The Beta Blueprint
“I’ve sent it to a bunch of people, but no one is getting past the first chapter,” a writer told me over coffee. “At this point, I don’t think publishing is a good idea. I’m either not a good writer, or I need to do major rewrites to the beginning of my book.”
“Who did you send it to?” I asked. “Do you know that they typically read your genre?”
“It’s a friend who’s been really excited for me every time I talk about my book.”
This was a real conversation I had - not once, but three times! With three different writers who aspired to publish their finally completed book. The writers told me, almost word for word, why they wanted to quit or postpone their dream of publishing. The truth is: it had nothing to do with their skill as a writer. It had everything to do with recruiting and managing their beta reading team.
Over the last several years, there are two major styles that I’ve seen writers implement when using beta readers. I’ve dubbed these two styles the Throw Away or the Popular Girl.
The Throw Away: A writer sends their WIP (that’s ‘work in progress’) to the first couple of people offering to give it a read. No structure, no expectations, and soon - no word from the beta reader. The writer waits a few months and maybe gets one or two reviews back. Typically that review will be quick text that will say something like, “It’s so good. I’m proud of you!” As an author, this is nice… but not helpful.
The Popular Girl: This writer asks everyone who will listen to read their book. They reach out to friends and family. They post on socials, asking anyone and everyone to comment or shoot them a DM. More readers means a higher rate of return on feedback and reviews, right? Er… not always. These writers might have lots of interest, but they send out their manuscripts and then fall into the same boat - the feedback they get is superficial. Then, their book sales are low because everyone interested in the book already read it - during the beta reader phase. Only the die-hards buy a copy to support their writer friend, but their excitement is gone and done.
After speaking with numerous writers, I’ve found that these two methods leave writers feeling frustrated, inadequate, and lost in terms of feedback that could help improve their books. It’s from their experiences (and my own) that I have tried to craft practical and truly useful methods when it comes to finding and utilizing beta readers.
While the tips and resources below have been fantastic for me, keep in mind that everyone’s writing journey is different. There are ways you could improve upon this and tailor it to fit your needs. Think of the tools below are building blocks. They’ll get you on the right path to start, then you can customize for your needs.
Recruiting
For some, this is the easiest part. For others, this is a nightmare. Let’s dive in, starting with avenues to find your beta readers:
Ask your email list
First off, if you haven’t started building an email list for yourself as an author - do it. Study after study post-COVID has shown that email lists are in the top 10, even top 5, ways to sell a product or service. In this case, you’re recruiting from people who already have an interest in what you’re writing. That knocks out a few steps for you as an author.
Close friends/family
You are either excited or terrified of this recommendation. Rightly so. This audience can be either the most superficial in their feedback because they don’t want to hurt your feelings or are blinded by love, or they might be your most critical reader with nothing BUT rewrites to recommend. I let my mom read the first book I wrote, and she practically begged me to remove the first four chapters or flat-out not publish the book. Use your best judgment here, and push yourself not to opt for your biggest fans.
Public library/coffee shops/posting boards
This is a great way to start getting the word out in your community and make new friends. Ask your library if you can put out a flyer at the front desk or public bulletin board. Do the same in your favorite coffee shop. Consider using Canva’s free design tool to make something like this:
Social media
Reels/Posts/Stories: This should be pretty obvious to you, but make your need for beta readers public. Post about it on your socials, make a reel, and share in your stories. Just be sure you include a call to action (comment, DM, or click link in bio) that points them to the main information and how to sign up.
Facebook Groups: Say what you will about Facebook and its Boomer audience, Facebook Groups have made a comeback. Communities with niche interests have attendance rates high and engagement skyrocketing. Find a group that fits your book’s genre, get involved in conversations, and see if anyone might be a good fit to help you as a beta reader.
Word of mouth
The more you tell others that you’re writing a book and looking for people to give feedback, the more word will spread. By reaching out to the groups listed above, you may get people coming to you asking to be involved.
Reaching out to people and getting interest is the first and most basic step. As Anakin Skywalker once said, “This is where the fun begins.” You MUST have filters for your interested betas. Not everyone is a good fit, and you need to discover that now instead of later when they ghost you because they thought your book was boring. (Again, not necessarily a reflection on your writing, but of their preference.)
“This is where the fun begins.” - Anakin Skywalker
I am a die-hard fiction and fantasy author/reader who needs romance, adventure, and a bit of magic in my books. I rarely read anything that doesn’t include these three key elements. So when an author friend asked me to read their modern-day crime thriller, you can bet two things. 1 - they better be a dang good writer to get me interested in their novel. 2 - they better take my feedback as a grain of salt, because I know very little about the crime-thriller genre.
Create an Application or Inquiry Process
Application
If you think you might have many people vying for the opportunity to read your WIP, then an application process could be a great fit for you. This is something I see authors with a larger following implement to filter and lower their total number of beta readers.
Disadvantages? Potential beta readers have to put skin in the game. They need to invest time to fill out the application and participate accordingly. A lot of people may see the application and immediately swipe, not wanting to invest that time and effort.
Advantages? It creates a feeling of exclusivity - everyone wants in. Very few get it. But more than anything, it allows you the opportunity for quality beta readers who will read your work and provide the feedback you need to publish your best book.
Make it easy on yourself, and use one of these beta reader applications.
Inquiry Form
While similar to an application, an inquiry form is something that you can always have up and available for your audience. In my humble opinion, it should also not be as tedious or lengthy as an application. The purpose of an inquiry form might be that you’ve already spoken with someone who would like to be a beta reader, and you are using an inquiry form to learn more about them as a reader and reviewer.
If a potential beta reader truly wants to invest in helping you grow in your writing, they’ll easily take the time to fill out this simple form. If not, they’re not a good fit to start with.
Make it easy on yourself, and use one of these beta reader inquiry forms.
Clear Communication
Be clear, be confident, and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Check-Ins & Deadlines
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
*Message — resource
A Beta Questionnaire
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Always Say ‘Thank You’
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Gift Ideas
Specialty treat
Homemade snack like cookies, cake, brownie, etc.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Tea, coffee, or hot cocoa gift basket
Reader’s Favorite Things
Cozy blanket
Fun mug
Item or merch specific to your book
Bookmarks, notebook, gel pens
ALWAYS include a hand written thank you note.