Every writer has a process. As we’ve mentioned before, some of us are pantsers, some of us are plotters, and many of us fall into a category in-between. Basically, there is no one “correct way” to create art. Part of the beauty of art is its subjectivity, and how artists reach the point of sharing their art with the world is equally subjective–particularly if they are a self-published / independent author.
However, any professional writer worth their salt will tell you that there are certain aspects of the creative writing process you simply shouldn’t ignore. A large part of this process begins with revisions (known to some of us as drafts 2 through 10ish), and ends with your manuscript in the hands of a professional editor.
And somewhere in-between, you have the “reader” stage.
This is the point of the writing journey in which you select a few trusted individuals to read what you have and comment on it. But if you’re anything like I was during my early college days, while you may have heard the term “beta readers” being thrown around, you are largely unaware of the “alpha reader” stage, and have very little insight into what the difference is between the two.
Alpha Readers
For anyone even slightly familiar with the Greek alphabet, you at least have a hint at the difference between alphas and betas: for starters, Alphas are the first to read your work. But after that, the details become more specific. The alpha stage, for instance, tends to be a little more lax than the beta stage: in most cases, the manuscript is not even completed at this point. Plus, there is less pressure to gather as many opinions as possible, as this stage is all about how the story is looking in general.
Basically, your alpha reader(s) may be one or two close friends / colleagues who are also familiar with writing processes. Whether they are fellow authors or professional editors, their job during this stage of the creative process is to alert you to “bigger picture” issues with the piece. What works, and what doesn’t? Are there any plot holes that have so far gone unnoticed? Is there anything written that fits together perfectly within the writer’s perspective, yet makes little sense to outside readers? How can these problems be fixed?
In other words, the Alpha Reader is your writer-as-reader advisor.
Beta Readers
This is where the process may get a little more frustrating for authors. The beta reading stage is the point at which you have completed a full first draft of the story and revised it based on your alpha’s critiques as well as your own early stages of edits. Now, you need to find new readers. But not just any readers: these are people whose reading interests typically fall within your genre, who are willing to volunteer their time and energy and be dedicated to responding to you in a timely manner.
These are basically the handful of casual readers who will represent the broader scope of your audience. So, first and foremost: the more you can rope in, the more helpful this stage will be. But unlike the alpha reader, a beta reader’s job is to critique the smaller details of the story. Is the dialogue realistic? Does the setting draw you in? Is it believable? Is there anything I can afford to cut?
This stage of the writing is also a good opportunity for authors to address some of their overall concerns: Are the characters likeable? Was that twist too obvious, or was it too unpredictable? Are there moments during this chapter where you get bored / feel drawn out of the story?
Whether you’re still in the drafting stage of your story, or already calculating the cost of publishing your book through Barnes & Noble, the most surefire way to put something out into the world that is memorable and worth a reader’s time is to get feedback beforehand. Take advantage of writer’s workshops, college classes, and even a close circle of friends who are avid readers in order to better gauge how your story will be received in the long run. The process might be frustrating at times (and more about beta readers can definitely be discussed in the future), but having that feedback, and being able to see your story through your readers’ eyes is most certainly worth the time and effort.
Night Owls, what stage are you at with your works in progress? Who is your go-to alpha reader? What’s your typical beta process?
