Beta reading questionnaire

What is beta reading?
A beta read is a reader’s reaction to the story. Authors who seek to understand how the readers will experience their manuscript often seek out beta readers.
Beta readers do not edit your manuscript. They don’t explain why anything is going wrong or give potential solutions. The beta reading service points out potential big-picture storytelling issues. It does not include editing developmental or copyediting issues.
"Maria did a beta read for a romantic comedy I had written, and I couldn't be happier with the feedback she gave. She had an easy to follow format of questions already prepared as she read my manuscript. It allowed me to see her thought process and what she found important as a reader. Her suggestions were very valuable and I hope to use her again."
Pamela Dean, romance comedy writer
​Beta reading questionnaire
Plot
  •  How strong is the story premise?  
  • Did the plot make sense to me? Are there any plot holes or confusing sections that should be made clearer? Do any sections take me out of the story?
  • What is the story’s central conflict? Is the conflict between the main characters believable?
  • Is the central conflict successfully resolved in a way that satisfies the reader? 

Characters
  • Are the main characters proactive, likeable, relatable, compelling and engaging?
  • Are the characters’ goals, motivations and conflicts clear and understandable? What are the consequences for the main characters if they don’t achieve their goal?

Point of view
  • Is the point of view handled appropriately and consistently throughout the story?  
  •  How often does the viewpoint change? Is it fairly consistent throughout the story?
  • Is the switch between the multiple points of view clear e.g no confusing head-hopping?

Pacing
  • Does the overall pacing work? Does the story move along at an appropriate pace, without rushing or dragging?
  • Is the story free from information dumps or backstory that slow the pace of the story?

Genre conventions
  • Does the story conform to the requirements/expectations of the romance genre? Does this book break any specific rules of the genre?
  • Is the genre clear from the beginning? Do readers know what kind of story they’re getting into?    

Overall impression
  • What did I like and didn’t like about the story? 
  • Did I find anything confusing or boring or annoying?
  • Did the story grab me at the beginning? Were there any points where I started to lose interest?
  • Does the manuscript need further editing services?
​Are you interested in beta reading your manuscript?
​I offer beta reading services in the romance genre. I answer the questions mentioned above in a reader's report to provide constructive feedback about the big-picture storytelling issues of your manuscript.
If you wish to learn more information, see my beta reading service. 
*Please read the heat/spice levels and the content warnings webpage to make sure we are a great fit to work together.
​​"Maria provided beta reading of my contemporary romance novel, and her feedback was invaluable, especially after I had completed numerous revisions and was struggling to pinpoint where my plot issues were. I appreciated the chance to have a new and unbiased set of eyes on my manuscript. She pointed out an issue with a subplot that I had not considered before, which helped me to focus my revision efforts effectively. Her feedback was timely and thoughtful, and I'd recommend her to any fellow authors seeking beta reading feedback."
Kate Underwood, contemporary romance writer
"Maria offered me feedback on my YA coming-of-age romance novel. It was clear to me that Maria read my manuscript thoroughly, and she gave me thoughtful feedback based on her opinions as a reader. I found her feedback useful and would recommend her as a beta reader."
Sophie Bernbaum, YA romance writer