Beta Reader

An alpha reader or beta reader…, also pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the story, its characters, or its setting. Beta reading is typically done before the story is released for public consumption. Beta readers are not explicitly proofreaders or editors, but can serve in that context.

Elements highlighted by beta readers encompass things such as plot holes, problems with continuity, characterization or believability; in fiction and non-fiction, the beta might also assist the author with fact-checking.

(From Wikipedia)

I first heard the term "beta reader" at a once-a-month meeting of the Golden Ears Writing Group, when a guest speaker–a woman I confess not liking much, because of her pretentious fist-bumping and overall arrogance–suggested to all writers in attendance that, if they didn't have a beta reader, they better get one, or two, or six, before submitting their work for publication anywhere.

Fortunately, I was way ahead of her.  For the previous year or so, Jeanette and I have been meeting via Skype, on an irregular but consistent basis, so she can provide feedback on anything and everything she sees in my scenes and chapters that's wrong or doesn't work for her.  I graduated from high school in June 1977 with Jeanette; in fact, she was my escort to our graduation ceremony.  Over the years, we've stayed in touch, and I knew, because of how much I trust her and her honesty, that she'd make a great beta reader.  That she has.  I look forward to meeting with her for an hour or so once in a while, to go over my work, and I value her opinion.

But–on this point, the speaker at the writing group and I agree–one beta reader isn't enough.

So, recently, I asked someone else if he'd ever considered being a beta reader.  The curious thing is, I've never met him in person.  But, in this age of connecting with people online, and learning more about them there, through their blogs, for example, than you might if you'd been close friends for years, I thought he'd make a perfect beta reader.  Actually, I thought he'd be a perfect beta reader for a number of reasons:  He's a fellow writer, I've read everything he's written on his blog for years, I love his style of writing, I respect and trust him, and I know he'll be honest in what he says and improve my writing markedly.  And you know what?  He said he was flattered to be asked, and he'd like to give it a try.

Yesterday morning, I sat down to write him a very long email, to bring him up to speed on my novel: at a base level, what it's about, who the characters are, what I'm looking for from him, that sort of thing.  At the end of my email, I asked if he wanted to receive a piece of my writing, to make sure he didn't find so much wrong with it that it would require a major commitment in time and effort on his part to take on the role of a beta reader.  He's been following my blog for years too, so he already knows my style of writing, and he seems to have no problem with it.  Still, taking on the load of a beta reader might be a lot, and I want to give him the option of bowing out if necessary, for whatever reason.  I hope that won't be the case.  I can't tell you how excited I am to work with him.

To that end, I took out Chapter One, yet again, and put more polish on it, so I can send it to my new beta reader.  While Jeanette and I are working on Chapter Sixteen, my new beta reader needs to begin at the beginning, so he gets a sense of the story at the outset, and so he understands the continuity of it.

Plus, from my perspective, Chapter One is still the most problematic.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone over it, how much time I've devoted to it over the months, restructuring and rewording everything.  Chapter One, after all, is the door into my novel, as it is to any novel.  Of all the writing in the book, it has to be the best.  Those first few pages are critical in admitting the reader into the story, and making him want to stay there and root around for a while. 

I can't wait for my new beta reader to see Chapter One, and to receive his feedback, whatever form it takes.  I know he'll help my writing be the best it can be, and that's an exciting prospect.

Happy writing.