What is the beta reading service?

What is beta reading?
A beta read is a reader’s reaction to the story. Writers who seek to understand how the readers will experience their manuscript often seek out beta readers.

Beta readers are the first people to read a completed manuscript and provide constructive feedback. Writers should seek beta readers after self-editing their manuscript but before giving it to professional editors.

Beta readers are avid readers and are familiar with the rules and tropes of a particular genre. They can provide honest and constructive feedback from the perspective of the intended reader.

Beta readers do not edit manuscripts. They don’t explain why anything is going wrong or give potential solutions. They tell writers how a future reader might understand their story.
The beta reading process
Beta reader questionnaire
3 reasons to choose beta reading
Where to find beta readers

The beta reading process
I provide beta reading services in the romance genre and point out potential big-picture storytelling issues:

• Characters (goal, motivation, conflict)
• Plot
• Point of view       
• Pacing
• Genre conventions
• Overall impression of the story

If you are interested in my beta reading services, fill in the information in the contact form about the genre, word count, preferred completion date and any specific concerns you need help with your manuscript.

I will read your story and provide constructive feedback in a reader’s report explaining the big-picture storytelling issues of your story. The reader’s report will answer the questions mentioned below in the beta reader questionnaire but you can ask any other related questions you may have.

Beta reader 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?
• Are characters’ actions consistent?
• Was I able to keep track of the characters, i.e. who was who? Were there too many?

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?
• Does the pov character describe the necessary story events for the scene e.g no information dumps?

Pacing

• Does the overall pacing work?  Do scenes progress in a realistic, compelling manner and flow with effective transitions?
• 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?
• Was there anything that I had trouble believing or that seemed illogical?
• Does the manuscript need further editing services?

3 reasons to choose beta reading
You are on a limited budget
If you are an author with a limited budget, then the beta reading service might be suitable for you. If you are not sure how much the beta reading service costs, you can look at the EFA’s editorial rates to get an idea of the rates that beta readers charge.

Every beta reader’s circumstances are different and the cost of the service depends on a lot of factors such as the manuscript’s turnaround time and the editor’s training and experience.

​For example, as a new beta reader, I offer significantly lower rates than those of the EFA to get honest testimonials from writers and grow my portfolio.

You are a new writer and you need to learn more about the writing craft
If you are a new writer without a lot of writing craft knowledge, then the beta reading service might be the right service for you. The reader’s report will provide you with an overview of the big-picture storytelling issues of your story without overwhelming you with detailed page edits.

Writing, editing and publishing a book is a learning process and the constructive feedback the beta reader provides will help you improve your manuscript and your writing craft.

You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
You are struck. You have rewritten and edited your story multiple times, and you don’t know how to further improve it. If you feel that something is missing from your story but you can’t pinpoint what exactly that is, then the beta reading service might be suitable for you. The beta reader will help you identify and improve the big-picture issues of your manuscript.

Where to find beta readers
Free beta readers
If you have a limited budget, you can find free beta readers. You can ask friends and family to read your story and provide feedback for free. However, be aware that friends and family might be biased and not provide objective feedback to not critically harsh your story.

You can also find writers’ groups on social media sites like Facebook and Substack. There are many writer groups where you can connect with other writers and beta read each other’s stories.

Paid beta readers
You can find professional beta readers in social media such as Facebook groups, LinkedIn and Substack. If you are looking to hire a professional beta reader, it is best to check their LinkedIn profiles to see their background, education, training and experience.

You can also check sites such as Upwork and Fiverr to find beta readers or post beta-reading jobs. Make sure to include the kind of service you need, the genre, the word count of your story, your estimated budget and your desired deadline when you post a job. You can also check the EFA’s Job List and Member Directory to find and hire a beta reader.

You can also search online at the websites of different beta readers to see what kind of services they offer. Every beta reader defines their service differently, so make sure to check what the beta reading service entails, the process, the cost, and the deadline to find the right beta reader for you.

I am ready to discuss my book. How do I do that?
Check out my beta reading service and contact me for a customised quote for your manuscript.

Further reading
What is the developmental editing service?
What is the manuscript critique service?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them
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About the author

​​Maria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy. She is a member of the EFA and ClubEdFreelancers. 
Learn more about the author: About me
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Learn about fiction editing: Resources Library and Blog
Get a quote for your writing project: Get in touch with me form