Reader feedback is a gift from outside eyes that see things you are too close to your story to notice. It can be a gut punch when you open the file and read a critique of your character development or that one paragraph where your voice sounds off or your plot doesn’t make sense, but if you can decode vague beta feedback (and avoid story-killing revisions), you can turn reader insights into your strongest draft yet!
Getting early reader feedback is a vital part of the writing process, especially when you’ve self-edited and polished your manuscript as much as you can. Whether you’re using a paid service like beta reading or a manuscript assessment, the best way to get feedback on your novel is by asking a group of trusted readers for honest opinions and suggestions before you query or submit.
When you’re preparing to receive reader feedback, it’s helpful to create a folder in your computer or email account where you’ll store the comments and reviews that come your way. When you do receive them, try to read each comment with the knowledge that the reviewer isn’t a professional editor and may have some bias towards your genre or type of book.
For example, if one reader loves your cozy fantasy but another hates it, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change your style to appeal to a wider audience; the problem could be that your characters aren’t deep or well-developed enough for them to connect with the story.