Rowanvale Books
  • Home
    • Self Publishing Wales
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Not Sure Where To Start?
    • Rowanvale's Five Commandments
    • Meet The Team
    • Manuscript Guidelines
    • Design Galleries >
      • Design Gallery - Chrissie
      • Design Gallery - Rebeckah
      • Design Gallery - Kayleigh
      • Design Gallery - Alex
      • Design Gallery - Alice
    • Meet Our Authors
  • Our Services
    • Pre-Publication Services >
      • Proofreading and Editing
      • Book Illustrations Service
      • Writing Advisor Service
      • Scanning And Typing Service
      • Editorial Assessment
      • Literary Agent Package
      • Beta Readers
      • Custom Book Cover Design Service
      • Developmental Editing
    • Publication Services >
      • Children's Book Publishing Package
      • Paperback and/or Hardback Publishing Package
      • eBook Publishing Package
      • eBook and Paperback/Hardback Publishing Package
      • All Formats Publishing Package
      • KDP Publishing Services
    • Post-Publication Services >
      • Amazon Analysis
      • ARC and Book Review Service
      • PR Services
      • Marketing And Aftercare
  • Blog
  • Bookstore
    • New Releases
  • FAQs
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Our Reviews
  • Contact Us

25 Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers

23/3/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Your book is ready for its first beta reader, but how do you get the best out of your beta reader(s), where do you find them and what questions you need to ask? 
 
But first, let’s have a quick reminder of the beta reader's role.  
 
What Is a Beta Reader? 
Beta readers read your book from the viewpoint of your ideal audience, which means you can gain feedback from your target audience before publication. You can then make any last amendments to your book with your perfect reader firmly in mind.  
 
Beta readers should include their honest feedback on: 
  • Plot 
  • Characters 
  • Setting 
  • Dialogue  
  • Writing Style 
  • Overall Impression 
 
Before we jump into the specific questions you should beasking them, let’s look at the qualities needed in a beta reader. 
 
Beta Reader Qualities 
As we mentioned above, beta readers should give honest feedback. Book edits can’t happen with sugar-coated insights. As well as being honest, beta readers must be reliable, avid readers and familiar with your book's genre.  
 
Your beta reader needs to be reliable so that they a) read your book and b) return their feedback. It’s also best to ask someone who reads often, because beta reading can be a massive time commitment.  
 
You also want someone familiar with your book’s genre, which means they’ll have the appropriate knowledge to pick up on how well you’ve executed genre-specific tropes and themes.  
 
Finding Beta Readers 
You can find beta readers through: 
 
  • Writing communities 
  • Your author website 
  • With us at Rowanvale! 
 
You can swap your manuscripts with other writers found in online writing communities. Writing communities can be formed through Bookstagram, BookTok or Twitch.  
 
If you have an author website, write a blog post or send out a newsletter asking your followers to be beta readers. Those that respond will be your ideal reader as they are already interested in your work.  
 
We also offer beta reading as part of our pre-publication services.  
 
Now, let’s look at the sorts of questions to ask your beta readers.  
Picture
Questions to ask your Beta Reader 
 
Plot 
  • Did you feel enticed by the opening scene?  
  • Did each scene flow into the next?  
  • Did you find any plot holes or inconsistencies? 
  • Were any parts too predictable?  
  • Did you find the ending satisfying?  
 
Characters 
  • Could you relate to the main character?  
  • Were the main character’s motivations believable? 
  • Did the main character develop naturally?  
  • Were there any moments when anyone acted out of character?  
  • Did you have a least favourite character?  
 
Setting 
  • Could you see the characters interacting with their surroundings?  
  • Were there any points where you didn’t know where the character was? 
  • Did you find the setting interesting?  
  • Did you have a least favourite setting? 
 
Dialogue 
  • Did the dialogue sound natural?  
  • Did the characters always sound like themselves? 
  • Was it always clear who was talking?  
  • Did any of the dialogue make you cringe?  
 
Writing Style 
  • Were there any times that you felt bored?  
  • Were there any times when you felt confused?  
 
Overall Impression 
  • How does this book compare to others you’ve read in the genre? 
  • How did the book leave you feeling? 
  • What was your favourite moment?  
  • What was your least favourite moment?  
  • Would you recommend this book to a friend?  
 
If you would like more help with beta readers or our beta reading services, or you have any more questions, please get in touch with our team.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All
    Book Distribution
    Marketing
    Royalties
    Self Publishing Guide
    Self-publishing Guide
    Social Media
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Services

Children's Publishing
Paperback Publishing
eBook Publishing
KDP Publishing
All Format Publishing
Book Illustrations
Writing Advisor
Scanning & Typing
Editorial Assessment
Proofreading & Editing
Literary Agents
Beta Readers
Custom Book Cover Design
Developmental Editing
Amazon Analysis
ARC Review Service
PR Service
Marketing & Aftercare

Company

Meet The Team
Accessibility
Contact Us

Support

FAQs
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Rowanvale Books is the largest and one of the longest running self-publishing companies in Wales.
Visit us on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn below.
UK: 02921 280 895
Intl: (+44) 2921 280 895
e: info@rowanvalebooks.com
Picture
Picture

© Rowanvale Books Ltd 2023
Registered in Wales | Company Registration No. 8820249
VAT Registration No. 440 5584 02
Website Powered By Digitally Brilliant
  • Home
    • Self Publishing Wales
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Not Sure Where To Start?
    • Rowanvale's Five Commandments
    • Meet The Team
    • Manuscript Guidelines
    • Design Galleries >
      • Design Gallery - Chrissie
      • Design Gallery - Rebeckah
      • Design Gallery - Kayleigh
      • Design Gallery - Alex
      • Design Gallery - Alice
    • Meet Our Authors
  • Our Services
    • Pre-Publication Services >
      • Proofreading and Editing
      • Book Illustrations Service
      • Writing Advisor Service
      • Scanning And Typing Service
      • Editorial Assessment
      • Literary Agent Package
      • Beta Readers
      • Custom Book Cover Design Service
      • Developmental Editing
    • Publication Services >
      • Children's Book Publishing Package
      • Paperback and/or Hardback Publishing Package
      • eBook Publishing Package
      • eBook and Paperback/Hardback Publishing Package
      • All Formats Publishing Package
      • KDP Publishing Services
    • Post-Publication Services >
      • Amazon Analysis
      • ARC and Book Review Service
      • PR Services
      • Marketing And Aftercare
  • Blog
  • Bookstore
    • New Releases
  • FAQs
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Our Reviews
  • Contact Us