How You Can Be A Helpful Beta Reader

Saturday, July 9, 2016
It is a Saturday, which means another blog post!

Today is a crazy busy Saturday for me, filled with coffee shops, relative's book signings, working, and new bookshelves. So an awesome day, but a busy day. xD What do you have planned for your Saturday?

Last year, I wrote a post on How Writers Can Help Their Beta Readers. So now I'm doing the same sort of thing, but from the other perspective.

Here's how to be the most fabulous beta reader ever.



The whole point of beta reading is to help make the book better. So when writer's give you their book, and you reply with, "AH THIS WAS SO AWESOME I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO SAY," is not helpful. One bit. Granted, it makes us feel nice, but saying, "Wow. This was really amazing because [reasons], but I think you can improve on these parts..." is a thousand times more helpful.

It's hard to be honest. When I beta read a book that needs work, it's hard to tell them the honest truth that the characters aren't personable. But when you tell them that -- in a nice way -- you are basically turning into superman and sharing your superpowers. Aw yas.

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Most writers I've beta read for have given me a deadline. If you don't receive a deadline, you should ask for one (or make one up), because otherwise it's way too easy to let that novel grow dust in your inbox. 

Honor the writer's request.

Plus, it's great practice for when you're a famous author someday and have to finish your novel in a certain amount of time and send it to your editor. Deadlines are evil, but necessary. 

Also, if you can't make it within the deadline, let the writer know. It's a polite thing to do.

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Let me make this clear: you don't have to make comments in the document, but it's really, really awesome when you do. 

Reader reactions are amazing. It helps the writer understand which scenes are the best, and which scenes don't gather as much excitement.

A couple of my beta readers made comments on basically everything -- good and bad. It was awesome. I had almost 2,000 comments between the readers. Which is a LOT, but the comments were ridiculously helpful. And fun to read when they started flailing over some of my favorite scenes.

So write all the comments. Spam the writer with all the messages. Make them feel awesome.

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More often than not, the writer will send a feedback form or list of questions for you to answer. If you're anything like me, it's easy to forget what you disliked about the book and instead think about the awesome flail-worthy parts. (my memory is the size of a shrew. I'm actually not sure how big a shrew is, but it sounds tiny. So let's go with that.)

Often I'll fill out the questions as I find things to comment on in the book, so there's very little for me to do after I finish the thing.

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Because writer's are fragile creatures, and too much criticism will send them into a dark hole of denial and sadness. So do please make sure to find several things you love -- several things that they can cling onto for hope. 

Hope is essential for writers, since crippling self-doubt is very common. Unfortunately.

---

If you haven't beta read a book before, you should definitely do the thing. You get to read a book for free by one of your writing friends, help make it better, see it evolve, and when it becomes a best seller, you can take pride in that you beta read the book in its earlier drafts. 

Plus analyzing plots with a critical eye will help you edit your own book. So go beta read all the things. xD

// katie grace

Can you think of any other ways in which a beta reader can be helpful?
What about you? Have you ever beta read a book?

48 comments :

  1. I have beta read a few times, but I'm not beta reading anything at the moment to make space for my writing. However it's really fun and it helps me out in my own writing!

    Aside from being honest, I think a good beta reader should be direct to the point. If I were to give out my story for people to read, I wouldn't want people to sugarcoat whatever they're telling me. Would that make sense? I wouldn't want either of us to waste our time going in circles about a point that could have been said in one sentence.

    AND KATIE I MISSED YOUR JUNE HIGHLIGHTS POST!!!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. I was in school and scrolling through your blog during some class and I saw it pop out at me! :( Well anyway I just wanted to say I am pumped for you to write Void! The concept seems soooo cool.

    Quick question: Are you doing Camp NaNo July?

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    1. Yess, that totally makes sense. I probably sugarcoat things sometimes -- I'd hate to accidentally sound mean. xD Though it's exactly what's necessary for the writer, sooo I should be blutn a little more often. Or just say things in a nice way without becoming sugarcoat-y. :P

      GASP HOW COULD YOU MISS A POST?? :P I'm soooo excited to write Void. NaNoWriMo can't come soon enough. *really wants to write about robots because aw yis*

      I am! I do every NaNo event, because they're so motivation. And we all know I need to motivation to edit. :P I'm shooting for 50 hours of editing. :)

      Are you? What are you working on if you are?

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    2. Ahh I really want to do Camp NaNo but since my summer's on April I think that's the NaNo suited for me.

      I might do this year's November NaNoWriMo, though! I have a story planned for that.

