1. Introduction
2. Preparing Your Manuscript for Beta Readers
3. Crafting Effective Questions for Beta Readers
4. Managing and Analyzing Feedback
5. Writing Exercise: Preparing for Beta Readers
6. Conclusion
7. Writing Update

Introduction

Beta readers are resources that every author should use, but sometimes knowing how to prepare yourself and your potential beta readers for the task is the challenging part. Let’s look at a definition of what a beta reader is.

Beta Reader: A Beta Reader is someone who reads a book manuscript before it is published to give feedback to the author. They are crucial in the writing process because they provide insights that can improve the quality of the manuscript. Unlike professional editors, Beta Readers reflect the views of an average reader, so their opinions can show how the target audience might react to the work. Their feedback may cover character development, pacing, plot holes, and overall engagement, highlighting parts of the manuscript that work well or need improvement. By using insights from Beta Readers, authors can make revisions that enhance their stories and improve the reading experience for their audience.

These insights from your beta readers can help you catch goof-ups and other glaring issues your author’s eye has been blinded to. Admit it, after working on a book for however long, you reach a point where you know you’re missing something. This is where betas come in. They are invaluable when it comes to making those critical revisions and knowing what’s working and what’s not in your story.

Science fiction and fantasy require a wide range of areas for beta readers to focus on. They will be looking at world-building, magic/technology systems, genre conventions, and more as they also try to enjoy your mostly put-together book. So, let’s make sure that your book is ready for them, that you’ve created the questions you want to ask, and then look at how you can manage the feedback you get.

Preparing Your Manuscript for Beta Readers

There will come a point where you realize that you’ve been reading over your book for so long that you’re no longer able to look at it objectively. That’s okay, it may be a sign you need a break from the book or you might need other eyes on the story to give you some fresh perspectives. Once you’re there, you’ll want to prepare your manuscript for your beta readers.

Deciding When Your Manuscript is Ready for Beta Reading

Sometimes it’s hard to know how early or late you should send your manuscript to beta readers. There are a few things that can tip you off that it’s time to get outside feedback.

First, you have a complete draft. This means that you’ve revised and edited enough to make sure it’s as complete and polished as possible. Beta Readers should not be seeing a first draft. You should have done a round of structural edits to make sure your story lines up properly, and then made sure your characters are consistent, and whatever other edits you find necessary.

Second, you’ll have performed some thorough self-editing to fix the obvious errors and improve readability. Beta readers are your first readers and you want them to be able to enjoy the story without feeling the need to heavily edit.

Third, you find that you can no longer read the story objectively. Take a break and return with fresh eyes before deciding it’s ready. You also reach the point where the entire store is so much in your mind that it blocks you from seeing the gaps as you’ve already filled them in mentally. After this step, it’s time to format for your beta readers.

Formatting Your Manuscript for Easy Reading

This can vary slightly but these are the best practices for most beta readers.

• Consistent Formatting: Use a standard font (like Times New Roman or Arial), size 12, and double-space your text.
• Clear Chapter Headings: Make sure each chapter starts on a new page and is clearly labeled.
• Page Numbers: Include page numbers for easy reference.
• Digital Format: Provide the manuscript in a digital format (PDF, Word, etc.) that is easy for beta readers to access and read.

A quick not on the text size. There’s an awesome feature with Amazon Kindle that allows you to send PDFs to your readers’ kindle emails. This allows them to read it directly through their kindle app. The challenge comes in with the font size. When sending my Please Subscribe as a PDF to my wife’s kindle I had to up the font size to 24 to make it readable on the Kindle Paperwhite. So it may take some experimenting to find the right size for your readers.

Creating A Beta Reader Package

If there’s one thing I’ve found most valuable as I send books to beta readers it’s that the Beta Reader Package is critical to getting the best feedback possible. It also establishes your initial relationship with the beta reader and their experience with your writing. It’s time to be a professional, you don’t have to be fake, but see this as a business transaction, even if they are reading it for free. Let’s look at three areas that you’ll want to cover in each

1. Instructions and Expectations:
   • Guidelines: Clearly outline what kind of feedback you are looking for (e.g., plot holes, character development, pacing).
   • Tone: Encourage honesty but remind them to be constructive.
2. Feedback Forms or Questionnaires:
   • Specific Questions: Create a list of questions to guide their feedback (e.g., “Were there any parts that confused you?” “Did the characters feel realistic?”).
   • General Impressions: Include sections for overall impressions and any additional comments.
3. Timeline and Deadlines:
   • Reasonable Timeframe: Give your beta readers a reasonable amount of time to read and provide feedback (typically 4-6 weeks).
   • Check-ins: Schedule check-ins to ensure they are on track and to address any questions they might have.

