Most writers I know want to get things right in their stories. I know I do. I’ll never forget when I was just starting out. And by that I mean, I was writing my sixth book, but it would be THE ONE to finally get published. So there I was, writing what would become By Darkness Hid, and one of my critique partners said, “Jill? I’m not sure this is how sword-fighting is done. Did you research this?” And I was like, “Uh… No.”

So I asked around, found some books, read them, and I learned about sword-fighting until I could write a believable scene.

And my book was so much better.

I do this all the time now. Research. It matters, even when writing fiction. Even when writing fantasy. Get your facts straight! Am I right?

Beta readers and sensitivity readers are just another method of getting your facts straight.

BETA READERS

Beta readers are readers in your target audience. They don’t have to be writers and usually aren’t. These are simply people who have volunteered to read your book and give you feedback.  Why do you need them? I mean, you’ve fully edited your book. Several times. 

Here’s the thing. We writers are always too close to our work. We can’t see the problems that are sometimes staring us right in the face. Beta readers offer us fresh sets of eyes and perspectives on our stories. Hollywood does this. When we lived in Burbank, we went to many test screenings of movies. You get to go for free, but you have to fill out a survey at the end. And many times that feedback causes movie-makers to change the endings of movies. (And in the cases of some movies we’ve seen… Whew! For the better!)

If we want our books to be successful, gathering beta readers is a wise step. Get some feedback on your story so you can make it even better than it is now. A couple things to keep in mind:

1. Beta readers don’t take the place of editors or proofreaders.

2. The number of beta readers you use is up to you. You might choose three. You might choose twelve. 

3. Beta readers don’t need to be paid, but if your book is published, it would be kind to send them a free copy of the final book and maybe even thank them in the acknowledgements. 

4. Don’t look for beta readers among your family or friends. If you’re already a published author, go to your readers group or street team. If not, go to critique groups you’re a part of or writing groups. Above all, you want people who read actively in the genre you’ve written, and you want people who will be outspoken and honest about what they read. 

5. Get the right ones! If you’re writing a medical thriller, get a few readers who love medical thrillers, but PLEASE also get some medical doctors. At least one or two. I had someone who spoke Russian and had been to Russia read The New Recruit, and he caught the most amazing mistakes. I was so happy to have his feedback, and it greatly improved the manuscript. Whenever you have specialized subject matter, look for a beta reader or two who can help you double check those facts.

This leads me to the next topic…

SENSITIVITY READERS

Sensitivity readers are people who either represent a certain people group or who have been trained to be sensitive to all types of people groups. Some people have complained that the use of sensitivity readers is a form of censorship, but according to Writer’s Digest, a better term for sensitivity readers might be “diversity editors,” while novelist and sensitivity reader Dhonielle Clayton says a sensitivity reading is simply a “targeted beta read.”

If you’re writing about characters that are a different race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation than you are, you should really consider getting one or more sensitivity readers. Otherwise, you risk accidentally writing scenes or dialogue that is rude, offensive, and completely unrealistic. I don’t know about you, but I never want to write a book that could upset one of my readers in such a way. I certainly hope I haven’t. *winces*

A couple things to keep in mind:

1. Sensitivity readers don’t take the place of editors or proofreaders.

2. You shouldn’t need more than one or two sensitivity readers, unless you have multiple issues of diversity in your story. If that’s the case, you would be wise to have at least one sensitivity reader for each. 

3. Most sensitivity readers are paid. That doesn’t mean you can’t find some to read your book for free as a beta reader would, especially if you have someone with the right fit on your street team. It’s your job to find the right person, though, so if you have to pay someone, it’s worth the investment to find the person you need.

4. Sensitivity readers are on your side. They should provide you with a list of notes that are professional, honest, and courteous. They want to help you tell a better, more accurate, story.

5. Don’t argue with your sensitivity readers. You hired them to do a job, but they don’t have editorial say over your final manuscript. Thank them for their time, then make your choices just like you would with any editor. If your publisher hired your sensitivity reader, however, the final say on certain things might not be all up to you. In that case, the same rule applies as would when working on any edits. If you have good reason, fight for it by explaining why you want to keep things as is, but if you don’t have a good reason, trust your editor (and your sensitivity reader) and make the change. Humility is important, always, in publishing, but it’s especially important when writing about anything outside your expertise or life experience.

Have you ever worked with beta readers or sensitivity readers? Have you ever been one? Share about your experience in the comments. We want your tips!

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms, and the author of several young adult fantasy novels including the Blood of Kings trilogy. She loves teaching about writing. She blogs at goteenwriters.com and also posts writing videos on her YouTube channel and on Instagram. Jill is a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant. She grew up in Alaska without running water or electricity and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. Find Jill online at jillwilliamson.com or on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.