Beta reader
A beta reader is a test reader of an unreleased work[1] of writing, typically literature, who gives feedback to the author from the point of view of an average reader.[2] This feedback can be used by the writer to fix remaining issues with plot, pacing, and consistency. The beta reader also serves as a sounding board to see if the work has the intended intellectual or emotional impact on the target market.
Origin
[edit | edit source]"Beta reader" is an English term originally borrowed from the information technology and software industry, where beta testers use an unreleased product to accomplish a real task, partly to identify problems in the product.[2]
Differences from other roles
[edit | edit source]Typically, a beta reader reviews a draft that has gone through at least one revision. An alpha reader reviews a draft that is still without an ending or is completely unrevised. Alpha and beta readers must be well educated generally, with a good knowledge of current affairs.[citation needed] This enables them to read works in the current context, with regard to both world affairs and the target market that the work is aimed at.[citation needed]
A proofreader usually only looks at grammar and spelling and is a paid professional,[citation needed] while a beta reader is more holistic in their scope. A critique partner is a trained writer who test reads from the perspective of an author, while a beta reader is a trained reader, test reading from the perspective of a typical reader. A sensitivity reader is a specific type of beta reader who is from a culture that the author is not familiar with.[3]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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