Beta Reader Feedback Guide: Questions to Ask the Oh-So-Critical Beta Reader

Beta readers are people who read your manuscript to give you feedback on what works and what doesn’t. They’re not necessarily editors or other writers, they’re readers in the genre you’re writing in. Because they are often not professionals, beta readers can get overwhelmed with how to provide useful feedback. Here’s a list of questions to ask beta readers that can prompt great critical feedback. 

What should I ask a beta reader to get positive feedback? 

When you go to revise your book based on beta reader feedback, you don’t want to accidentally nix something that really worked for people. So ask your readers about what worked for them. 

• Where did you get hooked and didn’t want to put the book down?

• What scene or dialogue really engaged you? Where did you get emotional?

• What characters did you love (or love to hate)? Who did you want to see more of? 

• What were the pleasant surprises?

• Was anything particularly relatable / made you feel ‘seen’?

What should I ask a beta reader to get constructive feedback? 

There will always be areas of an in-progress book that need a second look. Remind your beta readers that they do not need to solve the problems, they just need to share their reaction.

• Where were you bored, or the emotions didn’t hit like you hoped?

• What parts of the world confused you or left you without answers?

• Where did a character’s motivations seem muddled to you? Did any dialogue or actions seem out of character to you? 

• Were there any transitions that were too jarring or made you feel like you were missing something? 

How would a beta reader describe my book?

When beta readers who regularly read in your genre explain how they would describe your book as a whole, this can help with developmental issues and can also give insight into how to market the book once it’s polished. 

• Did the plot make sense to you? Was anything needlessly repetitive? 

• Was the dialogue believable? Do the characters feel real to you? 

• Did you find the ending satisfying / fulfilling? Would you read the next book? 

• What questions were you left with when the book ended? 

• How would you describe the book to someone else? 

When should I get beta reader feedback? 

When you look for beta readers depends on what kind of feedback you’re looking for. Beta readers you engage after an early draft will likely give more developmental feedback about plot structure and characters, while those you bring in after several rounds of editing are more likely to give feedback on specific scenes they love, details they’re missing, or wording that drives them mad, since you’ve already done the developmental work. 

When you’re ready to start sharing a book with beta readers, check out these tips on how to find the right beta reader to fit your book and how to protect your book (and your friendships) with a friendly beta reader agreement.