As with any topic, writers have strong and varying positions on the use of beta readers when preparing to send a novel out into the world. General consensus is that if you're self-publishing, beta readers are essential for identifying plot holes, harmful tropes, and problems with character arcs. If you're seeking representation, this is less important simply because you'll have an agent and editor combing through it line by line anyway. That said, you can, of course, self-publish without beta readers or use them before finding an agent. As we say in the writing world, there are no rules. Only guidelines.
Because I'm an educator, I can't help but elicit as much feedback as I think would be helpful. Although I'll be seeking representation for my own work, I decided to recruit beta readers after my developmental editor had a crack at it. Below are a few reflections on my own experience that may help you determine if beta readers will be useful for you.
What is a beta reader?
Beta readers are people who examine a polished version of your manuscript and offer feedback. This can be in the form of general impressions or (more often) specific insight based on questions the author provides. Reedsy has a great comprehensive guide here.
Who should I ask?
In general, you're looking for people who represent your target audience. You might already know likely candidates or you may have to recruit them through writer's groups or other forums. Although it's not a bad idea to recruit friends who represent your demographic, general advice is to avoid people you know who would be more complimentary than honest. That said, it's also important to avoid the family member who's always a little too honest. Remember, you're still developing this work, so you're looking for balanced people with balanced views. If you'd rather let seasoned beta readers handle it, here is a guide for finding those folks.
Anna's experience (the pros and cons)
I decided to recruit a mix of friends and family who were avid readers along side other writers for a later draft of my first book. The manuscript had already been through several edits and a developmental editor before this group received a copy. After this experience, I saw benefits and drawbacks of using beta readers.
Benefits
Shows the forest through the trees: Despite several cycles of writing and letting it breathe over the course of two years, I was still too close to this project to see issues. Outside perspectives both confirmed my choices and questioned them in ways that were clarifying.
New perspectives: The best feedback I received raised questions about character motivations I hadn't considered. The more diverse your beta readers are in their thinking, the more useful this sort of critique is to your work.
Brings your audience into focus: The most valuable benefit for me was also the most unexpected. We all know our work won't be everyone's cup of tea, but beta readers clarify this in a way no other process will. Through the feedback, you can start to paint a picture of what you ideal reader actually looks like. And for me, it wasn't quite what I expected.
Drawbacks
Can be a confidence shaker: If you're not centered and sure of yourself before you go in, it can be humbling to realize not everyone thinks you deserve a Pulitzer. Luckily, as teachers, we're accustomed to critique and continuous improvement. I knew what I was writing and why but if I'd done this process a year earlier, I might have let it rattle me to the point that I'd give up.
Might make you throw the baby out with the bathwater: If my readers all have different answers to a specific question (favorite character, for instance), I take it to be a matter of personal preference and move on. But if there's consensus (we all hate April), then changes are worth considering. However, even a broad recommendation can feel wrong to you. In my own book, I only found consensus on one point and I found myself agreeing with the group, so I changed it. However, individual critiques sometimes rubbed me the wrong way so I decided to leave them. In the end, you have to trust your gut.
Adds another month (or three) to your timeline: This is the big downside I didn't really think about. I'm a teacher. So when i give an assignment, it usually comes with a deadline. I decided not to impose that here and I paid a price. Some came back very quickly with useful feedback. Others took months or abandoned it altogether. Some went in fits and starts so they forgot key elements, leaving the feedback rather disjointed. Next time, I would probably choose a relatively quiet time of year and name a specific conclusion date. (This goes down easier if they're paid in either cash or wine, BTW).
As all teachers know, the quality of the information you get from people directly correlates to the quality of the questions you ask. Did you like it? Why or why not? is a question sometimes offered on English exams, but it had no place for me in this process. A few of the more specific questions I asked were more helpful:
If you had to keep just one character, who would it be? What if you had to dump one?
What questions would you like to ask the main characters?
Were there any unresolved parts of the story?
What themes or story beats repeated themselves too much?
A quick search of beta reader questionnaires will give you hundreds to choose from, but in the end, make sure you consider what kind of information you're looking for, then find the right question.
In the end, it was a useful process for me and I'm glad I did it and I wish you luck in getting the sort of feedback that will be most beneficial for you!
Comentários