Beta Reading – Why Do It? What Are The Benefits?

Or even wonder what Beta Reading is all about? This is the right post for you!

Many authors relay on Beta Readers for their work because they care about the impact their novel makes for people who are interested in the genre. Some people list themselves as Professional Beta Readers, and a few have sold their services as experienced Alpha Readers.

None of the paid folks are cheap. They can charge anywhere from $1,000 to $2500 per full length novel. That means the author is already a few thousand dollars in the negative before even one novel is sold.

However, there is still room for the standard, unpaid Beta Readers who simply want to not only help, but get to enjoy a few benefits that comes with the efforts they make.

First, what Beta Reading is not. This is not a job based on editing. You do not check spelling nor do you check grammar. You do not ‘make’ corrections. What you do for the author is simple.

You give feedback on the reading experience.

Reading experience? What is that? No, you don’t have to ‘love’ the novel itself. Nor do you have to enjoy the story. What you do report on is the flow of the content. Is there a spot where the story makes you lose interest? Is it too confusing on the word play for a certain paragraph? Is a page too wordy for you?

That is what you point out. Your report will give things like,

“On page 32, the fifth paragraph. I got confused and the plot twist made me want to stop reading the book.”

Now that is what an author needs to know! That is all a Beta Reader does.

So, what are these mysterious benefits you hear about?

Most authors, me included, will send you an autographed paperback copy of that novel, once it’s available for sale.

Two, you will be given a mention near the end matter of the novel, typically after the novel’s dedication section. Your name and your efforts will be made immortal in my personal thank you, written just for you.

Think about the novels written by those guys in the 1800’s and up. You buy a copy today, you will know who the author is. In a couple hundred years from now, after you and I are long in the grave, my book will still be here. Your name lives on with mine.

The second biggest benefit? You get to read the novel FIRST! Before anyone even gets to buy it, the total storyline, how its developed, the evolution of the plot, all of it, you get to enjoy it before anyone else on the planet.

If any of those novels you helped Beta Read goes best seller, your name will be noticed and you will earn some huge bonus points from jealous fans.

Yes, it can be that cool. So how about it?

Beta Read for me, and you’ll be rewarded with a signed paperback once it’s available for sale, you won’t be paying a penny. I’ll mail it to you. Your name will be immortalized with mine in the back of the book, and my personal thank you will also be there.

You get to enjoy the novel now, for free, just for your feedback.

How cool is that?

Just message me below in the comments section, and I’ll contact you. Or just send me an email to daniel_a_roberts@att.net with the subject line saying ‘Beta Reader’ and I’ll know exactly what you are asking to do. Make sure you put that in the subject line. I do get fan emails often, and I need to keep your email in a different list of folks so I don’t confuse your role.

So, what are you waiting for?