By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to gather valuable insights from your beta readers, helping you refine your manuscript further.

Crafting Effective Questions for Beta Readers

Having the right questions for your beta readers not only helps you get the feedback you want, but offers them guidance of their reading experience. Below are different categories and questions you can ask for for the best feedback.

General Feedback Questions

1. What did you enjoy most about the story?
2. Were there any parts that confused or bored you?
3. Did the story hold your interest from beginning to end?
4. Were there any scenes that felt unnecessary?
5. How did you feel about the ending?

World-Building and Setting Questions

1. Did the setting feel believable and immersive?
2. Were there any details about the world that you found confusing or lacking?
3. How well did the world-building integrate with the story?
4. Were there any aspects of the setting that stood out to you?
5. Did the descriptions help you visualize the world clearly?

Character-Related Questions

1. Were the characters relatable and well-developed?
2. Did you find any characters particularly compelling or uninteresting?
3. Were the character motivations clear and believable?
4. Did the characters’ actions and decisions make sense?
5. How did you feel about the character arcs?

Plot and Pacing Questions

1. Was the plot engaging and well-structured?
2. Were there any plot points that felt forced or unrealistic?
3. Did the pacing feel consistent throughout the story?
4. Were there any moments where the story dragged or moved too quickly?
5. Did the plot twists and turns surprise you?

Genre-Specific Questions

1. Did the story meet your expectations for this genre?
2. Were there any genre conventions that were particularly well-executed or missing?
3. How did the story compare to other works in the same genre?
4. Did the tone and style fit the genre?
5. Were there any elements that felt out of place for the genre?

Here is an example of the email I sent to my beta readers.

Again, thank you so much for offering to read Please Subscribe. As far as what I’m looking for from you as a Beta Reader:

• Comment with your thoughts or take notes as you read, even if it’s to say, “Ooh, I like this,” or to make predictions about what will happen next.
  • Why I’m Looking for this: This shows me how people read my book. It also helps me pinpoint where changes need to be made and gives you a feel for how they reacted while reading.
  • I highly recommend you take notes as you read to allow ease of feedback
• Areas you felt were missing something or weren’t developed enough.
  • Sections or scenes unnecessary to the story
• Any part of the story, dialogue, or narrative you didn’t understand or found confusing.
  • The flow and pace of the chapters
• Please focus on world-building (Are you immersed in America Inc.?) and if the characters feel real.
• Please supply “whys,” not “shoulds.” The “I’m confused here because…” or “I don’t like this because…” will be more helpful than “You should do…” statements.
• Quick questions
  • Did the opening scene capture your attention? Why or why not?
  • Did you notice any inconsistencies in the setting, timeline, or characters? If so, where?
  • Did the dialogue keep your interest and sound natural to you?
  • Was the ending satisfying and believable?

Please Subscribe comes in at 86,508 words, coming in at 315 pages. Where this is your first time beta reading for me, I don’t know your reading speed and process. I’ll send a follow up in a month to see how the reading experience is going. My goal is to start pitching this to Literary Agents in February 2025. I want to receive feedback by December 20, 2024 so I can have some time to edit and revise as necessary.

Managing and Analyzing Feedback

Alright, you’ve polished your manuscript, sent it off to readers, and your feedback starts trickling in. It couldn’t possibly be chaotic in any form, right? Well, hope for the best and plan for the worst, and you’ll end up somewhere in-between. Let’s look at some ways you can manage and analyze the feedback from your beta readers.

Organizing and Categorizing Feedback

Okay, so you have a jumble of files with feedback through tracked changes, margin comments, or handwritten notes. Your new job is to create a system that will work for you in organizing your feedback. I will give a few options, but if there’s a different way that works best for you, please add it to the comments below. Use spreadsheets, documents, or specialized software to track feedback. Label each piece of feedback with categories like plot, character, pacing, etc. This can help you break down your feedback to see what areas need the most work, and it can also show you how different readers read. If you’re using a spreadsheet, I’d recommend highlighting each category with a different color to ease your visual interpretation of the information.

Next, analyze your source feedback by treating each reader as an individual. This will help you see if feedback on world-building comes from one person or multiple readers, allowing you to explore their specific views and preferences. By organizing the feedback, you can spot patterns or differences in opinions that may show strengths or weaknesses in your world-building. It’s important to consider their backgrounds and reading experiences, as these greatly influence their perceptions. Reflecting on their input can improve your understanding of how your work connects with different audiences, leading to a richer and more varied narrative.

