To Be(ta) or Not to Be(ta)?
Image courtesy of Олег Мороз
(Note to reader: I direct my blogs toward entrepreneurs, coaches, and/or experts writing nonfiction books to use as business assets, but my suggestions are still applicable to anyone writing a fiction novel, memoir, short story, etc.)
Beta readers: Don't publish without them!
There's a lot of debate out in the world about the value of beta readers - the people who review your draft manuscript and give you feedback on the document pre-publication. In my opinion, beta readers are essential to the process of editing, provided they're given specific guidance on how to critique your book. Let's explore why, when and who to ask, and the scope of their feedback.
Why beta readers matter
I believe this is a straightforward matter: If you're going to put a product into the market, you need testers. The same goes for your business book. If you're going to demonstrate your expertise through a well-researched, well-written asset that you expect to use to expand your business, you'd better darn well make sure that your target audience is receptive to it. Beta readers can help you refine your message, pinpoint ideas that you may not have considered, and provide valuable feedback on readability. In my opinion, it's not so much about whether you have beta readers, it's who you choose to beta read your manuscript.
Am I ready for beta readers?
Again, opinions vary when it comes to the right timing of beta readers. On one hand, getting a beta read too early may result in frustration that your draft is to "draft-like," but getting readers too late in the process might significantly delay your publication deadline if your readers' feedback turns out to be crucial.
I like to engage beta readers either concurrently with or immediately after implementing my editor’s line edits. (For more on the various stages of editing, check out the blog "Mapping the Editing Maze.") This timing enables you to focus your beta reader on just three things – content, structure, and readability – all of which your editor will have also reviewed.
Picking your beta readers
In general, I recommend asking 3 - 5 people to beta read your book. Too many more, and the feedback you get could become overwhelming. The question of who to ask to beta read your manuscript is incredibly important. If you're an ornithologist writing detailed research about the state of hummingbird migration, you will absolutely want another accomplished ornithologist to read it and confirm your research. But you may also want someone different - someone outside your field - whose opinion you value, to beta read for you. Getting diverse opinions from other experts who apply a rigorous, if different, approach to their own field can result in questions, topics, or themes you might never considered. Cross-industry perspectives and feedback can be invaluable!
You may want a co-worker, another professional in your field, or existing (or prospective!) clients to provide critique. You may want to ask another author, or a discerning and avid reader. Asking people who aren't close to you may often result in more open feedback, since they won't feel obligated to protect your friendship or feelings. Alternatively, you may have someone extremely close to you who you know won’t sugarcoat their suggestions.
Feedback: Give 'em guardrails
Giving your beta readers guardrails is absolutely imperative. They do not need to act as your copyeditor, or give you line-by-line edits! They don't need to move paragraphs around, or restructure entire chapters for you. I like to have my beta readers focus on the following:
Content: Does your reader have questions, or are they confused, about your content? Are there gaps that need to be filled, or conversely, is it information overload? Is there any content that feels inappropriate, insensitive, or misaligned with the theme of your book?
Structure: Does your book flow logically for your reader? Does your reader wish you had certain sections more toward the front, or toward the back of the book? Are there sections your reader feels are out of place with the rest of the book?
Readability: Does your reader like your pacing and voice? Do they feel that the book “sounds like you?” Is your message conveyed in a way that enhances your personal and professional brand?
Perhaps you noticed that the three areas I’m suggesting are all from a high-level perspective. Again, your beta readers should not be giving you line-by-line edits, grammar, reworking sentences, or copyediting. Leave that to your editor(s). That said, depending on the scope of your book and your beta reader's enthusiasm, you may want more in-depth commentary and suggestions from certain people.
Regardless, always just keep in mind that your beta readers are providing opinions, and you aren’t obligated to implement them. Once you receive their feedback, add what you deem is appropriate as you complete the remaining stages of editing and be on your way to being a published author!
Your move!
Roland Media is a publishing consulting firm and offers three premium packages and group coaching to help business experts write books that elevate their brand, reputation, and opportunities. All packages use the Start Messy, Finish Mighty method, a step-by-step, science-based process that uses time-tested business principles to bring your human expertise and experience to the world - faster, and more efficiently. We always conduct a free 30 minute consultation to determine if we're a mutual fit prior to engaging a client. All of our clients keep 100% of their royalties and earnings from any book or related sales.
