In my last blog post, we looked at some of the advantages of having a beta reader for your book before you start the full editing process. In this blog, we will instead be looking at some of the disadvantages of beta readers. You can then consider both the pros and cons and weigh up whether it is worthwhile. This will be different for everyone, so decide what is right for you and your book.
We will start by looking at what a beta reader is and the role they play in getting your book ready for publication. A beta reader will read your completed manuscript before publication, telling you what works, what could be improved and (possibly) how to do this. They will go through your work, adding comments on specific sections and producing a final report on it. You may also receive a report from halfway through your book of their opinions so far.
Essentially, a beta reader acts as a test reader, trying out your book before your wider audience does. This means that you can make suggested changes to improve your book and encourage more people to buy it. Your readers should also then enjoy it more, leading to better reviews and more chance of them buying other books that you have written or suggesting it to their friends. However, there are limitations of beta readers, which we will look at now.
Difficult to Find Useful Beta Readers
One disadvantage of beta readers is that it can be hard to find one that is right for you. This is not about being able to find a good beta reader, although this can be part of it. It’s more about finding one that suits you and your book.
One of the first things to consider is that there is a huge variety of genres and sub-genres. Your beta reader will be able to offer more useful feedback if they are experienced in your particular genre, ideally with some experience in your sub-genre. Just think how varied genres can be and the different expectations and rules of each one. You would not expect a gritty crime book to read in quite the same way as a cosy crime one, for example!
Another problem with beta readers is that they do not have any official training, so they may not always be skilled in what you require. Unfortunately, this varies considerably between beta readers, with some being extremely good at what they do while others are less helpful. This is one reason why it is so important to do your research into potential beta readers to find out whether they will actually help you, especially if you are paying for the service. If you are paying, you would expect to get someone with relevant experience who knows what they are looking for and how to present this to you.
Only One Opinion
A limitation of beta readers is that they can only give you their opinion on your writing – it’s never as straightforward as it being good or not! Parts that your beta reader loves could be less appealing to your actual readers, while sections that your beta reader is less enthusiastic about could be what your readers enjoy. Again, beta readers are not required to have any training, so their opinions might not even be that useful.
Also, having a beta reader only gives you one opinion. Even if this is reliable and useful, it is just one person’s view, which may not be representative of your eventual audience as a whole. This means that you only have a very narrow view of how strong your writing is, rather than an overall picture. Your beta reader’s opinion may also vary according to their own characteristics, such as age and location, so it is worth considering what characteristics your target audience has.
However, there are steps you can take to mitigate this. One key thing is to have multiple beta readers so that you have more than one opinion to take into account. You can then compare their comments and find the common factors. Try to get beta readers from a variety of backgrounds. This helps to make sure your book will appeal to a wide range of people and be as marketable as possible.
Not Enough Detail
Finally, beta readers may simply not go into enough detail to help you improve your writing. If you are only getting brief or vague feedback, it is difficult to apply this to your work in any meaningful way.
Again, hiring a professional beta reader should eliminate this problem. They will know what they are looking for and should give you detailed comments and a report.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this helps you if you are considering whether to have your work beta read. While beta readers can be very useful, they do have their limitations, so it is worth weighing up your options carefully. In my next blog post, we will be considering whether you need an agent as a nonfiction author, so come back in two weeks for that!
Want help proofreading your work? Contact Carmine Proofreading for a friendly, professional service from a qualified proofreader.
Email: CarmineProofreading@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmineProofed
Carmine Proofreading 