Greetings r/BetaReaders!
Welcome to our second monthly check-in thread!
This new monthly pinned post aims to help the community connect with other writers and betas!
Share how your WIP is going, or how your current beta read is going, or other relatable beta reading topics in this thread!
This is a great thread to talk about writing, updates, accountability, trends, vents, and more.
It is not the right thread to post first pages as there’s another pinned thread for that, but you can link to your beta post if you wish.
Do NOT advertise any beta/editor services here, and no free samples to later ask for payment are allowed. You can try r/hireaneditor or r/paidbetareaders instead.
We also ask that self promotion of completed works do not contain links. Mentioning success is completely fine!
We’d like to take this opportunity to remind people that works generated with AI, and AI generated feedback is not allowed here, either. r/writingwithAI is a better subreddit for that.
I’d also like to note that we have additional flairs available to help people know what specialty you have: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and fanfic. Please consider using them to help people match with you.
Also, it’s best to subscribe to our sub before commenting or posting to help avoid Reddit’s filters sending your content into the spam queue.
Please ensure you comment in good faith and do not break any other r/betareaders rules.
Thank you, and happy writing/reading/editing!
I’ve been remarkably busy lately, and haven’t been able to do as much as I’d have liked, with so much on my plate, though my first full edit of my WIP is going well! I need to create a bit more tension in the middle, then do a reverse outline to see if it’s working as a whole before final edits. It’s been a really fun book to write!
I can’t take on bigger projects until next year; I have a few people patiently waiting for openings, and am looking forward to them!
Touch wood, some minor stress has stopped at night, so I’m feeling better in general, which is such a relief. I have to follow it up to make sure it stays that way, which sucks.
I look forward to seeing more updates and successes from everyone!
I managed to finish my first draft for my novel [70k][MM-Romance, Crime, Romantic-Thriller]. I’ll take a break before editing and start writing the second book in the series in between 💪🏼
Congrats! That method will help with getting fresh eyes ready for your edit. Hope your new draft goes smoothly!
Currently, I decided to take a break this month from beta reading as I've been doing back-to-back reads for almost four months straight (15 WIPs total!). I have a tbr that needs attention so I can catch up on new releases in my favorite genres. I'm hoping to hold off on beta reading more until 2026 arrives, but we'll see how long that lasts.
15 is amazing! How’d you go with them? Anything they had in common, or do you have any advice based on what you’ve seen needing improvements?
What are your favorite genres?
I also have to pull back on full beta reads until next year, I’ve got a lot on my plate, but I’m definitely going to try helping with smaller things like queries or short extracts.
I'm prefer to do beta reads on a google doc provided to me. It can be a shared doc between all beta readers or my own, but I tend to pick up on foreshadowing so usually I get assigned my own. I've been doing it for some time now so most those I beta read for are "referrals" (idk if I could call them that since I do it for free) and I find others to read for on this subreddit.
One trend I've seen recently is authors struggling with pacing or knowing WHERE the book ends. Sometimes they are struggling to cut word count down to "industry standard" for their genre without realizing their story is already tight and they've just wandered into book 2 as the MC's character arc was met eight chapters ago.
I've also learned authors struggle to summarize their book succinctly. I usually offer to give feedback on blurbs for the back cover (very different requirements for that versus query blurbs of which I'm less familiar) to help with this.
I read any genre but horror or thrillers (big scaredy cat here). For beta reads I primarily stick to fantasy and romance since I'm not as widely read across other genres (women's fiction, suspense, mystery, westerns, etc.). I also avoid beta reading YA as my knowledge the current YA publishing scene is also more limited.
It is so cool you do query feedback! How'd you get into that?
I’m also a GDoc person! It’s just the most convenient for me.
Same for the foreshadowing. I usually point out sections that will lead to where I think things are going. But I prefer my own copy because I don’t want distractions and shared copies have different impressions skewing original train of thought
I haven’t encountered too many ending too late stories, though I do get “starting somewhere else would be better” and mid-point issues, and mild pacing and mechanics of the plot issues.
This link covers query vs. back cover blurbs well. I think betas would benefit from seeing a query to know specifics and the thread they’re getting into, but I can go in blind, though feedback will reflect general impressions until the inciting incident happens.
