What is a Beta Reader?

Explore the terms involved in receiving feedback and edits

By Alissa Dedic

October 31, 2024

Recently I have seen first-time writers looking for feedback on their writing. These writers are excited about completing the first draft of their manuscript. Sometimes they apologize because they don’t know all the right terms for requesting feedback. Sometimes they are confused and overwhelmed by all the new terms. I felt and shared their sense of confusion and overwhelm. There were so many different terms when I returned to writing and editing. The internet wasn’t as developed back when I was in college. I had kind professors who helped students learn the terminology and appropriate order for publishing something. I felt out of date when my term was not the same as the one currently showing up on social media or job postings. Thankfully the internet has many resources that are kind like my college professors. I was able to get up to speed on these terms and sort it all out with a simple Google search.

I discovered the three key terms that come up as a writer looks for feedback and edits: editor, alpha reader and beta reader.

What is an editor?

An editor is the person who reads through a manuscript or document, after the writer has self-edited and revised the content. There are many different types of editing. First, an editor can do a line by line edit of a manuscript or document. This is often called line or mechanical editing. It looks very closely at punctuation, spelling, grammar, adherence to style guides for word treatment, and the format or appearance of the manuscript. Second, an editor may do a developmental or substantive edit of the manuscript or document. This type of editing will address organization, genre expectations, coherency, clarity, correctness, and conciseness. The editor will mark things that don’t make sense or may be written outside of the intended audience’s reading ability or attention span.

A significant thing to know about an editor is that is a paid professional. Editing is a service offered by someone who is a contractor or an employee of a publishing company. The type of employment will determine the fee or wages of an editor.

When does this stage happen?

As a copyeditor, I recommend writers ask for editing services after the writer has already revised the manuscript through self-editing and the use of alpha and beta readers. Self-editing is when a writer looks through his or her manuscript for errors and inconsistencies. The writer needs to have exhausted their level of ability in this area. I can only edit so far with self-editing even as an editor. I don’t catch the things that don’t make sense or the inconsistencies in my own writing. I know what I mean to say. I need to know if the manuscript makes sense to other people. Some self-editing or revisions may take place before handing a manuscript off to an alpha or beta reader. It depends on the writer. For me, this looks like a quick grammar and spell check before asking someone who reads in my manuscript’s genre to give me some feedback.

Alpha and beta readers (or early readers as some writers call them) provide feedback. The stages of revision and drafting are what determine if a reader is an alpha reader or a beta reader. Alpha reader was a new term to me. I’ve been writing for decades. I found this term to be helpful because I have sought feedback from alpha readers and didn’t even know it.

What is an alpha reader?

The terms in any new career or field can be overwhelming. I used to make the mistake of calling someone a beta reader because I was going to get feedback from this person. This person is my test audience. Through researching, I came across the word alpha reader. It is important to note that alpha readers aren’t paid. Alpha readers are colleagues, bosses, teachers, a trusted friend or family member. They are knowledgeable about reading, writing and the manuscript’s genre. They have some kind of invested interest in seeing the writer succeed.

According to Leah Pierce’s blog post “Alpha and Beta Readers What are They and Why Bother?” (link in resources list below), an alpha reader is the person who reads the first draft of a manuscript.

What stage of the drafting process does this happen?

The alpha reader is going to be the first person to read the manuscript or document. The most revision the manuscript has experienced is probably a quick grammar and spell check or basic self-editing. Pierce went on to explain that alpha readers participate in the drafting process. At this point in the writing process, the writer isn’t concerned with grammar and spelling. The writer is concerned with does this make sense? Does this follow the elements of the genre? For nonfiction, is this relatable or relevant? Does it address a problem and solve it?

In my undergraduate studies, I often experienced using the feedback of an alpha reader in the ideation stage. I pitched an article idea to my newswriting professor or I sent a proposal to my public relations or English professor. These documents often outlined why this topic was relevant to the audience or what question this essay will address or how the project solved a communication problem. Some research or interviews may have already been done in order to have a brief outline, thesis statement or strategic pathway. Mostly, the writer wants to know does this interest the audience, does it help them or does it entertain them. An alpha reader reads the brainstorming map, the outline and the rough draft of a manuscript. They point the writer in the direction of what makes sense or what other questions to ask or which fiction element may be missing that the reader of this genre will expect. Alpha readers aren’t only knowledgeable about the genre; they also have an invested interest in seeing the writer does well. A beta reader comes in after some revision and further development of the writing has happened.

What is a beta reader?

According to Rowena Wiseman’s blog post “What is a Beta Reader and How do I Find One?” (link in resources list below), a beta reader is someone who provides feedback about what is working and not working in a manuscript. A beta reader is normally not paid. They read the draft of a manuscript before it is seen by an editor. In my undergraduate studies, the beta readers of the manuscripts and documents I wrote were my classmates. Beta readers are familiar with the manuscript’s genre. They can be classmates, co-workers, friends, family members or the same person or people who were the alpha readers. Like alpha readers, beta readers have an invested interest in seeing the writer succeed.

What stage of the drafting process does this happen?

The writer has taken the feedback of the alpha reader and carefully considered it. The writer will add elements, details and clarifying explanations. The manuscript is more developed now. It might be in the form of a second or third draft. Beta reading might happen between the first and second editing passes while the writer is working with an editor or even before the manuscript is received by an editor.

The writer wants to know if the feedback from the alpha reader has been applied well and if the manuscript is considered high quality. Would someone stop what he or she is doing and read this or buy this? Is it clear? Is it relevant? Does it make good use of the genre’s expected elements? Is it consistent?

The Benefits of Alpha and Beta Readers

The best alpha and beta readers will be people who read in that genre and understand what the reader is expecting. Familiarity allows the alpha or beta reader to clearly describe what is working or not working. It is highly recommended that writers edit their manuscript to the best of their abilities before showing them to alpha or beta readers. Sometimes alpha or beta readers pick up errors, if errors in spelling and grammar are distracting and inconsistent. They are more likely to ask if the spelling or grammar is correct than to fix it. They might not feel they know enough to give the right answer, but they know enough to recognize there is a possible issue. The expertise of an alpha or beta reader is found in their familiarity with the genre. They provide a test read of the manuscript.

In conclusion, an editor edits the manuscript or document for mechanical and structural issues. An alpha reader reads the brainstorming map, outline, pitch, proposal or rough draft of a manuscript or document. A beta reader reads the draft of the manuscript or document after it has been redrafted and revised. Many first-time writers are new to a writing career. Editor, alpha reader and beta reader are a few of many new terms than can be confusing and overwhelming. When writers know the difference between these terms, they can find the desired feedback type or editing services their manuscript or document needs.