Beta Reader Questionnaire

(Borrowed from My Two Cents Editing)

Below are the questions I will answer while reading your book. If you have any specific concerns in your book, please let me know.

My Background

  • Name

  • Gender

  • Age group

  • What genres and books have you enjoyed over the last year?

  • Do you usually buy print books or ebooks?

  • Where do you shop for books?

  • How much do you usually spend for a book?

  • How do you prefer to interact with readers and authors? (Goodreads, FB, Twitter, workshops, conferences, libraries, book clubs, book signings, book blogs, etc.)

    • Among friends in person

    • At libraries

    • In bookstores

    • In book clubs

    • At book signings

    • At writers’ events

    • Through book blogs

    • On Goodreads

    • On Facebook

    • On Twitter

    • Other

Notes on expectations

  • What did the title make you think the book would be about?

  • What drew you to the book in the first place?

  • Did the book description accurately reflect the book’s content?

Notes on the reading experience

  • Did you finish the novel?

  • If you didn’t finish reading the novel, where did you put it down, and why?

  • If you were browsing in a bookstore, would the first chapter have made you want to keep reading? Why or why not?

  • Did you find the premise believable? Would these characters really behave this way in these situations?

  • Which character did you find most compelling or sympathetic? Why?

  • Did you think the characters were well-developed?

  • Was the novel ever confusing? Where and why?

  • Did you ever lose interest in the story? Where and why?

  • Did the settings (time, places, geography, mood) anchor you to the story? Did they seem accurate and/or believable?

Notes on the writing style

  • What are your thoughts on the book’s voice or style?

  • Did the dialog ring true?

  • On a scale of 1 to 10, how many spelling or grammatical errors did you notice?

After “The End”

  • What did you think of the ending?

  • What do you see as the strengths of this novel?

  • How would you summarize what this novel is about?

  • Would you recommend this book to a friend?

  • Did the novel remind you of other books or authors? In what ways?

  • Do you feel this novel is ready for publication? Why or why not?

Notes to the author

I will also include a 1-2 paragraph summery of my thoughts and what next steps we can take with your manuscript.