Write2Ignite

​What do beta reading and book reviewing have in common? Both tasks often involve being an early reader of a new book. Both typically offer readers a chance to share their opinion on the story, whether with the author or with other readers. While beta reading and reviewing vary in their goals, both give an author valuable feedback during the publishing process.

But did you know that being a beta reader or reviewer can benefit your writing as well? Here are few reasons you should consider joining a reading team for another author.

3 Benefits of Beta Reading and Book Reviewing

1. Beta Reading and Book Reviewing Encourage Critical Reading

Joining an author’s beta reading team or review team offers a chance to practice our critical reading skills. As we go through a story as a beta reader, we’re paying attention to the things we enjoy and the places we get hung up, so we can share that feedback with the author. As reviewers, we’re looking at the story’s overall strengths and drawbacks to share with the potential audience. Either way, we learn to identify specific attributes that make a story stronger or weaker. In recognizing these characteristics of good storytelling, we train ourselves to spot issues in our own work.

2. Beta Reading and Book Reviewing Helps Build Relationships 

By signing up to be a beta reader or review team member, you get to know new authors or publishers. In some cases, you’ll get the chance to correspond with authors directly, especially with beta reading. I’ve had several instances where authors I’ve beta read and reviewed for have ended up contacting me when their next book came out. I’ve had several great conversations with people I never would have known if I hadn’t signed up to read their books.

Even in cases where you don’t interact on a personal level with the writer, you still build a connection. You learn more about others in the industry. You participate in a community of fellow readers. Most importantly, you have the chance to encourage other writers with your feedback and reviews. All of these things allow you to practice good literary citizenship.

3. Beta Reading and Book Reviewing Teaches You the Process

As writers, having beta readers helps us to catch major issues before we send our stories into the world. When it comes time to publish, advanced readers who are willing to write reviews and share our books offer an invaluable form of marketing. By joining the reading teams of other authors, we get an idea of how the process of beta reading and reviewing works. 

We learn different ways of reaching readers, based on different ways we were reached. We see firsthand how other authors handle sending out their manuscripts and receiving feedback. Did they send beta readers a pdf with a link to a questionnaire to fill out when they finished? Did they send a physical book or an epub file of their advanced reader copy for you to review? Were you asked to post reviews to specific websites, such as Goodreads or BookBub? How did you even sign up to be a reader?

Some authors I know use a Google form to sign up readers, asking relevant questions such as where reviewers are willing to post reviews. Other authors simply ask for an email address to contact you.

The different methods authors use of finding readers and communicating with them can give us ideas of what works well and what might be helpful to try when we’re ready to find readers for our own work. 

Bonus Benefit: 

As a beta reader and/or book reviewer, you get to read new books (for free!) before they officially come out! Reading a book early always makes me feel like I’m part of the book’s journey. That book is no longer just a random story on the shelf, but one that I have a connection to, simply because I had the chance to read it sooner than most. That sneak peek makes me feel a special joy when I see other people getting to discover the book. The story is one I know personally, and so seeing it released feels like watching a friend win an award.

How to Begin

If you want to try beta reading or reviewing, one way to start is by visiting writing communities online. Follow authors and publishers in your genre on social media. Sign up for author newsletters. Consider joining Facebook groups for writers, such as Realm Makers, a group for Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy writers. Many author use social media or their email newsletters to find readers for their new books.

Another option is to check publisher websites. Some publishers such as Ambassador International have a review program where they will invite bloggers to join their review team.

All in all, beta reading and book reviewing are valuable practices that support writers, and I encourage you to give it a try!