I prefer horror and thriller to thrill and intrigue, not to scare for the brutal sake of it. I also read YA and adult, though I’ve read a lot of MG and some Graphic Novels and picture books when asked, and they were happy with the feedback since I prefer to go with actionable and reactive as a reader. At least one MG should be in print soon.
For queries, I originally lurked in publishing subreddits before I wrote guides from all the info I accumulated on my publishing journey to help others, and I eventually modded one specifically focused on queries for 4 years, and part of that was reviewing almost each and every query to see if the author needed a guide so they didn’t have to get only “learn the basics” comments and have to wait a whole week before posting again, and the higher number of attempts an OP had meant people would be less inclined to help.
Queries feel natural to me now, and I love helping people without charging them since people shouldn’t feel obligated to pay when there’s no guarantee their book will make it, and it’s fairer to marginalized people to have accessible help.
You inspired me to post a query infographic on r/tradpublish, so thanks :) (I’ve been too busy to continue with new full guides and hope next year will be better)
Ahhh so you've been through query trenches. I'm just a reader so I lack experience with that. Those resources (infographics and links) are incredibly helpful though and I'm definitely going to be directing some authors to those subreddits.
Thanks! It really helps to show people resources that can help them self-edit so that they have a stronger WIP ready for feedback. Weaknesses in a query usually highlights the same issue in the manuscript, so I always recommend writing one if someone’s stuck. A lot of traditional publishing resources are quite useful for other types of writing, though they’re understandably a bit stricter since they follow the market.
Hope you enjoy your TBR list and thanks again for helping others out!
I’m super excited to have my rockstar slow burn romance ready for beta!
[Complete] [87K] [Rockstar Romance] Basslines of the Heart
Shelly, 40s, is a childfree, freelance graphic designer with a flexible schedule and just enough fun money to live her best life going to concerts and traveling. One fateful night, she meets a member of her favorite band, and electricity sparks. Both gun-shy, they must overcome their own hangups for romantic relationships, and, unfortunately, social politics come into play when they run afoul of social media. With so much going against them, Shelly and her wary musician must decide if what they feel is worth the scrutiny they'll fall under.
Dual POV (FFM 80/MMC 20), contains LGTBQ elements, mature/adult themes & situations, and is an explicit 4 chili peppers. Demographic is alternative romance readers ages 25-50
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/gKn35ADN2k
Congrats on having it ready!
That sounds like a fun WIP! I don’t have time to beta and I see you’re self-publishing, so a query isn’t likely for you, so I can’t help with that.
There will be new highlighted posts on the 1st of Jan if you’d like to comment again with the link for more eyes on your WIP.
Hope some great beta matches come your way soon!
Manuscript information: [Complete][60K][Sci-Fi Comedy] Homewreckers
Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1p7cgxn/comment/nr889az/?context=1
Critique? Sure!
My dad didn’t choose to kill himself, he chose to live. At least that’s how my sixteen year old brain chose to think about it when I woke up and found out he was gone. The official reason was that he Opted Out. That he walked up to the edge of The Bubble and just walked right through. It’s possible. He always wanted to prove to himself that he could survive out there without any, you know, digital help. Everyone we talked to — neighbors, parents, kids at school — said it was a bold choice, but under their breath they all muttered about how it was basically suicide or how selfish it was leaving behind a wife and daughter. Well, basically fuck them. I mean if there was one guy who had a chance in the OptOut it was my dad. He’d been prepping for it for as long as I could remember. I was his tag along. He never actually said he was going to leave, but he’d show me how to work out for fitness not bulk. How to make fire with sticks. How to skin a squirrel.
I didn’t like skinning squirrels, but I liked doing things with my dad. And after our practice he would take me out to the edge of The Bubble. We would sit there in the dark on the hood of his squad car and drink FunFizz and look out through that giant transparent rainbow-hued wall. Look out at that dark wilderness, the rolling forest that led down to a rolling sea. He’d say, that’s where real life is. Where you have to do everything for yourself. And I’d say, but why would you want that when Nomen already wants to take care of everything for us? He’d just laugh and give me one of those sensei smiles, “And why do you think Nomen wants to do that for us?”
Of course I hadn’t thought about that. It’s like asking why your parents tuck you in at night. They just do, right? They just care.
