I have just started posting my first story online and wanted to ask whether you have any advice for finding a beta reader. Is there a specific way that I should go about it? What should I look for? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Great question! Beta readers will help you catch errors and help you with your project, but finding can be a bit tricky. There is no set of rules to follow when looking for a beta. It is different from every writer. Find what makes you comfortable. Just like there is no set way of finding a beta there is also no set criteria a beta should meet. (However, there are things that are a must. We’ll get to that later.) Betas will have different strengths and weaknesses. Some may be good at noticing small things, other may be good at the big picture. What I would recommend is choosing a beta that compliments your skill set.
Here are some ways to look for a beta:
- Get involved with the website your story is on. Get to know people. Make friends. Read and comment on other stories. Put yourself out there and get to know the community. You might find your beta in a future friend.
- Ask a family member or friend. But be careful about this. Choose someone who will give you an honest opinion and will go about it without without straining your relationship.
- Websites like this can help you find a beta reader.
- Find other writing sites and start building connections. You don’t have to post your project, but become an active member and get to know the users.
- Use Tumblr. Betafinder is an excellent blog with a massive post dedicated to helping you find a beta.
- Along the lines of Tumblr, get to know some of the other users that follow writing blogs. You can do this by participating in discussions that these blogs put out and continuing the conversation outside that particular post.
- Be willing to give in order to get. In order to strengthen your own editing skills, review other projects. Make yourself available to other users or even to your beta’s if they write. Chances are whoever is helping you is going to need help at some point as well.
- Basically, make connections. Make friends.
For elaboration and some more tips, this article
15 Ways to Find a Beta Reader or Critique Partner is very helpful. They also have some links to help you get started.
Also, some writing sites:
Figment (Very friendly. If the forums are a bit intimidating, some of the groups are excellent.)
Every beta will be different. Some will have excellent knowledge of plot or characters. Some may have a gift for dialog and description. Others can catch the smallest continuity error. And some will help spark new ideas. Here are some things to think about while looking for a beta:
- Decide what you want. Write down everything you would like in a beta. What you would want them to comment on, what you would like them to pay special attention to, and how they can best help you. Decide which are the essentials because chances are you won’t get everything you’re looking for.
- Think about your strengths and your weaknesses. Try to find someone who’s strengths are your weaknesses. Not so good at pacing? Try to find someone who has an eye for it and can help you.
- Make sure they have a good grasp on grammar. You don’t want someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. (Granted, this might be more of a critique partner’s area, but I think betas should know it too.)
- You can contact them easily. Google docs or email work great and most betas are probably going to have one. Make sure you iron out a good system of contact.
- Your beta will need to have a basic understanding of the elements of creating a story. Pretty obvious, I know. If they don’t have these then I’m not sure why they would want to be a beta.
- You will probably need to like them. And they will need to like you. A friendship or cordial correspondence is pretty necessary in my book.
Now, once you’ve found a possible beta, try not to jump in too quickly. Set up a trial period, iron out some rules. Here are some more things to think about once you have a potential beta.
- Make sure they like the premise of your story. If they don’t like it, don’t bother any further.
- Start a trial period. This can last maybe from the first to the third chapter. This will give you an idea of how they work and your beta an idea of your story. This time will give your beta time to figure out if your story and writing style will work for them. It will also help you decide if you like how they help you. Do not be upset if this doesn’t work. Talk with your beta about this and if either one of you wants out, then split peacefully.
- Have an easy way of exchanging material. Find out what works for you and your beta.
- Figure out some rules. By that I mean, keep an open dialog with your beta. Figure out times you can discuss your project or your beta’s reactions to certain chapters.
- Let your beta know of any special circumstances. For instance maybe you’re experimenting with sentence structure or there is a name change for a character. Anything that seems a bit unusual. Let your beta know. That way they can tell you if it works or not.
- Last, find someone you can trust and someone that loves your story.
Finding a beta will be different for everyone. And everyone needs different things. Decide what you need and go from there. Good luck!
- Ash
Goodness, well I don’t have much to say after that except to add that a while back I think FYCD was doing beta-matching. Keep your eye out for stuff like that. Also,
thewritingcafe has this
fantastic page of beta readers if you want to take a look.
- Sam
