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Finding a beta reader
Are you looking for critique on your novel or short story? You're not alone. You might be wondering if you need to pay hundreds of pounds -- or more -- for a professional edit, and the answer is... probably not. On this page, you'll find resources that will help you self-edit and links to groups that might be able to put you in touch with other writers who are looking for reciprocal beta readers. If you'd like to add your name to the Reciprocal Beta Reader Finder, please click here. |
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FAQs
What's a reciprocal beta reader?
A beta reader reads your work in draft form and offers constructive critique. A reciprocal beta reader is someone who beta reads your manuscript in return for your critique on theirs. You'll see this partnership referred to by many names (quid pro quo edit, critique partnership, etc) and, while the nuances of the arrangement may differ slightly, the end result is the same. They read and critique your work, you read and critique theirs.
Does a beta reader need to be a writer?
Not really, no. It can be useful to have someone approach critique from a writer's perspective, but the most important qualities a beta reader can have are to be (a) well-read in your chosen genre, (b) honest enough to give you their unvarnished opinion, and (c) articulate enough to be able to give you a strong sense of what's working and not working, and why.
Do I need a beta reader?
Almost certainly, yes. As a writer, you need to know if your piece reads to others the way it reads to you. And you'd be amazed at the typos that someone else can catch, even if you've already proofread a thousand times.
Do I pay a beta reader?
Generally speaking, no. In the vast majority of cases, if you're paying, it's a professional critique, and you should be sure that you know exactly what you're paying for. In a reciprocal beta read, the "payment" is in-kind: you each get a critique of your work from someone who is actively writing.
How do I find a beta reader?
You may already know your perfect beta reader. Do you have a friend or family member who reads in your genre? Would you be comfortable showing them what you've written? Are they the sort of person who will be honest about where your manuscript needs some work? If the answers are yes, yes and yes, go ahead and ask. (If this friend or family member is a professional writer, though, tread carefully. Professional writers are inundated with requests like this, and many of them offer paid edits as a professional service -- a request to beta read your work may well be an impossible ask for them, and it can be very difficult for them to say as much.) If there's nobody in your life that fits the bill, though, don't despair. The internet is full of places to meet potential beta readers, and you can find a list of some of these places below. This website also maintains the Reciprocal Beta Reader Finder -- it's in its infancy right now, but if you add your name to it you'll be able to use it to search for writers like you who might be in a position to look over your work in exchange for your critical eye on theirs.
I've never critiqued another writer's work -- can I still enter a reciprocal beta reading partnership?
Of course -- just be up-front with your beta reading partner. You write, so you likely have a sense of good writing and bad writing. And critiquing another writer's work is a fantastic way to get better at writing yourself.
What if I still want a professional to critique my work?
Great -- you can get in touch with me here and I'll be happy to chat to you about my rates and availability. If I can't help you, or if I think you'd be a better fit with a different editor, I'll point you in the right direction.
Resources
Self-editing
Grammarly: "How to Edit Any Type of Writing"
Includes a handy definition of the different types of edit available
The Editor's Blog: "Punctuation in Dialogue"
Dialogue punctuation has its own rules and it can be tough to get it right. This comprehensive guide will keep you on the right track.
The Stinging Fly: "How to Edit Your Own Lousy Writing"
Don't be put off by the title -- this is an absolutely invaluable guide to self-editing and is the source of one of my favourite writing rules: the sentence is not the smallest unit of information.
Jericho Writers: "Points of View In Fiction Writing (With Plenty of Examples)"
It's easy to get caught head-hopping but you don't want it to happen to you. Make sure you understand the various points of view available to a writer, and the possibilities and limitations of all of them.
Writing Groups
Writers Online
The internet creative writing community from the publishers of Writing Magazine and Writers' News.
Writing Forums
A forum by writers for writers; operational since 2006. Trademark features include Writing Workshops, where members can post short stories, poetry, songs,scripts and screenplays, novels, non-fiction, fan fiction, and other writing for critique.
NaNoWriMo Forums
Forum page of the National Novel Writing Month website.
SFF Chronicles
A resource for writers of speculative fiction. Their Writing Forums are lively and well-resourced, and full of useful information.
Facebook
Facebook is full of writing groups; too full to list them all here. As a writer based in Northern Ireland, I can speak to the quality of Otherworlds NI and Women Aloud NI, but both groups are geographically limited. My advice would be to stick to the smaller, more local groups, as the bigger writing groups can be overwhelming, but it very much depends on what you're looking for.
Twitter
The #writingcommunity hashtag on Twitter will connect you to a community of writers around the world.
Society of Authors
You have to have achieved a certain level of publication to join the Society of Authors, but they offer a wealth of advice if you meet their membership criteria. From £76 per year.
Self-editing
Grammarly: "How to Edit Any Type of Writing"
Includes a handy definition of the different types of edit available
The Editor's Blog: "Punctuation in Dialogue"
Dialogue punctuation has its own rules and it can be tough to get it right. This comprehensive guide will keep you on the right track.
The Stinging Fly: "How to Edit Your Own Lousy Writing"
Don't be put off by the title -- this is an absolutely invaluable guide to self-editing and is the source of one of my favourite writing rules: the sentence is not the smallest unit of information.
Jericho Writers: "Points of View In Fiction Writing (With Plenty of Examples)"
It's easy to get caught head-hopping but you don't want it to happen to you. Make sure you understand the various points of view available to a writer, and the possibilities and limitations of all of them.
Writing Groups
Writers Online
The internet creative writing community from the publishers of Writing Magazine and Writers' News.
Writing Forums
A forum by writers for writers; operational since 2006. Trademark features include Writing Workshops, where members can post short stories, poetry, songs,scripts and screenplays, novels, non-fiction, fan fiction, and other writing for critique.
NaNoWriMo Forums
Forum page of the National Novel Writing Month website.
SFF Chronicles
A resource for writers of speculative fiction. Their Writing Forums are lively and well-resourced, and full of useful information.
Facebook is full of writing groups; too full to list them all here. As a writer based in Northern Ireland, I can speak to the quality of Otherworlds NI and Women Aloud NI, but both groups are geographically limited. My advice would be to stick to the smaller, more local groups, as the bigger writing groups can be overwhelming, but it very much depends on what you're looking for.
The #writingcommunity hashtag on Twitter will connect you to a community of writers around the world.
Society of Authors
You have to have achieved a certain level of publication to join the Society of Authors, but they offer a wealth of advice if you meet their membership criteria. From £76 per year.