BETA READERS - Here's how you find them

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOTHow do you actually find beta readers for your book?In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down the practical ways I’ve built a beta reader and street team over the years—from starting with friends and family, to recruiting readers who already send useful feedback, to finding potential beta readers in reader and writer communities.But finding them is only half the job. You also need to give your beta readers clear expectations: what kind of feedback you need, how you want them to report errors, what they should and shouldn’t do with the manuscript, and when you need their notes back.A good beta reader can help you catch typos, continuity problems, logic issues, and those little things that might knock a reader out of the story. And the big secret to building a reliable team is simpler than most writers think: ask.If you’re writing, publishing, or building a career as an independent author, subscribe to Wordslinger. This channel is here to give writers practical, experience-based guidance for every stage of the writing and publishing journey.00:00 What is a beta reader?01:32 Alpha readers vs. beta readers03:02 Start with friends and family04:18 Turn helpful readers into beta readers05:10 Finding beta readers in reader and writer groups06:49 Set clear rules and expectations07:38 The best way to receive corrections08:48 How I process beta reader feedback09:45 Set deadlines before publication10:23 The real secret to finding beta readersVisit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.comGET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTSFIND KEVIN:Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.comJoin Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.comWordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.comSERVICES FOR AUTHORS:Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerFind a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.