When Feedback Is What You Need, Turn to Beta Readers
Who Are Beta Readers?
These are people who read your manuscript and provide constructive criticism on the big things like pacing, plot, characters, and voice. They are not friends, parents, siblings, or anyone else who will worry about hurting your feelings. They are not those who want to tell you what you want to hear (that the book is fabulous and they wouldn’t change a thing). This is not the constructive feedback that will help you to take it to the next level. If all they do is tell you you’re great, your book will not progress.
When it comes to beta readers, I suggest finding people who write or read in your genre—but you can also cast a broader net. You might, for instance, ask a reader or two who love literary fiction even though you write crime novels. I think this sort of crossover is fine to do. Good storytelling goes beyond genre, and having a variety of different readers can open your eyes to different perspectives.
I’m an editor, and my job requires me to read in many different genres, even if they’re not my favorite. This doesn’t stop me from noticing where a writer has taken a wrong turn, left something important out of the plot, or created dialogue that doesn’t sound realistic.
Where Do I Find Them?
Finding them may mean getting out of your comfort zone. If you’re not in a writer’s workshop (online or in person), you’re going to have to ask some nonrelatives if they would be willing to read your book. Usually other writers are looking for beta readers too, so they’ll welcome the offer to swap manuscripts. You might find them via social media platforms or through online writing or reading groups (for example, PNWA is a regional group but people who don’t live in the region can join and participate in online activities). Many of these groups have a Facebook presence as well, where you can post a message requesting beta readers. Be sure to include a description of your manuscript, the word count, and genre. I suggest trying to get three beta readers per revision. If more than that volunteer, great: take down names and email addresses, so you can use them for a later revision.
Should I take all of their suggestions?
No. Plain and simple. Do not assume every reader is correct in her diagnosis every step of the way. That’s not how this works. You have to think about each suggestion and whether or not it’s appropriate for the story. When I developmental edit for a client, I tell the client that if my suggestion doesn’t resonate with them, it’s not going to be helpful, and it’s okay to let it go. Of course, if they’re doing this with a majority of the suggestions, they should also ask themselves whether they’re being honest. It’s also possible that a beta reader who left an abundance of suggestions that you don’t agree with simply didn’t understand what you were trying to do with the story.
If more than one beta reader comments on a particular scene or detail, you must give it ample consideration even if you love that particular scene or detail just the way it is. As Faulkner said, “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.”
Which advice do I act on and which do I leave behind?
When a beta reader points something out, it means that particular sentence, paragraph, or part of the story stopped them and made them wonder, or it just didn’t sound right for whatever reason. This is grounds for investigation. Why didn’t they get it? Would a small change make all the difference? Is something critical missing? Do you have all of the details straight? What could you add to make it clear?
Suggestions that inspire you will be obvious because you’ll jump at those ideas. Then there will be the suggestions that make you say, “No way!” You’re certain it won’t work for the character or story. And then there will be the suggestions that occur somewhere in the middle of this range. Those are the ones you have to come to terms with. Take some time with these: if you do make a change, how will it affect the rest of the story? Every change will have an effect, small or large, on the rest of the story.
Only you know what’s right for your book. Be sure to consider all suggestions that come your way. Do something about the ones that you like and let go of the ones you don’t.
I also suggest having more than one round of beta reading done. With my own writing, I do a round early on, and then I’ll do a later round, when the manuscript is pretty much finished (in my opinion). It’s likely that you’ve added some new material after your first round of beta reading, so a second round is definitely called for.
Also, if there’s a suggestion you didn’t like (or act on) in the first round, and you receive a note of feedback concerning the same thing in the second round, you know that you should take that suggestion seriously.
I find beta readers invaluable to my process, and I highly recommend you make them a part of yours.
Places to find beta readers:
Goodreads Beta Reader Group
Twitter and Facebook: Followers and Forums for Writers
Community Bulletin Boards
Writer Groups designated by Specific Genre
Kim Catanzarite is a writer, editor, and instructor for Writer’s Digest University. Her sci-fi thriller, They Will Be Coming for Us, published June of this year to strong positive reviews. She is currently beta reading for a friend.
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