Far beyond The Bubble and the forest and the shoreline, way out in the bay we could barely make out the pale pink light blinking on and off. It was one of your old lighthouses. Who was lighting it? Was there electricity in the OptOut? Dad would just point his FunFizz bottle at the lighthouse and say, “That’s where the answer is.”
“The answer to what?” I’d ask.
“The answer to why Nomen cares.”
I’d like to say that this first page has great voice and I hope you find compatible beta matches soon!
It might help if you grounded us with what is in The Bubble compared to the threat of what’s “out there” and what Nomen is, potentially with sassy commentary like “the bleached-white grin of Nomen the head honcho of [home town] permeates my nightmares” or something better than my quick example. For a comedy, I’ve seen agents and industry pros ask for more lol in the opening pages if you’d like to consider that.
All the best for Homewreckers!
Great advice. I might even start in media res with an action/comedy scene. Thanks!
This is great advice. I have to admit that this is not a genre that read, so maybe that's why I felt like I was reading something other than a first page. I was thrown off by the terms The Bubble and OptOut. Again, this could be due to my ignorance of the genre.
Thanks! No matter the genre, it’s best to work in accessible context clues. If more than one beta (especially if they do read in the same genre) doesn’t “get” it without explanation, it’s worth revising to include them
I'm in. How do I start beta reading this?
Hit 22k words on my second project, and I’ve begun querying the first so that’s rad. Nerve racking as all shit, but rad.
Congrats!
I’m not sure what your query strategy is but if your first batch doesn’t work out, you can check out the guides in r/tradpublish to see if anything there can help improve your query package.
Fingers crossed your querying lands some requests!
I got something : I edited this passage :
You smile at me as we reach the shallow end, pushing your wet hair out of your face. -Ready to show off our synchronized swimming skills? You laugh as I make a big dork show of doing eggbeaters in the shallow, and you join me almost immediately. A moment passes and you lead us further towards the slope -Just like old times, huh? Your grey eyes sparkle with excitement and nostalgia “Let's start with a simple routine and see how fancy we can get!”
[...]
You laugh as we glide through the water, our movements graceful and practiced. The excitement bubbles up inside as we nail each move, the water splashing around us. -Wow, we still got it! You smile at the lifeguards' applause, bowing and waving at them. A subtle smile crest your lips as you let your bow linger for Safi. “Thanks! We should do this more often, it's too much fun” Turning back to me, a grin to your eyes. “What do you say, partner? Ready for an encore?”
to this :
You greet me with a hug and a kiss as we reach the shallow end, laughing and pushing your braid out of my face. You tighten your hold and give me another kiss.
-Minou! I whisper, chuckling.
And then you give me another one.
You glance up and see Safi gesture something and Esmé walks to the booth at a purposeful pace. Safi gives you a wink and mouths you a kiss.
You take a half-step back, holding on to my arms, grazing your touch into my hands, entwine your fingers into mine.
I squeeze your hands.
-Let’s do Suavemente!
You laugh as I make a big dork show of doing eggbeaters in the shallow, and you join me almost immediately. A moment passes and you lead us further towards the slope.
You close your eyes, and the music starts :
Suavemente, bésame Que quiero sentir tus labios Besándome otra vez
[...]
Your nostrils fill with familiar insipid spiciness. You count the beats in your head : 5, 6, 7, 8, blowing bubbles to empty your lungs in time for the split second you get to fill them back up. Your eyes are useless. Everything spins and flashes and splashes. And yet you know exactly what to do. When to do it. How to do it. You could do it with your eyes closed, in fact, you do it functionally blinded. Water is death. A chill “everything”, a “too much”, everywhere. A cradle.
And you dance with it.
You smile at the lifeguards' applause. You wipe snot off your nose as you bow - let the water take it. You wave at Esmé, and face Safi, you bow again. A subtle smile crests your lips as you linger with your head down. You get back up, take your fingers to your mouth.
And you whistle. I grin and clap for the lifeguards. They bow with a curtsy.
You turn back to me, and your face around the eyes feels numb. From all the grinning you’ve been doing. Feel check : you could go for another round before they sting for real… And what if they’d stung? We’re here. Together.
