​Coming from my background in traditional publishing, venturing into indie-publishing felt rebellious and exciting. Little is more empowering for a creative than giving the bean counters (trad publishers and their form-letter rejections) the middle finger by taking the reins of your own publishing journey and riding off into the sunset. Unfortunately, the morning after realization of how many hats a self-published author must wear can feel like waking up with a hangover. But the editing hat shouldn’t be a burden you bear alone! While you might not have a full editorial department behind you, you can craft an editing and proofreading process that’s surprisingly close to the flow of a traditional publisher. 

You’ve polished your draft, finished a self-edit, and now you’re ready for fresh eyes. Enter beta readers: trusted readers who can preview the story with fresh eyes and give feedback for improvement before it goes to editors or agents or is released to the public. Beta readers can help you catch plot holes, confusing character choices, flat dialogue, or pacing issues. But how you find beta readers, guide them, and process their feedback makes all the difference.

Here’s how to make the most of your beta reader experience: