Beta Readers

As a writer I know there are many different parts to bringing a book to published status.  First you must write the book.  If you don’t enjoy this part then stop right here because this is the most fun activity in the process.  Then you read through it looking for errors of any type.  Next you send it to your beta reader to pick apart.  You fix the mistakes.  Then you read it again to satisfy yourself.  Finally you fill out the appropriate forms and submit your book to the publisher.  Assuming they like it or have contracted for it they will assign an editor to the manuscript.  It turns out what you thought was good was actually full of little tiny errors that you will be correcting for some time.  Then the editor always wants to put their spin on the story.  That can be helpful or turn into a fight.  In the end you have your novel; hopefully with minimal compromises.  The part of this process too many writers overlook is the beta reader.  This is a person you trust to always tell you the truth.  They read the story looking for inconsistencies and errors.  For example, “You said he was pacing.  Then on the next page you say he is getting up from his chair.   When did he sit down?”  It seems like a silly mistake but it’s easier to do than you might think when you are writing.  When you read your own work you often miss such obvious mistakes because you wrote it.  A good beta reader won’t be afraid to tell you when something is not right.  They live to find mistakes.  Sometimes they point out things that are not truly errors.  They are just written poorly and hard for the reader to understand.  That’s worth a fix right there.  It takes a certain level of maturity to handle a good beta reader.  After all, they are finding fault with your work.  As a writer you need to take the criticism constructively.  It is better to hear it from a beta reader than an editor.  This way your work looks more professional when it’s submitted.  Remember, you are not looking for a fan who will tell you how great you are.  You are looking for a critic who will tell you when you mess up.  It also tends to be helpful if they know about writing.   So all you aspiring authors out there, line up your beta reader before you start writing and things will go smoothly.