• Home
  • About
  • START HERE
  • Hire Us
  • Book Coaching
  • Books
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Write & Publish Like a Pro

Your Toolkit for Excellence from Belinda Pollard & Small Blue Dog Publishing

  • Writing Tips
  • Write Your Life
  • Feedback & Revision
  • Self-Publishing
  • Book Marketing
You are here: Home / Archives for Beta Readers

What to do when you’ve finished the First Draft

By Belinda Pollard 56 Comments

Man standing on high mountain in triumph, with text: What to do when you've finished the first draft

When you type The End on the first draft of your book, celebrate! But also… you are only just beginning.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Self-Editing, Writing & Editing Tagged With: beta reader, editing a book, first draft, self editing, writing a book

Survey Results: The Pros and Cons of Beta Readers

By Belinda Pollard 23 Comments

I conducted a survey via my mailing list asking about people’s experiences with getting feedback on their writing. I received a rush of responses – 50 in the first two hours alone. Thank you all so much for your input! Clearly, many writers think it’s valuable to get manuscript feedback, but also sometimes struggle with […]

Filed Under: Beta Readers

How to brief a Beta Reader for amazing results

By Belinda Pollard 7 Comments

I’m a big fan of beta readers, and especially of MY beta readers. This is the method I used to brief my beta team for amazing results on my latest book project.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

The brutal truth about finding beta readers

By Belinda Pollard 53 Comments

Every time I post about beta readers and how wonderful and essential they are, I get more requests for how to find some.

People want quick answers. Their manuscript is ready to be critiqued NOW. And as many of us know, the best betas can be hard to find.

This brings me to the brutal truth about beta readers…

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

Writing a book? Go for it.

By Belinda Pollard 26 Comments

Are you writing a book? Wishing you could write a book? Go for it.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

Briefing a Beta Reader: Practical details

By Belinda Pollard 15 Comments

Beta readers are those wonderful people (often volunteers) who read and critique the manuscripts of our books. Chosen carefully, briefed effectively and “heard” with discernment, I regard them as the superheroes of self-publishing. They can provide forms of editing – especially in the developmental stages of a book – that many self-publishers miss out on.

Traditionally-published writers need beta readers, too. You’ll find that most successful authors have at least one and often a team of them, whether they are other writers, editors, or trusted advisors who read their work before it reaches the publisher.

Last time in our beta reader series, we talked about a wise general approach to briefing a beta reader. This time, let’s look at some tips for the logistical side of your briefing.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

Briefing a Beta Reader: The Approach

By Belinda Pollard 10 Comments

I’ve heard horror stories of people receiving snarky and offensive beta reports on their manuscripts — the kind of thing that can crush your soul. I’ve also known of beta reports that were so fluffy and insubstantial that they were a waste of everyone’s time.

Beta readers are those superheroes who read the manuscript for our novel, memoir or non-fiction book, and give targeted feedback to help us improve it. (Check out my beta reader series for more.)

Some beta readers are just a bad match to a particular writer or book. But often, that’s not the cause of those disappointing beta reports.

What’s the secret to getting a beta report you can actually use? I’ve found that the key is in the briefing. A thoroughly briefed beta reader, even one who is inexperienced or lacks confidence, can often give useful tips, if they know exactly what you want.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

Is my book ready for beta readers yet?

By Belinda Pollard 11 Comments

Beta Readers are those wonderful people who critique your manuscript, usually as an exchange — they read yours and you read theirs. Many people are not quite sure of the best time in the development of their book to ask for a beta read. This timeline — adapted from the traditional publishing process — can help you plan your project.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Self-Publishing, Writing & Editing

Why you shouldn’t ask Beta Readers to do copy editing

By Belinda Pollard 9 Comments

A Beta Reader critiques your manuscript, and provides feedback to help you improve it. Lots of people will suggest asking a beta reader to copy edit your work. I don’t recommend that, and here’s why.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Self-Publishing, Writing & Editing

How to find a beta reader

By Belinda Pollard 50 Comments

How do you find a good beta reader or “test pilot” to critique your manuscript, preferably for free? Finding the ideal beta reader can be a challenge. But here are some tips for where to start.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Subscribe by email

Finger pointing "here" with words: subscribe to this blog

Check out my Strengthen Your Book series of courses

A pink typewriter on an aqua background with the words Strengthen Your Book

Follow Me Online

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Browse my library of articles

 

I use and recommend

AWeber Free: Email marketing for free. No credit card required.
Alliance of Independent Authors /
Web Hosting
IPPY Silver Medalist 2015
The Book Designer
Pixel of Ink

ECDA-GoldStar-Dec-2014

MENU

  • Home
  • About
  • START HERE
  • Hire Us
  • Book Coaching
  • Books
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

TOPICS

  • Writing Tips
  • Write Your Life
  • Feedback & Revision
  • Self-Publishing
  • Book Marketing

A personal note…

I hope you find this site useful. It’s a business and my livelihood, so please assume most links are affiliate links, where I receive a small percentage if you end up buying a product – but it doesn’t cost you any extra. I only recommend tools and resources that I use myself, and which I think might help you. Honesty is a key value here!

Privacy policy

Read my privacy policy here.

Terms & Conditions

Read our Social Media Terms here.

Read our Website Terms of Use here.

Small Blue Dog Publishing

PO Box 310,
Lawnton, Queensland, 4501
Australia

Thank you for visiting!

I hope to see you again soon. ~ Belinda

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in