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    3. DO NANO. I AM GOING TO DO NANOWRIMO AND AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. November is the best month ever. xD

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  2. YEES. YES TO IT ALLL! Beta reading is totally the best. I've done it a couple of times and LOVED it. Soo fun to read the books before they're finished. :)

    Phrasing things nicely is hard sometimes, and not knowing how the writer will take some things I say. I send it off and then freak out about almost everything I said. What if they take it badly???
    But it's still good.

    Having the list all written out is so handy though. I'm gonna keep this in mind next beta-book. ;P

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    1. I always worry about that, too. "What if I hurt their feelings?" But, when people were betaing my book, some said critiques without sugarcoating it, and I was able to take it fine. Mostly because I knew I asked them to be honest and point out allll the things. xD

      Yess, that's a good idea. I always remember the list AFTER I finish the book. It's quite annoying. :P

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  3. Yep YEP Beta reading is fun as well as hard, but it is seriously cool the be entrusted with someones precious baby that they have spent days/months/years working at. It is a privilege! So you got to work hard and get the write feedback because that is what they want.

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    1. Exactly! Betaing is actually the coolest thing ever.

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  4. I've beta-read a couple, four or five? Then I'm alphaing two right now.

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    1. Oooh, nice.

      Alphaing? I'm slightly familiar with the term... what's the difference between that and beta reading?

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  5. Great tips to remember! My first time beta reading was for your book, actually, so I'm definitely still learning pretty much everything about the art. xD

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    1. Oooh, really? Well you did a good job and I'm very thankful for you. *hugs* xD

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  6. I've beta-read YOUR book. :P I hope I was a helpful beta-reader. ;)

    As for now, I'm reading Pariah by Aimee Meester, and I just can't handle it because it's so good. Like, how. o.o

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    1. You DEFINITELY were. You were one of those who made a billion and three comments and I absolutely looooved it. xD

      Oooh. o.o You'll have to tell me when you finish it. Or get to a certain part. You'll know when you get to the part, because you will be very emotionally torn apart. *sends cookies ahead of time*

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    2. Well thank you. :) I'm glad I was helpful.

      Um, now I'm nervous. Help. *warily accepts cookies*

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  7. Super awesome post! I have never beta read but I want to. :)

    Nabila // Hot Town Cool Girl

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    1. Thank you!
      It's an awesome experience -- if you have time and the opportunity, I'd definitely go for it. :D

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  8. I have never beta read a book before, but I really want to do it sometime! I was actually going to do yours, but I was super busy and wouldn't have been able to finish it by the deadline. I guess I'll just have to wait until it is a best seller! :D

    This is a really helpful post! Thank you, Katie! :)

    ~Megan<333
    (megans-journals.blogspot.com)

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    1. Awhh, I can't wait until it's (hopefully) on the shelves for you to read someday. It would make me ridiculously happy and probably scream and cry or flop on the floor or all of the above. xD

      Absolutely! Thank youuu for reading, Megan. <3

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  9. These are great tips!!! I've beta read several books, but I haven't always been great at taking notes or writing comments -- which would be immensely helpful since I have a terrible memory!

    Serena
    poetree {blog} | editing services

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    1. SAME. My memory is horrid. -.- It's difficult to beta read things when I can't remember what I'm reading. :P

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  10. This is awesome! I've never been a beta reader before, but I'd love to do it sometime!!

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  11. I've done beta reading for a friend in slovak language and it was the most amazing experience ever. I think you summed it pretty well and agree with all your points. Especially with writing all the comments because that's the best part and I like to do it in each book I read. And as you said, it's super useful for the writer.
    Beta reading in english language scares me though because I'm still unsure about the grammar and I feel like I wouldn't be very helpful? :D

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    1. Waaaht, slovak language? Dude, I keep forgetting how you're multi-lingual and it's actually the coolest thing. xD

      That would be hard. All of your comments on my blog have been excellent in the grammar. At least, I think. I'm not one for using proper grammar unless I need to in stories. :P

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    2. OMG thank you, that was such a sweet reply! It totally made me less insecure. :)

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  12. I AGREE WITH IT ALL. I hope my beta readers shall do all those nice things when September comes (I'm going to put out the official call in August). Perhaps I won't have to hide in my Hobbit hole all day if they are nice :D.

    Have I beta read before? Hmm ... yeah, I'm pretty sure I have ... it was this book I read for a girl named ... Katie Grace, I think? It was really epic, you should read it *nods*. Hope I was helpful to her XD. AND I HOPE I GET TO BETA READ THE SEQUEL *nudges you* :D. How's editing going?