And so you ask -¡Hola! … Wanna do it again?
Nice job!
Are you going to look for betas any time soon?
great! just finished draft 3! hoping to enter a contest in a month but having a heck of a time finding dedicated, competent beta readers who don't bail after 2 chapters.
Congrats! Not sure what contest that is but RevPit usually starts in March if you’re interested in that?
I can’t commit to reading much any time soon, but if you’d like to post a query in r/querying, I can help with that, and the first 500 words!
thx!
[IN PROGRESS] Hi! I just joined this subreddit to keep myself more accountable with my writing and writing goals. I am currently a graduate student, so I don't have a ton of time for creative writing, but I try to read and write often because it is a great source of happiness for me. I am currently working on two projects: one gothic horror about an Ojibwe woman (I am also Ojibwe) who loses a friend to an accident at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and escapes to a small beach manor on the Oregon coast. She saw this house in a dream and followed her gut, which led her to this secluded Victorian manor, where she learns about its secrets and tries to heal herself. There is a big plot twist at the end that I'm working towards! The second project is about an outlaw in the mid to late 1800s who sets out on a journey with his trusted horse to find his kidnapped older brother. The story is written in third person, so you're not sure what his intentions are, and information/background is slowly fed to the reader over time. There is also a twist about the outlaw, which changes the reader's perspective partway through.
If anyone is interested in exchanging chapters or parts of our work, that would be so cool! I am just looking for community, and this subreddit looks like a great start. Thank you! Miigwech!
Welcome!
Those sound like exciting WIPs!
I have been recommending that people write out a query to help them keep the very important story elements in mind, especially if they want to consider traditional publishing, but it also helps with self-publishing, too! If you’re interested, here’s a query 101 post which you can use as a guide.
When you feel ready to exchange your writing, feel free to click the link in our sidebar for a template form to post a submission here. Send a modmail if you have any issues.
Best wishes for your writing journey!
This is such helpful information, thank you!
My WIP is going well! For about 17 days I wrote (at least) a thousand words a day, which is a new record for me! I then lost internet and cell service for about a week. My momentum stalled. I am almost at 20k words. I am hoping to end up with at least 50k when the draft is done. This is by far the furthest I have gotten with any of my projects. It's exciting.
While I may not be writing a thousand words a day anymore, I have done some important work. editing, planning (I am a pantser who usually rights the most exciting parts of the story first and then connect them later), blocking, I made a TOC with editors notes, rearranging, etc. I have also written some of the most difficult sections. They aren't long, but I had to get them just right. Just last night I finished what will act as the emotional climax of the story. I'll need some time to see if it is as strong as I think it is, but it's at least a very good scaffolding even if it gets tweaked and reworked later. Fun!
Luckily I am supposed to be apartment hunting, so writing has been a great tool for procrastination lol.
Well done on your new record and getting so far!
Not sure if you saw this writing style post but it can help narrow down your style!
Good luck for your writing and for your apartment search!
Post link -https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/Gy1fEnZ15V
Welcome to our sub!
For anyone looking, OP wants feedback on their 583-word fantasy in progress!
I already committed to reading a lot, but I could try giving feedback in a couple days if you don’t get enough responses. I did take a quick read, and I’d like to share this show vs tell resource that might interest you for revisions. Feel free to ping me when it’s the weekend if I forgot to comment, or you can post your first 500 to r/querying where I’ll definitely see it.
Hope someone responds soon!
[deleted]
Welcome and we’re glad you’re happy!
You’ve got this! When you’re ready to share you WIP, feel free to click the link on our sidebar for a post template to make things easier!
And feel free to read the guides in r/tradpublish if you feel like procrastinating your writing but still want to be trad publishing focused lol
My novel is ready for beta readers and I have a request out here ([Complete] [102k] [Urban Fantasy] Past Mistakes - Exorcist working in New York, hunting the demon she accidentally freed in her youth)
My next novel is about 80k words in, which puts it at about two-thirds complete (first draft only though). It's a time-travel thriller set in the present day, called Erasure. Stalled slightly in the middle of the book as I try to transition from act 2 to act 3 without losing momentum.
Congrats on getting your Urban Fantasy this far!
I can’t commit to new betas for a while but if you want to trad publish, feel free to throw your query and/or first 500 into r/querying!
