Five Reasons Why Beta Readers Can Help an Author Fine-tune Their Novel Before Publishing

Ever think of using beta readers for that new book that you’re about to self-publish?

Beta testing is a “best-practice” approach in healthcare to confirm that IT technology is “clean” ahead of widespread adoption.

So why should you think about beta readers?

You’ve worked hard with a professional literary service to edit your book. They’ve counseled you on structure, point-of-view, character development and plot-line. You’ve reworked and reworked the manuscript. Hours and hours of writing and rewriting to get “to done.”

You’ve spent nights tossing and turning. How will your book be received by your intended audience? Is it engaging? Are there core objections that you should be aware of before publication? Are there opportunities to still tweak the work? Important changes yet to be made?

Enter beta readers.

It makes good sense to have someone other than yourself, your spouse, or your best friend, read through the final manuscript.

Beta readers can:

• Offer an independent perspective on the story from the reader’s point-of-view; highlighting where the story needs to be strengthened; pointing out weak scene transitions; citing inconsistent tone and pace.
• Provide input on the cover design and contents of the book jacket.
• Confirm your decision to hire a professional proofreader to catch typos, errors in layout, and other “nasty” mistakes that you’re simply unable to find alone.
• Refine the marketing campaign by clarifying the themes in the book that resonate, and helping to create the subsequent “hooks” to best pitch the story to media outlets.
• Strengthen your resolve that the book is prepared to go to press.

Who should be a beta reader?

• Someone who represents your demographic audience.
• Someone who is an active reader; perhaps a member of a book club; enjoys your genre.
• Someone who doesn’t suffer fools – and will tell you the honest truth.
• Someone whose opinion you value from a literary perspective

Bottom-line: Beta readers will confirm that your book is indeed “reader-ready.”