The question I’m always asking is: does this feedback sit with my vision for my ideal story? Is this advice grounded in craft knowledge?

Different types of readers, getting feedback, and what to do with it once you’ve received it

Alpha/Beta readers

Before getting into the juicy details, here are some quick definitions, as I understand them:

Alpha readers see your early manuscript drafts, while beta readers jump onboard after self-editing a number of times. As with many things in writing and editing, the definitions can vary between different people, so I’ll treat them as almost the same here because our article’s focus is how to handle feedback.

So, you’ve finished writing, and it’s time for another set of eyes.

Here are some important questions to ask readers before they get their hands on your work:

• Do they regularly read in your genre?
• Have they read similar books and similar authors?
• What type of feedback is your manuscript ready for?
• How would you prefer your feedback to be delivered (on the manuscript, in an attached note, etc.)?

As with any service, ensure you both are clear on your reader’s role and your own expectations to avoid disappointment.

And the most important one, in my opinion:

Are they your intended audience (age, language, location, etc.)?

Audience

Audience is such a vital consideration, so hopefully, you vet your readers carefully because nothing is more disappointing than feedback from people who aren’t your target reader.

For example, if you write MM fiction, you need someone who reads in that genre, ideally likes romance, and can consciously or unconsciously make connections between your story and others they have read before. Someone who hates romance? Not going to be a great beta reader!

A simple survey about similar books they have read or their favourite author within the same genre might help you gauge if they are a good fit for your book. I’d advise giving a deadline to return your manuscript; this means you can stick to your editing and publishing schedule without delays.

I’d also advise against asking family and friends (unless they agree to be critical, honest, and well-read in your genre!) because they are always going to view your work with you in mind, and you don’t want that. As much as it’s nice to get all positive reviews, the best way to learn is to get feedback from someone who has zero emotional investment in you or your writing.

There is a hot debate online about whether betas should be paid or not. I’ll leave that up to you and your financial situation/beliefs. A benefit of paid readers is they might take the task more seriously and also complete it in a more reasonable time frame. This is not to say unpaid beta readers are slow or do not complete in a timely fashion, but both sides can view it as a professional service—and you get what you pay for, in my opinion. A free alternative is to swap books with a similar author if any sort of financial transaction is out of your reach.

Beta and ARC readers are not the same.

ARC readers take on a free version of your book (when the manuscript is 99% complete) and agree to leave a review or other feedback on a specified date (usually your release date). I say 99% because ARC readers often spot and give feedback on typos or minor line editing issues. If your beta or ARC reader finds such issues, thank them profusely because they have saved you from a paying customer finding them!

So, finally to the feedback.

What do they mean when they say…?

Beta (and Alpha) readers might respond in a number of ways: a brief ending comment, some notes in the manuscript, or even a longer breakdown based on what they think. As every book is different, so is every beta reader. I’ll say it again: agree on expectations beforehand; then neither of you will be disappointed.

Take some time—ideally a couple of days or a week—after you acknowledge the beta reader sending back your manuscript. You can say thank you and send any gifts or agreed-upon gestures straight away. They’ve given you their time, so at the very least, say thanks!

Read through the feedback and note down (on a different page or an additional copy of the manuscript) any ideas, suggestions, or criticisms that you agree with.

Some comments might have you scratching your head because they don’t seem ‘wrong’ to you, but a reader has said they didn’t like a particular line, a character, a scene placement, the ending, the beginning—the list really is endless on what the beta reader might focus on.

Two comments might say opposing things about the SAME line! This happens more than you think. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure! I deal with this by trying to find a third opinion. With a triangulation approach, you wait until three readers give their views on an issue before taking any action. If three readers have a problem with your pacing, it might be worth a closer look.

You need to work through what is purely subjective opinion and what might merit closer analysis.

Also, look at the wording of the feedback closely. Does it state WHY they didn’t like the language or another aspect of the story? The word ‘because’ can be helpful here. If they said, “I didn’t like it because I don’t like adverbs,” then it’s a straight-up opinion. But if they said, “I didn’t like this because Frank would never act like that—he said he loved cats on page one, and now he is cowering in the corner from the neighbour’s cat,” this type of comment might be worth looking at again.

Someone says they LOVE an aspect of your story.

Kudos to you. If you’ve generated an emotional reaction (love, fear, hate, surprise, etc.), then you’ve connected emotionally with your reader, and that’s what it’s all about. You might consider saving the line/scene for future marketing efforts.

Someone says they find this offensive/negative/they HATE it!

Try not to take it to heart. Remember, the feedback is about the story, the characters, the manuscript—not about you! You can carefully consider if this is a personal bias on the reader’s part or if getting a sensitivity/authenticity reader to take a look would be a smart move.

Language level comments can be tricky to handle. Some readers like the verbose style of Proust, and some prefer Barth. They are simply two styles and two readers with preferences.

Are they making technical comments that improve the flow, or is it simply their opinion based on taste? Often, it will be personal preference, and then you have to return to your own vision and make an executive decision. Do keep that feedback tally going and notice if multiple readers are picking up on the same cases of passive voice, clunky sentences, or overused filter and filler words.

How is an editor’s feedback different from a beta reader’s?

Editing is different because it takes a more systematic approach to issues and errors on the page. Editors also work hard to offer practical and actionable steps to take with your writing, whereas a beta reader is under no pressure to explain how you should fix issues—that is the job of an editor. Ideally, your editor can point out more than one option as a solution; this provides you with more choices for any identified problems.

I’m a gay MM and LGBTQ+ character fiction editor. What does that mean? It means I can identify with many (though not all) aspects of the lives of the gay men on the page. As a history graduate, I’m also keen to research and add a layer of authenticity to any characters from the LGBTQ+ community. I will also consult with colleagues from the LGBTQ+ Editors Association on areas outside my lived experience because I think it’s worth the time and energy to get it right! UCLA, CIEP, Club Ed, and EFA training means I am working my socks off to understand every angle there is within fiction editing. I’m as invested in this as you are!

I might not be the editor for you if you simply want spelling, punctuation, and grammar checks because I also dig deeper into filter words and dull vocabulary. These jump off the page at me, and I’ve found authors appreciate their weasel words and jaded phrases being pointed out. Adjectives (big, large, and small) are all overused when something more visual would be a stronger choice.

My aim is to help authors improve as writers alongside helping them fine-tune and produce remarkable books! I hope my rambles on readers and editors have given you some new insights on how to handle feedback.

Feel free to get in touch to discuss all things writing and LGBTQ+.

Image by Maicon Fonseca Zanco from Pixabay