Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Read Your Manuscript?

You can never have

too many readers.

I’m often asked this question when I give presentations or teach writing classes. Should it be family, friends, critique groups, beta readers, contest judges, or copy editors/proofreaders? My answer is “all of the above,” and in the order presented. You can never have too many readers. 

My three sisters like to read my manuscripts. They are wonderful, intelligent women who love me, and are great at making me feel they love my writing too. But they also correct my grammar and pay attention to plot details. 

My friends are nice, supportive, and willing to help me out, as long as I don’t abuse their time. Having friends and family like mine can bolster one’s ego as a writer. There’s nothing wrong with this. But after the grammar corrections, I tend to focus more on the gushing accolades, whereas in truth there are always more changes to consider. 

Members of my critique group are my most important readers. They read my work as it is progressing, and again upon completion. They are talented writers who scrutinize every word, sentence, and paragraph—even the names of my characters. They know my weaknesses and gracefully point them out. Their criticism is always on the mark.

After absorbing the wisdom of my critique group, and correcting and polishing my manuscript, I’m ready to send it to a beta reader—a non-professional reader who reads for content and grammatical errors. It’s a good idea to choose someone who is also a writer, but whom you don’t know personally or very well. I always look for someone who hasn’t yet read any of my writing so there are no expectations. If you belong to a writers’ organization, a beta reader can be a fellow member. Since reading a manuscript and making notes is time consuming, I barter by offering to do the same for my beta readers in return. 

It’s also a good idea to submit your manuscript to writers’ contests. Even if you don’t win, you’ll receive one or more evaluations, for the price of the small entry fee. You can find contests online with a Google search. 

If you’re an unpublished author, or moving to a genre that’s new to you, it’s worth the time and money to have a professional copy editor or proofreader read, edit, and critique your work. Be cautious when selecting one. Ask for references and get their details up front. State specifically what you want done. I recommend a complete, substantive critique. Most of these readers allow you to send them a few sample pages for a preview of what’s to come, from which they can give you a cost estimate. 

Finally, who should not read your manuscript? Anyone who doesn’t read much. You’d be surprised how often people I meet at book shows or promotional events tell me they don’t like to read. If someone doesn’t want to read your work, don’t twist arms. You’ll easily find enough willing readers elsewhere.