HIRE BETA READERS? Yay or Nay?

[personaghost]

Hi guys, I've only recently been introduced to the concept of a "beta reader".

I never knew that existed. For those who have hired or offered beta readers, what are your experience. Are they absolutely necessary for online projects? Or is it really for traditionally-published projects?

I've thought about getting some beta readers eventually, but I don't know the process at all.

What are some pros and cons (in your experience) with beta readers?

[joannekwan]

Particularly if you don't have extra money laying around, I've found just posting my work episodically online works just fine. I'll have readers pose questions and musings as they read and I take those into account and write/rewrite accordingly.
And of course if you're looking for more unambiguous feedback, or aren't getting many comments at all, asking for a specific review here on the forums can work.

[personaghost]

I see, thanks for your reply

[summermcallen]

Hi
A friend is my beta reader. So I never go through the process of searching one.
By me it's really helpful, because I'm not a native english speaker and make some mistakes.
So it's better that a second person read over it

[silacinnamon]

I have a group of a few close friends who are all artists and writers, so we are eachother's beta readers My SO is my beta reader too but he's too biased and mostly just says everything I make is perfect lol, while my other friends give me more detailed/constructive feedback since they know more about comic making.

[punkarsenic]

getting someone to look over your work and give feedback is ESSENTIAL. if you just make it in a bubble, you may come out the other end with incomprehensible nonsense - or just miss something obvious

but do you have to paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay for that? probably not.

ive never hired a beta reader, but i get friends, teachers, classmates to look over stuff. with distant friends im usually looking for someon who knows little-nothing abt the craft and i just ask 'what is happening here? tell the story back to me' to see whats landing. with closer friends / colleages, im looking for that and craft advice. and for teachers its the real 'is this good enough & how can i push it?' - you can demand the most from teachers bc theyre paid to do this. then close friends. then distant friends.

cycle around the people you get feedback from - if youve asked someone 'does this make sense' once, theyre not looking at it with fresh eyes a second time. their feedback is still valuable, but in a different way - so if youve made lots of changes, try asking a new person 'does this make sense?'

its not really something independent, smalltime creators are expected to pay for. just have friends.

[ratique]

If you want to spend money on someone, spend it on an editor who helps you fix issues before you spend hours to draw them out, instead of readers who see the finished product and give you feedback then.

[joannekwan]

LOL I was under the impression the OP was asking in regard to prose work.
I don't think I've ever heard about beta readers for comics? Editors for comics for sure though.

[rmdooley]

I find beta readers incredibly helpful. But you don't need to have the exchange be monetarily based. Often you can find other creators who are willing to do beta reader exchange; you read their work, they read yours.

That process has worked pretty well for me and I find it helpful to have beta readers who are creators in addition to just readers

[skicoak]

I hire gamma readers...you wouldn't like them when they get angry...and that's their secret, they're angry all the time.

[GamerPrincessXI]

Are you paying them to be angry is the thing. XD

[skicoak]

Are you paying them to be angry is the thing.

That might just be a side effect of proximity to me​

[GamerPrincessXI]

Lol XD. You're not making me feel angry. So, good job.

[rajillustration]

I mean if you pay them they might actually read it? The older I get the more busy my friends and family are, so I don't really get the luxury of having a reader too often anymore. I use my brother sometimes when he's available but he'll only read it if it's the perfect timing, like catching an aurora borealis.

[joannekwan]

I'd also like to add, sometimes the people you know in real life might not even like the genre you're writing, or you feel awkward sharing it with them. That's when you take to the internet haha.

[GesuGesu]

Beta readers will greatly improve your chances of not releasing a series only to be disappointed by the response and not knowing why.

I've read enough brain cancer to wish many people considered a beta reader.

[GamerPrincessXI]

I wanna be a beta reader, where do I sign up? Also, can I start with a set amount. I'd like $5 per episode. Thank you, kindly. XD

[personaghost]

that's very true, I don't think I can ever show my family that I'm writing...hahha

[personaghost]

I'll look into that thank you!

[GesuGesu]

Lmao is this sarcasm?