Curious to know what to ask beta-readers? I was, too. I had toiled over my novel manuscript, rewrote it, and then sent it off to beta-readers—I released the baby bird. I knew the manuscript had flaws, but I needed confirmation on what the flaws were and how to tackle them. I needed validation and maybe a hug.
An article about what a beta-reader is, and how to work with them.
Sending out that draft to beta-readers was the first time it had been seen by anyone other than me. Was my novel just creative, nonsensical dribble, or was there something good there? Something likeable and interesting?
I fretted as I waited to hear back from my first beta-reader. I thought: I should’ve done this and that differently. I should have given the main character a different personality. I should just start over. I have a dribble draft!
During lunch with one of my beta-readers, who is a dear friend, I was nervous to receive feedback. I kind of regressed to my 6 year-old self—I was very close to crawling under the table. What was I so nervous about? This was the moment I had been waiting for. I should’ve been excited not nervous.
Thank goodness, I matured to my current age—or thereabouts—and asked some “beta-reader questions.” I wish I had the following list printed out, so I could’ve been more organized. But that’s life. Lesson learned.
Here are 6 questions to ask beta-readers:
- Pacing?
Is it too fast, too slow?
- Plot?
- Characterization?
Do you like the characters? Are they believable? Stereotypical? Are there things about them that you think are missing?
- Points-of-View?
- Dialogue?
Is it believable? Does the dialogue of each character match their personality?
- World-Building?
Do you feel immersed in this imaginary world? Is it believable? Does it feel contrived, or are the details too sparse to believe?
Still looking for more questions to ask beta-readers? Check this out.
I got some great feedback from my first beta-reader, including some of these paraphrased nuggets.
- “I wanted to know more about what the main character was thinking.”
- “I know what the secondary characters want to accomplish, but I’m not as sure about the main character.”
- “When the main character was talking to her lady’s maid, I felt like they were discussing things that they would have already known.”
- “I think there are ways to incorporate more humor. I remember you said that you wanted it to be a funny book. I think you accomplish that more with the secondary characters, but not as much with the main one.”
Rene Penn 