RWT: Do I REALLY need Beta Readers...

Yes. Yes you do. And I'll tell you why. But first I have to give credit for this AMAZING drawing of Little Read to a good friend who has been super supportive throughout my writing adventures. (They shall remain unnamed, but they know who they are 😋)

So a beta reader (according to google) is "a person who reads a work of fiction before it is published in order to mark errors and suggest improvements, typically without receiving payment."

The easiest way to explain beta readers is to look at some of the basic points of this simple but surprisingly effective definition. So, beta readers...

1. Read a work BEFORE it's published
2. Mark errors
3. Suggest improvements
4. Work for FREE

All of these things are super important for one big reason, as a writer, sometimes you're just too close to your work to notice mistakes. These can be simple grammatical things your eyes and brain just skip over (like using its vs it's) or bigger issues like plot holes and unrelatable characters.

One thing I've found is that the bigger issues my beta readers pick up on are usually the result of me knowing things my reader has no way of knowing. For a super simple example, let's say you know your character is allergic to pudding. So naturally, when your character comes across pudding, you give them a rash. Well, if you never explained that your character is allergic to pudding, the reader is going to be pretty confused when the protagonist breaks into a spontaneous rash. And guess what, it isn't the reader's fault for not knowing about the allergy because you never wrote it down and they can't see into your brain. A beta reader's job is to notice slip-ups like this and ask you what the heck is going on. Then you can thank them and fix it since they just did you a huge favor FOR FREE.

The working for free thing is a pretty big deal when it comes to beta readers. Now I don't want to assume anyone's financial situation here, but hiring professional editors can be really expensive, especially if you aren't an established author yet and have to pay for everything out of your own pocket. Beta readers are great because you don't have to pay them.

That being said, beta readers do have a few downsides. First, they might be reluctant to give honest feedback, or in other words, negative feedback. If your grandma is your beta reader, you need to keep in mind that she might love you too much to deliver the scathing review you deserve. As an aspiring author, you want someone who will tear your work apart and comment on every little mistake. It might be hard to hear, but it's the only way you're writing is going to improve, with criticism and practice.

It would also help to ask someone you already know likes to read to take a look at your work. They will have a better idea of how a good book is supposed to go, and it would be even more awesome if they tend to read material that fits in the same genre as your piece. For example, don't ask your buddy the math professor to read your story about two centaurs who find love. Unless he loves to read fantasy love stories (which he certainly can, let's not make assumptions about all the math professors out there) he may have a hard time providing valuable commentary, regardless of whether he likes it or not, if he has never read a fantasy/love story in his life.

One last thing, be really REALLY careful who you let have access to copies of your work. Now I know it's pretty common to post snippets of your writing on online writer's platforms like Wattpad, fanfiction archives, etc, but keep in mind that once your work is on the internet, unless it's copyrighted, anyone can take it and take credit for it. And I know that's the last thing you want to happen when you've spent countless months perfecting your brainchild. Now I will say, I've never heard of this happening to anyone I know, so it could just be me being paranoid, but personally, I don't want to take the chance. So if you're worried about someone stealing your ideas, make sure you pick beta readers you trust like close friends or family, not some random guy you met through Facebook.

So what do you think? Have I convinced you to go out and wrangle up some trustworthy beta readers? Mine all happen to be family members, and trust me, they're brutally honest. Let me know in the comments if YOU have any tips on beta readers!