We talked a few weeks ago about the purpose of beta readers and why they’re an important step in the writing journey. But how do you find these elusive readers?

Yes, your family and friends love you very much. But (with some exceptions, obviously), they shouldn’t be the people you depend on for honest, constructive feedback on your book. Why? Because they love you, and often people who love us feel awkward being honest with us about the opportunities we have for improvement in our writing. That’s not to say you should try to find the meanest critic out there to read your book; that’s not helpful either. Instead, you’re looking for a group of people who are A) genuinely excited to read what you’ve written and B) are comfortable voicing honest yet constructive feedback on your book.

Another reason not to rely on family members and friends as your beta readers is that they may not be writers, or they might not read books in your genre. While it’s good to have a mix of people read your book (more on that below), you do want the majority of your beta readers to be familiar with writing craft and the nuances of your genre. If your sister only reads modern-day thrillers, she may not understand the depth of worldbuilding that an epic fantasy reader requires of that genre, and so she may not be able to point out where your detail is light. She may also find your book to be slow (since she’s used to fast-paced reads with a ton of action), where readers within your genre understand that the build can sometimes take time in this genre.

Now, all this isn’t to say that your family and friends shouldn’t read your book. Of course they should! But when you’re looking for beta readers, it helps to look outside of your usual circle.

This is often the hardest step for writers. Think about it: the majority of our profession is spent sitting in front of a computer or notepad. Alone. It can be hard to not only find people who are not only willing to read your book, but who would also be a good fit.

The good news is, there are plenty of ways to find beta readers in today’s connected world. Whether you’re someone who prefers to interact online or you’d much rather meet the person reading your book, there’s a method for everyone. And none of these are exclusive. As a writer, I have found excellent beta readers from each of the methods below. The moral of the story is there’s no one place to find beta readers. Below are some good places to start your search.

In Person

• Local writing organizations. I always recommend our writers join at least one writing group in their area if they can, for a variety of reasons. They’re usually a great resource when you’re looking for help in the publishing realm, they can build a sense of community in an otherwise-isolated profession, and, most importantly…they’re often an excellent source of beta readers! Some writing groups have formal read-and-critique days, with a set process and submission standards. Others are more about networking. So strike up a conversation, and if you find someone who is open to beta reading and fits what you’re looking for, try them out!
• Writing conferences. Cons are a wonderful networking and education tool in general, but they are also a great place to find like-minded writers who would be willing to read your book. Genre-specific cons (such as RWA for romance) are especially great if you’re looking for a few readers who really understand the nuances of writing in your particular genre. 

Online

• Social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads can be another great tool for finding beta readers. Twitter has specific hashtags (check out #CPMatch, which is a great option), and you can often find writing-specific groups on Facebook to join and begin networking. Goodreads can be a great place to find those voracious readers in your genre to connect to. It also never helps to throw a call to beta readers out on your page. Make sure you tell people what kind of feedback you’re looking for and what genre you’re writing in!
• Critique websites. If you’re not big on social media, critique websites can be another great resource. Usually you’ll submit your story into a queue or post, and then open it up for comments. Typically, these websites require you to give critiques in order to be able to receive critiques, which is a great education tool. By reading others’ works and understanding the process, you can better hone your own material and grow as a writer. Some great websites include: critters.org, wattpad.com, and critiquecircle.com. 
• NaNoWriMo. Once only for November, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has expanded its scope and now hosts writing events throughout the year. For Camp NaNoWriMo, they create virtual “cabins” and assign you cabin-mates based on your preference (genre, writing style, etc.). Then you and your cabinmates cheer each other on and can share information for swapping work! And of course, actual NaNoWriMo is a great time to network with other participating writers and find potential beta readers.

When searching for lucky souls to hand over your book baby to, there is some different criteria to pay attention to. Here are some things to look for in your beta readers. The best group of beta readers is a diverse one. Different people bring different perspectives to the table, and you want to be sure you’re getting good coverage in terms of feedback.

• Genre. As I’ve said above, it’s important to find beta readers who read your genre regularly, as they will understand the expectations required of that specific genre and can speak to that. But if you can, try to find one or two who don’t write in your genre. Sometimes a fresh perspective can give you ideas “outside of the box” of normal genre conventions or offer a new way of looking at a problem that you might have been studying with blinders on.
• Writing level. Again here, it’s good to have a mix. It’s a great idea to find some writers who are at your writing level – whether that be a new writer just starting out or an advanced writer with multiple books under their belt – and then some outside. A reader who is more advanced in craft may be able to help you spot errors you’ve never known to look for, while a reader at your level can often empathize with you and become a friend in the trenches as you both work toward the same goals. There should be a space for both in your beta reading roster.
• Critique style. Some readers are skilled at calling out big-picture problems, like character arcs and overall plot structure. Other readers shine when it comes to spotting continuity errors, plot holes, and inconsistency of voice. And some readers will be your “nit picky” readers (guess where I fall?), the ones who will let you know when you’ve strayed into passive voice or you’re using a comma incorrectly. Again, all of these types of readers are an excellent addition to your feedback circle. Be cognizant of your readers’ strengths and weaknesses regarding the stage your book is in as well. If Reader A is a whiz with story structure, maybe have her read the first draft, and save the comma-whiz Reader B for when your eyes start to glaze over in revisions.
• Writer vs. non-writer. I’ve mainly been discussing how to find readers who are also writers, for the reason I’ve stated above: no one understands the unique challenges and joys of writing like a fellow writer can. But there’s also a space for those who just love to read. These will be the majority of your target audience, and you want to make sure that your book is enjoyable to people outside of the writing profession as well. I mentioned Goodreads above as a great place to find these readers. 

Letting others read your writing often feels like you’re letting strangers take a peek inside your soul, laid bare for anyone to critique or judge. But at the end of the day, you’re writing so that others can read your words, and having beta readers can help you grow and become more comfortable in sharing your work with others. It can be challenging to find a group of readers to bare your soul to on a regular basis, but using the tips above, you should be well on your way to building a supportive stable of readers who can’t wait for your next words!

And if you’ve already found some beta readers, make sure to check out the helpful resources in our previous post!