How to Ask for Feedback on your Book (And Make the Most of It)
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Book marketing guru David Chilton frequently recommends “market testing” your book—basically, seek feedback before you publish it. But why and how should you get feedback for your book?
The why is easy. Outside review can help catch embarrassing issues, drum up early support for your work, and ensure your book is ready to make a positive splash. As for the how? That all depends on the kind of feedback you’re seeking: getting beta reader responses or checking with the experts.
Testing with Beta Readers
If you, the author, are the “alpha,” then beta readers are the next set of eyes on your manuscript. This can be scary. What if they don’t like it? The truth is, early drafts are usually clunky. They are like prototypes for a product not yet for sale. In that sense, beta readers are more than just readers; they are a focus group meant to offer constructive criticism and give concise, helpful feedback.
Here are some tips on how to manage (and what to expect from) your beta readers:
Ensure readers have ample time to read. Set reasonable deadlines. If they are a fellow writer, consider exchanging manuscripts.
Ask them to provide (written) feedback. Some examples include completing your provided questionnaire, making notes/comments in the margins of a printed or digital copy, and/or verbally discussing the story afterwards (just be sure you take lots of notes!).
Make sure you’re clear about expectations. If you’re unsure about your work, request a gentle approach. Or if you need some tough love, ask readers for brutal honesty. Confirm that their feedback style and your needs are a good fit.
Ensure readers understand your genre, or belong to your target demographic. Great beta readers have diverse reading appetites.
Be sure they’re trustworthy. Explicitly confirm your manuscript remains private. And if possible, vet beta readers through your writing community.
Keep in mind that beta readers are not editors. A beta reader’s role is to express how they felt about certain events, people, or storylines; the tone of the book; or issues with the writing style in general. If they are experienced, they may delve deeper into storytelling techniques. They may even offer “green pen” proofreading (looking for typos, repetition, or simple errors) so you can improve your draft.
Keep in mind, though, that one person’s opinion is just that: one person’s opinion. Every perspective is different. For best results, get a number of people’s feedback on the same version of the manuscript. Accumulate various responses. Look for patterns—or for contradictions; then focus on any unanimous issues first. Contradictions could mean different beta readers had different preferences, or they may mean something structural is off (like pacing or tone), and they have suggested different ways of addressing it.
With the support of a team of engaged beta readers, you can be confident that your revised manuscript is strong and sound and will resonate well with your intended audience. Often, your beta readers may become your most vocal cheerleaders, too, when it comes time to launch your book.
Asking the Experts
No matter what kind of book you’re writing, there are experts out there who know more than you on a given subject. And this is great! You don’t need to be an expert in every detail—why reinvent the wheel, right? An expert’s assistance can ensure your facts are accurate, your sources credible, or your methods sound.
Experts include scientists, professors, business CEOs, teachers, nurses, native speakers of another language—basically, anyone who has significant training in the relevant subject matter. Some questions you may consider asking them (depending on your subject matter) are:
Are the roles and functions of government/military/medical (etc.) systems presented accurately?
Are there any anachronisms (inventions, terminology, figures who were not around during the book’s time period)?
Are there any incorrect dates or misattributed quotes (especially if the expert is quoted in the book, such as in memoir or journalism)?
Are there any factual errors in technology, medical issues, legal proceedings, etc.?
Are there any mistranslations or inaccuracies in the portrayal of other languages?
Getting the details right will make your book more polished and professional. Remember that readers pick up a book because the topic interests them, which means they may know about the topic already and so may notice errors. If there are a lot of inaccuracies, it could take your reader out of the book — or worse, cause them to stop reading altogether.
Another type of expert is a sensitivity reader, someone with first-hand lived experience. When writing about experiences different than you own, including religions, genders, cultures, sexual identity or orientation, there’s no way for you to accurately know what it’s like to step into that character’s shoes. In these cases, a sensitivity reader can review your work to point out inherent biases, harmful stereotypes, or inaccuracies.
Of course no individual from a specific group can speak for all members of that group, but they can give you personal insight into your subject matter. This will ensure you don’t unintentionally offend people or unconsciously perpetuate oppressive views, while also improving the depth and realism of your narrative and the people featured in it. There are many complex feelings around writing experiences outside your own frame of reference, and now more than ever, readers demand and expect conscientious storytelling. It’s okay to ask for help; in fact, it’s encouraged.
Finally, you can also ask influencers to read your unpublished book. Typically, this is best done later in the publication process (such as with an Advanced Reader Copy). Influencers are well known among your audience and their opinions hold weight. Having their name(s) attached to your book can greatly help sales and legitimacy. Influencers include celebrities, other authors in your genre, prominent book reviewers/podcasters/bloggers, or experts in your field (especially if they’ve already provided you with fact-checking assistance).
An influencer’s support can take many forms, such as posting about your book on their social media, interviewing you, or providing an endorsement or testimonial. This last option is usually a quote that you can print on your book’s cover or dust jacket, or on your website and press kit materials, to let the world know that this important person approves of your book. Remember though: these are busy people! Some charge a fee to read and provide a review or quote; some will do it for free but they need many months of lead time to ensure they can read your work in full. Start planning ahead so that your influencer doesn’t hold up your publishing plans.
While outside review is not required on your path to publishing, when you find yourself wondering if your book is interesting, or hoping you did a topic justice, or are eager for positive reader reviews . . . you should consider getting additional feedback. Remember: you only get one opportunity to make your first splash with your book. It’s much wiser to get outside feedback while you still have time to change the text. You might be surprised by how much you learn about your subject and your own writing. And armed with that knowledge, you’ll be able to make your book even better.
