Get The Most Out of Your Beta Readers

You have written, revised and shared your manuscript with your writer pals, critique group, and sister/mom/bestfriend. WONDERFUL! Now it is time to find some beta readers. The best beta readers are total strangers who read your genre obsessively and do not care AT ALL about your feelings. They agree to read your book and give you their opinions. Beta readers are an invaluable step in your revision process. Here are some questions that will give you some great tools for your next revision.

Questions to ask your Beta Readers:

What did you think of the main character(s) in Chapter One?

What did you think of them in the last chapter?

What pages specifically did you start skimming/skip over?

Did you find any part of the dialogue unrealistic or cringy?

At any point, did you have to go back and re-read because you were confused or lost?

Were there ANY moments in the book you felt were not realistic based on what you had read so far?

Did you care enough about the story or characters to keep reading if you were not a beta reader?

Did the story feel fresh and new? Or did you find yourself thinking of other books while reading this one?

Would you read another book by this author? Why or why not?

Where can you find Beta Readers?

Reddit communities – e.g., r/BetaReaders, r/DestructiveReaders.

Facebook groups – Search “[Your Genre] Beta Readers” or “[Your Genre] ARC Team.”

Goodreads Beta Reader Group – Large, organized by genre.

Paid & Professional Beta Readers – If you want structured feedback and a fast turnaround.

Pull volunteers from your newsletter list or Instagram/TikTok followers. – Offer early access in exchange for honest feedback.