crucial step in the self-publishing process: beta readers.

I often hear questions about beta readers, so I’m sharing a comprehensive guide to answer those queries and give you all the details you need to know. If you’re gearing up for the beta-reading phase of your book journey, keep reading for insights and practical tips!

What Is a Beta Reader?

A beta reader is one of the last readers you turn to before sending your manuscript to an editor (or even before publishing). They play a critical role in providing feedback on your book while there’s still time to make significant changes. Think of beta reading as one of your manuscript’s final tune-ups before it hits the editor’s desk.

Here’s how beta readers fit into the process:

  1. Early or Alpha Readers: These are your first readers, who provide big-picture feedback early in the drafting phase.
  2. Beta Readers: Your beta readers come in after the initial draft is polished but before the manuscript is finalized, giving feedback on plot, flow, structure, and characters.
  3. ARC (Advance Reader Copy) Readers: ARC readers receive a polished, nearly final version of your book, usually for review purposes. Their role is to help spread the word and leave reviews after publication—you don’t expect significant feedback from them.

To summarize: beta readers offer constructive feedback, whereas ARC readers are more about promotion. Both are important, but today we’re focusing on beta readers.

What to Do When Working with Beta Readers

When you send your manuscript to beta readers, it’s helpful to guide them on what kind of feedback you’re looking for. The more specific you are, the more useful their feedback will be.

Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers:

  • Does this scene work for you?
  • Is this character believable?
  • Did you see the twist coming?
  • Are the plot and pacing consistent?

By giving beta readers a list of specific questions or areas to focus on, you can ensure their feedback addresses the spots where you need the most help.

Give Them Time to Read

Respect your beta readers’ time! They’re helping you out, so give them plenty of time to read and provide thoughtful feedback. I recommend giving beta readers about a month (with a little wiggle room in case life happens). Be clear about your expectations by providing:

  • A delivery date (when you’ll send them the manuscript).
  • A due date (when you’d like their feedback returned).

Who Should Be Your Beta Readers?

Your beta readers should be trusted readers who are likely to offer constructive feedback and who enjoy books in your genre.

Why Genre Matters

Readers familiar with your book’s genre will know what works, what feels out of place, and what other readers might expect. For example:

  • If you’re writing a horror novel, feedback from someone who primarily reads romance might not be as beneficial.
  • On the other hand, a horror fan will be more attuned to pacing, scares, and tropes that land with your target audience.

How Many Beta Readers Should You Have?

Unlike ARC readers, where more is better, you don’t need a huge number of beta readers. I recommend having 3-5 beta readers, depending on what you’re looking for in terms of feedback.

Why limit the number? Because too much feedback can be overwhelming! Everyone will have different ideas for improvement, and it can be hard to process if you’re receiving notes from 10 or more people. With just a handful of trusted beta readers, you can keep the process manageable.

Delivering Your Book to Beta Readers

How to Send Your Manuscript

I recommend creating individual copies of your manuscript in Google Docs for each beta reader.

  • Save a copy of your manuscript with each beta reader’s initials (e.g., BookTitle_ReaderInitials).
  • Share it directly with that reader so they can comment, ask questions, or provide suggestions without anyone else seeing or overlapping feedback.

This approach keeps everything organized and avoids confusion from multiple readers editing the same document.

Send the Whole Book (If Possible)

Whenever possible, send your beta readers the entire manuscript at once. This allows them to experience the flow and structure of the story too.

If you’re still finishing the draft and can only send portions, that’s okay—just know it can make it harder for your beta readers to evaluate the book as a cohesive whole. If you can, strive to complete the draft before involving beta readers so they can review the full picture.

Do Beta Readers Need to Sign Anything?

One common concern is whether you need beta readers to sign a contract to ensure they won’t steal or share your work. My advice:

  • If you’re using trusted readers—people you know personally or have worked with before—it’s rarely necessary.
  • However, if it gives you peace of mind, you can create a simple non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for them to sign.

Personally, I haven’t worried about contracts because I carefully choose readers I trust. Remember that beta readers aren’t paid, so there’s less need for formal agreements unless you’re vetting strangers.

Beta Reader FAQs

Let’s recap with some quick takeaways:

  1. What are beta readers?
    Beta readers are trusted readers who provide feedback on plot, flow, and characters before your book is finalized.

  2. How many beta readers do you need?
    Start with 3-5 readers. Too many voices can become overwhelming.

  3. Should beta readers be in your genre?
    Yes! Readers familiar with your genre will provide more useful, targeted feedback.

  4. Do I need a contract?
    Trusted beta readers? No. But if working with unfamiliar readers, an NDA can help protect your work.

Final Thoughts: Use Beta Readers Wisely

Beta readers are a valuable resource on your self-publishing journey. They provide the crucial outside perspective needed to refine your book and prepare it for publication.

Choose them carefully, guide them with specific feedback requests, and give them the time and tools they need to provide thoughtful responses. In return, you’ll get insights that will elevate your manuscript to the next level.

If you have more questions about beta readers—or any other part of the self-publishing process—feel free to drop them in the comments!

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