    ~ Savannah Perran
    scattered-scribblings.blogspot.com

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    1. Eeeep, how exciting! Hopefully I can beta read -- I'll have to see what's going on in August. Should be able to, though!

      Huh, Katie Grace? Haven't heard much about her. Some crazy writer, I think. Weird.

      UGH EDITING. Well, I finished editing the beta comments of SotD and proofread it over. So, now I can start on the sequel. Ack. I'm supposed to start today, but I got distracted by taking pictures with books. xD I will edit tonight after work - then I can stay up late and focus, mwahaha.

      so in answer to your question: editing is going fantastic because I actually haven't started editing the sequel yet. :P

      (also is your blog public now?)

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    2. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME I HOPE YOU CAN!

      Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's who she is. You'd probably like her; I think I remember that she likes pizza, so she must be cool *shrugs*.

      WHOA YOU FINISHED EDITING THE BETA COMMENTS?! GOOD FOR YOU!! *showers you with candy* Ooo, you took pictures with books? You should post some, I love looking at people's book pictures (and ... I wish that I had the talent to take book pictures ... but that talent went to my sister, so she does it for me :D)!

      YEAH editing is awesome as long as you're not editing! Then ... when the monster that is editing sneaks up on you and EATS you ... then it's not so fun ...

      (no, not yet *sigh*. Hopefully soon! BUT that's becoming a broken record ... oh well. I'm not picky about who I invite to my private blog though; long as I know them a bit and my mom says it's okay :))

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  13. My friend and I beta read each others work all the time but i've never done anyone else before, haha! But i love beta reading, and your tips are super helpful!

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    1. Awhh, that's so much fun! I love having close writing friends so we can always read and encourage each other with their WIP. <3

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  14. Great post! I'm terrible about deadlines though *makes face* But with beta reading, it's not tooooo hard. I've gotten to beta for several people, including a lovely girl who I met last month! She's sooooo amazing and her book was FANTABULOUS and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the most helpful beta ever, since I just kind of flailed and fangirled about everything... XP

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    1. SHHHH. *blushes*

      You know, it's funny. I had readers beta read my book a couple weeks ago, and there was this one lovely girl who I ALSO met last month! She's amazing and she gave the greatest feedback with tons of flailing to boost my confidence. Her writing also won an award from an editor. Huh. How cool is that?

      xD

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  15. Thank you for this post!!! have you written a book and had it published?

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    1. Yess! Thank you for reading! <3

      I WISH. I terribly wish I had a book published. Unfortunately I don't, but I'm working hard toward it. Someday! :D

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    2. I know you will get one published someday!!! My sister did!!!!!

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  16. You are a very good beta reader, at least when it comes to first chapters.
    One thing I would recommend betas keep in mind, is if the author's political views/religious views don't mesh with yours, try not to mention that too much. Just mention it could alienate readers. I've had a few cases of betas reading over something and not agreeing with my views, and it makes it harder for me to accept the non-political advice they have.

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    1. Well thank you. :P I'm glad I was able to read them over for you.

      Ahh, that makes sense. I guess most of my readers (I think) share my same views, so I haven't run into any trouble. Plus I don't make a huge deal of it -- especially on the political side of things.

      Thank you for chiming in, Jessi!

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  17. I love your blog. You have such a pretty design.
    And great post!

    -T.
    x

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  18. This is a great list! Thanks so much for sharing, Katie. ^ ^

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

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  19. KATIE. I just started a new blog!!! Question: what template do you use? I NEED HALP. NAOW. I don't know what template to use and I tried publishing my "contact me" page but when I look at my blog, it doesn't show up. HALP MEH.

    Here's the link: http://abloomingauthor.blogspot.com PLEASE HALP MEH KATIE MAH FREN!!!

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    1. Ahhh, how exciting! Pretty sure I use the simple template... though I put in so many customizations that it's really it's own template by now. :P

      Looks like you got the contact me and about page figured out -- go you! Sorry for answering late.

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    2. That's okay! I don't really like how mine looks that much... How did you get the pictures at the top of your blog pages? GAH HALP MEH KATIE MAH FREN. Haa.

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  20. I loved this post, Katie! Speaking of betas, I'm looking for some right now on my blog. =) Your post on how writers can help their betas was really helpful, thank you for writing it!

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  21. This seems very helpful! I've never been a beta reader, but I'll remember these tips.

    Again, I'm not late at all to comment, not one bit.

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