ARC, Alpha, and Beta Readers: A Guide for Writers
Which reader is right for your novel? In this guide, I’m breaking down what ARC, alpha, and beta readers are, and what they provide for your novel. Then stick to the end of this guide because I’m sharing a bonus tip and flow map to help you find the right reader.
First, if any of this sounds foreign to you, don’t worry— I’m here to help. You may be asking yourself: who are these readers? Do I really need them? Why do some writers pay for these services and others don’t?
Let’s start with a basic summary of who these readers are.
ARC Readers (Advance Reader Copy Readers) are book lovers who want to read your story just before it’s publication date. Alpha and beta readers take your story and read it before it’s been sent off to your editor.
All three of these services you can get for free. And for most of them you should; the only one’s to consider paying are beta readers. Why pay for this service over the others? Well, as you read on, you’ll see that they are crucial to the writing process. They read your book when it’s polished and could be sent to an editor. But don’t do that yet — find some betas to read your novel first. They are meant to help you spot any developmental errors such as pacing, plot, characterization, and more. Some betas even catch typos and other grammatical errors.
Each reader serves a different purpose in the writing process. In this article, you will learn in detail what each of these readers are and which one you need for your novel. This is the complete ARC, alpha, and beta readers guide for writers.
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure policy, here.
ARC Readers:
The ARC (Advance Reader Copy) process is for authors who have already set a publishing date for their book. Everything at this point is finished. You shouldn’t be making any more changes to your novel. This reader will receive a free physical or ebook version of the story before its mass production in return for an honest review online. Authors and/or publishing houses will give this book out a few months prior to the book's publication date. This portion is all for marketing for the author so they can get the word out on their upcoming novel. If you’re a reader or writer, I recommend starting with NetGalley. I've been an ARC reader for an indie author on this platform, it's simple to use. This website works directly with the publisher or author to give a reader the free digital version of a book for review.
Alpha Readers:
These readers are more like critique partners. Maybe you even found them in your writer's group. An alpha reader takes your rough draft and advises it. They usually scout for continuity, pacing, plot, and character development.
I suggest sticking to your trusted writer friends and critique partners for alpha reading because they’re essentially helping you with the structural elements of your story. You want a reader who understands the fundamentals of storytelling. Typically you (the writer) give the reader a section, chapter, or the whole draft and ask for advice on the piece. Be selective. If you ask random people to alpha read, you may not get helpful feedback that propels your story.
I wouldn’t pay for this service since so many things change in your story during this stage. Ask writer friends, and if you don’t have any, I implore you to make some. Many great writers often spoke about writing together; for example, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, or Hemmingway and Fitzgerald.
As solitary as writing is, you need people who understand the grind. You need creatives that you can bounce ideas around with. Trust me!
And for the sake of creative momentum, finding other writers will strengthen your craft. It will also help you grow a thicker skin (you’re going to need one in this profession). Getting constructive feedback is part of the process, and expect it when you’re at this stage.
Beta Readers:
A beta reader reads your book after you've written the entire second draft. In my opinion, an author is their own first beta reader, so I recommend requesting betas after you complete your second draft. Beta readers are not professional editors, but they give advice, tips, and insights about your story based on their reading experience.
Most of the time, indie authors seek out family and friends to be their beta readers. This works if you have trusted readers who love books and/ or understand the fundamentals of storytelling.
You can seek out paid beta readers. If you are paying for this service, I highly recommend being selective. Choose a beta reader who has experience and expertise with the craft. When you pay for beta readers, expect more in-depth feedback. If you're on a tight budget, you can find avid readers who love to help authors for free. The way I see it is that you get what you pay for— or don't pay for.
You want to seek out about 3-5 people to beta read your novel; more than that is too much to juggle. You absolutely do not have to use any of the advice beta readers give you. Consider revising if you notice that multiple readers are pointing out the same flaw.
That’s it.
I know it seems like a lot but it’s a process. These may be foreign concepts to some, but each of these readers are crucial to your writing process. And if you are still lost, grab the flow map so you can pinpoint your next move.
Wait. Where do I find Alpha and beta readers?
Since I already gave a resource on where to find ARC readers, I’m just referring to alpha and beta readers here. You can find a plethora of them in Facebook writing groups. A ton of readers often swap manuscripts so they don’t have to pay for the service. If you’re interested in paying for one to two beta or alpha readers, you can find them on freelance sites such as Fiverr and Upwork. When using these sites, vet out your candidates and be aware of any form of spam or scam.
If you’re looking for professionals to read your book, then schedule a free 30-minute consultation today to get an editorial assessment.
Bonus Tip
Do this before giving your manuscript to beta and alpha readers.
NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements)
If you’re getting a beta reader (paid or not), I recommend asking them to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). Although you’ve written the story, you most likely have not copyrighted the piece. Since you're still editing, you shouldn't copyright it yet.
Yes... if you’ve written it, the piece is yours, but legally, you should cover your bases. My advice: get an NDA signed because your manuscript is not yet technically copyrighted. Consider doing this for alpha readers too, even though things will change.
There you have it; a complete guide for ARC, alpha, and beta readers for writers! I hope this guide explained more about these three different readers and you feel confident choosing yours.
Don’t forget to grab the free Flow Chart printable for further guidance.
Still unsure what to do? Leave a comment with your questions! We’re happy to help!
