So beta readers are a *huge* part of my revision process. I usually have around 8-10 beta readers review and critique my manuscript before I send it to my agent or publisher, and they make it *so* much better. However… feedback, critiques, and suggestions on your beloved book baby aren’t always easy to absorb. In fact, the first time I got feedback from a developmental editor on my first book, I was so discouraged, I had to put down the manuscript for three months before picking it up again. But you know, that feedback made my book *so* much better, it made me grow as a writer, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. So, I put together some tips that have helped me to work through feedback efficiently, effectively… and with minimal emotional damage.

1. Skip to the bottom. This may sound weird, but it’s easy to get lost in the weeds when you’re looking through line feedback. If you skip to the bottom, you’ll get a feel for what the reader thought of your book as a whole, which will help you put their feedback in perspective.
   
2. Condense their feedback. Pages and pages of feedback can be super overwhelming and scary! It looks a lot easier to handle if you condense it into a bullet list of problem points.
   
3. Reword their problem points in your own words. This helps take the emotion out of it so you can just focus on the content. (A lot of times this also helps to condense the feedback.
   
4. Change the comments into actions that you can check off. (Note: if they suggested a fix, you *do not* have to use the fix they suggested if it doesn’t feel right.) Like perhaps if they said “Chapter three drags on and on, you should just cut it.” Maybe you would write, instead: “Add tension between characters A & B in chapter three and trim dinner scene” or something. Make it as specific as possible.
   
5. If you feel overwhelmed at any point in the process, let it sit! Sometimes distance helps us process while the problem points simmer on the backburner. I always feel better coming back to feedback after letting it percolate for a while, and it’s easier to read them without emotion the second time.
   
6. And if the suggestion/problem point just absolutely doesn’t feel right to you, delete it! If I followed every single suggestion of every beta reader I have on a manuscript, it would quite literally ruin the book. Sometimes beta readers miss things, and they often have differing opinions. When you make a change, make sure it aligns with your gut!
   
7. And since beta readers *do* often have differing opinions, I recommend you have at least 2-3. (Three works great as a tie-breaker for contrary opinions.) But *please* make sure they each have their own document to work off of. If they influence each other, it’s tough to get each of their true, unswayed opinions.
   
8. I also recommend that once you read it, you don’t let them read it twice. Often, when beta readers point out a problem, they often have a solution in mind. And it may not be *your* solution. If you’re still unsure about a problem point, I highly recommend getting a fresh beta coming in with no preconceived notions.
   
9. And remember, if one beta reader says it, it’s an opinion. If two beta readers say it, it’s a problem.
   
10. If a beta reader finishes your story and has *no* feedback other than something like “I liked it,” or *only* gives you positive feedback, that’s a great morale boost… but not super helpful for making a story better. If a beta reader cannot give constructive criticism or feedback that you feel in your bones, I would find another one. If a beta reader is unsure how to give general feedback, I would point them to this awesome questionnaire by Stacy Claflin. I use it myself to summarize feedback when I’m beta ready.

Where to find beta readers

This is a question I get *all* the time. I have found beta readers all over the place. You have basically two options here. You can use professional beta readers or you can swap with another writer (where they beta read your manuscript and you beta read theirs). My general suggestion is if you’re strapped for cash, you swap. If you’re strapped for time, you pay.

I have found Fiverr to be an amazing source of professional beta readers, many with specialties in different genres. I’ve used @maddy216’s beta reading service on my last like seven manuscripts. As of this writing, her service is $35 for up to 125k words, and her feedback is honest and solid.

I also consistently use MK Editing‘s beta reading service. As of this writing, they offer a $25 standard beta read, and a $75 in-depth beta. I’ve used both depending on the book.

Update, 11 Jul 2025: No longer recommended due to undisclosed use of Gen AI.

If you’re looking to swap beta reads, the hashtags: #writingcommunity, #betareader, #cpmatch, or #critiquepartner on X/Twitter, Instagram, or Threads can be a good place to start. There are beta reader groups/forums on Goodreads where you can post your pitch, and critiquematch.com makes it very straightforward to find a good match.

For me, I use a mix of swaps and professional beta readers. While I’m most often strapped for time, there’s also a huge benefit in *being* a beta reader. It’s a great way to make lasting friends and connections in the writing commmunity, I always learn something new from each and every critique partner, and critiquing also helps me to think critically about my own work.

Anyways, hopefully these tips were helpful, and I wish you all the luck in your revisions. If you have any questions or blog topic requests, feel free to shout them out in the comments!