Below are links to the 4-part series I wrote about beta reading. As time permits, I’ll also add links to helpful resources and further reading.

I encourage you to read the comments from the original posts. Some very good additional information and personal experiences were shared by readers.

Remember, be sure you are ready for such a serious critique before you undertake it.

Beta Reading — Part 1

This post provides an introduction to the topic. You’ll find a definition of the concept and questions to ask to determine if you need a beta reader, whether you’re ready for a beta reader, and if you’re ready to be a beta reader.

Beta Reading — Part 2

This post covers what to consider when asking for a beta read or agreeing to do a beta read. The writer needs to know what s/he wants from the critique, and the beta reader must understand what’s being requested.

Beta Reading — Part 3

This post covers the specifics of beta reading — how a reader should critique the manuscript and present his comments and how the writer should react to them.

Beta Reading — Part 4

This post summarizes the earlier posts and discusses the “what next” aspect of the relationship between writer and beta reader. It also provides a handy “dos and don’ts” checklist for both the writer and beta reader.

Additional Resources

From Writer Unboxed, see this post with suggestions for tackling critique comments.

Still under construction!