What is an Alpha or Beta Reader?

Writers often pass their work on to people they trust for feedback and suggestions.  Stephen King and other experienced novelists have developed a system for revising and gaining feedback that works for them.  Each writer must develop his or her own process. While each writer or author will define the terms for themselves, here are some generally accepted definitions.

An alpha reader is frequently the first person to read your work.  It might be a spouse, friend, advisor, family member, or fellow writer.  Some writers turn their daily pages over to their alpha reader as they are written.  Others might wait until they complete a rough draft, or choose any point in between.  Alpha readers are not required, and some writers and authors don’t use them at all.  I had an alpha reader for the novel I wrote in November, 2008.  As the pages were completed, I handed them over.  If I got stuck, I’d ask if it was going okay so far.  If she had a question or comment, she would ask, but her job was mostly to help me determine if the story was progressing, getting lost, or any good.

If you use an alpha reader, select someone you trust and be clear about what you need from them.  If you need character or plot comments, say so.  If you need to be held accountable in meeting your writing goals, ask.  If you need only to receive encouragement, that’s okay, too.

A beta reader is someone who reads your work after you have completed the best draft you feel you can do at the time.  Quite a few writers use a small group of beta readers rather than a single person.  This method of gathering feedback can be as formal or informal as you like.  You can send a questionnaire with your draft, welcome all comments, specify what you are looking for, or even ask that some feedback not be given (which might also depend on the beta readers you are working with.  I love some of my friends, but they aren’t that great with grammar, so I ask them for other types of feedback).

You can send your work to your selected beta readers with a time limit or leave things open ended.  Before you do, it is important that you understand this process.  If your readers don’t feel they can be honest with you or worry about how you might take criticism and suggestion, they won’t be very helpful.  If you can listen to everything you receive with an open mind, you might find insights and identify problems that could help you to make your novel or project shine.

Selecting beta readers you trust to be honest with you is just as important.  Lets face it.  Our moms are usually going to like what we do, right?  Choose objective people you know will level with you and who won’t be offended or upset if you don’t take every bit of their advice and make every change they suggest.

Though there is no requirement to gain feedback through readers, most of us find it invaluable in the process of polishing our work.  I am too close to my own work to see it the way a stranger or audience would.  I rely on my readers to give me the feedback I can’t give myself.

If you don’t feel there is anyone you can ask, find a supportive writing group in which you can share your work.  Don’t show your projects to any person or group that has a reputation for tearing people and projects down or for being over-the-top nitpicky.  You want feedback, not an ulcer, right?

Writing groups don’t have to be face to face.  You can also develop a group of readers from your online circle of friends.  Make sure you know them well enough to trust your work to them, but don’t worry too much about copyright or theft.  The minute you put your work out in written or electronic form for anyone to see, you are covered by copyright.

Alpha and beta readers are a valuable source of information about your writing project.  Remain open to what they have to say and honest about what you need.  Assess the feedback against your vision for your project and your knowledge of your characters or subject.  Use what makes your writing stronger and discard the rest.

Share!