The best bet is that if multiple readers identify the same issue, it’s a must fix, adjust, or rewrite for that part of your story.

Dealing with Conflicting Feedback

After you’ve organized and prioritized your feedback, you might notice some conflicting complaints. One reader will write “Love this!” on the same line as another reader writing “I didn’t like this…” so, which one is right?

Begin with the source. Evaluate how each of the readers read and see if this is just something that the reader naturally picks up on or if this was the only section where they put a comment like that. Your book won’t be perfect for every reader, so don’t expect that you’ll please both of those readers at the same time. There may be something working in there for reader one that isn’t working for reader two. Trust your vision. Remember that it’s your story, if the reader gave you feedback that makes sense to change it, then go for it. But if the reason they didn’t like how you worded something is because of their subjective views, then you’re welcome to not make the change. Offer each chance of conflicting feedback to be a moment for you to step back, possibly find a middle ground, and make the authorial choice to agree or disagree.

Separating Constructive Criticism from Personal Preference

Separating constructive criticism from personal preference is crucial for effective feedback analysis. Start by distinguishing between objective issues, like plot holes or inconsistencies, and subjective opinions, such as a reader’s dislike for a particular character type. Focus on feedback that provides clear, actionable suggestions for improvement, as this is more likely to be constructive. Additionally, consider the consistency of the feedback; if multiple readers echo the same point, it’s more likely to be a valid criticism rather than a personal preference. By prioritizing objective, actionable, and consistent feedback, you can make meaningful revisions that enhance your manuscript while staying true to your vision.

Writing Exercise: Preparing for Beta Readers

This week’s exercise might seem simple, and you might not even be at this point yet, but the Beta Reader Package will be critical to your success once you reach this stage. I think this is a good exercise for writers at any point of the writing process. Let me know what you think and the struggles you find!

Instructions:

1. Imagine you have completed the first draft of your science fiction or fantasy novel. It’s now time to prepare the manuscript for your beta readers.
2. In the next 15 minutes, create a “Beta Reader Package” that you would send to your beta readers. This should include: a. A set of instructions and expectations for your beta readers. Cover things like the type of feedback you’re looking for, the tone you want them to use, and any deadlines or timelines. b. A feedback form or questionnaire with specific questions to guide your beta readers. This could include questions about world-building, character development, plot pacing, etc. c. A sample of the manuscript formatted for easy reading, such as with consistent formatting, clear chapter headings, and page numbers.
3. As you create this beta reader package, consider the key points made in the blog post:
   • Deciding when the manuscript is ready for beta readers
   • Formatting the manuscript for readability
   • Establishing clear instructions and expectations
   • Crafting effective questions to get the feedback you need
4. When the 15 minutes are up, review what you’ve created. Is your beta reader package comprehensive and useful? Does it set your beta readers up for success in providing valuable feedback?

Conclusion

This exercise will help you practice translating the advice from the blog post into a tangible package for your own beta readers. The goal is to create a streamlined process that maximizes the usefulness of the feedback you receive.

By preparing your manuscript and beta reader package thoughtfully, you set yourself up for success in receiving insightful, actionable feedback that will elevate your science fiction or fantasy story. With clear instructions, targeted questions, and a professional presentation, your beta readers can provide the fresh perspectives you need to refine your work before publication. Leveraging beta readers is a crucial step that no author should skip.

Also, if you’d like to Beta Read my WIP Please Subscribe, visit here!

Writing Update

Hey Authors of Tomorrow,

I know the holiday season can be busy for a lot of people, making it hard to find time for writing. This weekend was packed for me with my wife’s work Christmas party, a day of making gingerbread cookies, and a family Christmas party later that night. On top of my 48-hour work week, I’ve also caught a little viral bug that’s been going around. Despite all this, it was a great week overall, though my writing times and duration had to adjust to fit everything in.

I’m excited to share that I completed my WIP outline! It’s great to have the initial draft done, but I can already see some plot holes and timeline issues. It might also end up being a three POV story instead of four. That’s okay, and it’s why I’m glad I’m outlining before writing 100,000 words only to realize I did it the wrong way. To give myself a break from the narrative part, I’ve been working on my world-building. I’m just at the start, but having the extra information is already influencing the story.

Do you feel like your world-building changes your story? If so, how?

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