Beta Readers Forms

Woo! Holidays are here! Thanskgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day en route. I have rescheduled my Debut Space Opera Merchant of Vision for 30 November 2024, and the sequel (of the trilogy), for 30 December 2024. Thus it is time for.. you guessed it.. BETA READERS

Setting up a good form for your beta readers is crucial. It helps you gather structured, actionable feedback. Here’s what I suggest including in your own beta readers forms, based on common best practices and the needs of your project:

1. Basic Information Section

This helps you get a sense of who your beta readers are.

• Name (or preferred internet alias)

• Email Address (for follow-ups)

• Preferred Reading Genre(s) (to ensure they're your target audience)

• How did you hear about this beta read opportunity? (for future outreach insights)
  

2. Reader Profile

These questions help you understand the reader’s background and reading habits.

• How often do you read books in this genre?

• What are some of your favorite books/authors?

• Have you participated as a beta reader before? If yes, ask for examples (optional).

3. Feedback Questions

This is the core section. Tailor the questions to the specific aspects of your book you want feedback on.

• Overall Impressions: What did you think of the story as a whole?

• Plot Pacing: Were there any sections that felt too slow or too rushed?

• Characters:

  • Did the main characters feel well-developed?

  • Who was your favorite/least favorite character, and why?

  • Were there any characters you didn’t connect with?

• World-Building:

  • Did the setting feel immersive?

  • Were there any aspects of the world that were confusing or needed more detail?

• Dialogue: Did the dialogue feel natural and true to the characters?

• Writing Style: Did the writing style fit the story? Were there any areas where it felt inconsistent?

• Suspense/Conflict: Did you feel invested in the story's conflicts? Were there any parts where you felt bored or lost interest?

• Ending: How did you feel about the ending? Was it satisfying? Were any loose ends left unresolved?

4. Specific Scenes/Chapters

If you want feedback on certain parts of the book (e.g., a pivotal plot twist or an emotionally charged scene):

• Were there any scenes that stood out as particularly strong or weak?

• Did you find any plot twists predictable? If so, which ones?

5. Grammar/Consistency

If you want feedback on technical aspects:

• Did you notice any grammatical errors or inconsistencies? (optional, for those who want to provide this level of detail)

6. Personal Enjoyment

Gauge their overall enjoyment and likelihood of recommending your book.

• On a scale of 1-10, how much did you enjoy the story?

• Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

• What three words would you use to describe this book?

7. Additional Comments

Leave a space for open-ended feedback.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

8. Confidentiality Agreement (Optional)

If you’re concerned about your work being shared prematurely:

• A simple checkbox confirming they won’t share the manuscript or discuss it outside the beta reading group.

9. Follow-Up Interest

Determine if they’d be interested in reading future drafts or joining future projects.

• Would you be interested in providing feedback on future projects? There you have it!