Your second book sounds fun and I hope the momentum carries through to the end!
Thank you!
I think the second one is more likely to get attention from traditional publishing if I can query with a line at the bottom of the letter that says, "and I also have a self-published novel with xxx sales in the urban fantasy genre".
But - honestly - what do I know? I'm new here.
You sure you don't want to beta read it? :)
First time publicly sharing any of my written work, aside from song lyrics. I'm far from an expert, just a guy that sometimes works incredibly long hours with nothing to do.
Manuscript information: [Complete][45K][YA Dystopian/SF] The Vanishing
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1po1qc0/complete_45000_ya_dystopiansf_the_vanishing/
-----
The roof access door was supposed to be locked, which, in Union Year 14, meant it just needed to be kicked in the right place. I kicked it twice. The hinge screeched like it was offended, then gave up completely.
Caleb brushed past me with that cocky, almost-eighteen swagger he’d perfected lately. “You and doors, Maya,” he said. “A rivalry for the ages.”
“It started it,” I shot back.
“That tracks.”
He crossed the rooftop in three long strides, gravel crunching under his boots. Zone 9 sprawled below us—crooked lines of cramped housing blocks, power cables drooping like tired spiderwebs, streetlights flickering whenever the grid coughed.
Welcome and thanks for sharing!
Is this extract the start of your book?
I don’t know if you’re going for traditional publishing, but if so, 45k is on the lower end of word count as the average should be at least 70k, but since you will revise, here’s a quick critique through a trad pub lens:
If this is the opening, please clarify what Union Year 14 is, unless it isn’t and you establish what it is earlier. This paragraph leans more telling over showing. You mentioned kicked twice here—it’d be more interesting if you showed how it was done. E.g. “I pummeled the hinges with my steel-toed boots until they popped out of place” or something better than that.
I’m not 100% unsure if this is trying to say Caleb is 18 with a rival archetype
Leaning towards MG
Great grounding! Not sure where it’s going. I’d like more suspense in general
I’m not reading Dystopian from the extract, so it may be a good idea to find one (extract) that really shows off your world
Hope that helps!
If you do choose to go the trad pub route, feel free to check out r/tradpublish for comprehensive guides, or Alexa Donne’s YouTube channel for free craft advice. There’s also r/querying if you would like a query critique.
All the best in finding a great beta match!
Thanks for the quick review! The first few chapters are definitely my weakest—which I understand should be my strongest to hook readers in. I will be doing some significant refactors of the beginning, but I'm currently looking for general feedback of the overall story.
The excerpt is technically from the short "prologue" chapter, and the action really starts in chapter 2.
My goal in chapter 1 was to build an emotional connection with Caleb and weave in some details about the world and setting without info-dumping being overly expository. This chapter isn't as action packed, but it serves an important role I think, since chapter 2 opens with Caleb's disappearance.
That being said, I spent some time rewriting the opening sequence just for fun:
I jammed the heel of my boot into the roof access door of Building C. After the second kick, the rusted metal ground against a strike plate that had given up years ago. The door finally swung open with a shriek, banging against the brickwork.
The wind waiting on the other side tasted industrial, like wet ash. It was the kind of November cold that didn’t just freeze you, it judged you for not having a better coat.
“Subtle,” Caleb said, slipping past me into the night. “You have the gentle touch of a sledgehammer, Maya.”
“It opened, didn’t it?” I pulled my scarf up over my nose, stepping out onto the gravel.
“Eventually. Next time, try the handle.”
He crossed the rooftop in three long strides, gravel crunching under his boots. He moved with that loose-limbed, almost-eighteen swagger he’d adopted lately. It was a walk that tried to say I’m not afraid, but I knew him better than that. In Zone 9, turning eighteen didn’t mean freedom; it meant you were finally raw material for the Union.
Below us, Zone 9 was a blackened lung, streetlights flickering whenever the grid coughed. Crooked lines of cramped housing blocks, wrapped in a web of power cables that drooped like tired spiderwebs.
But if you lifted your eyes, the contrast was unmistakable.
Miles away, across the dead highway arteries, the Inner Zones burned with a seamless, blinding white light. A dome of pure energy, clean and untouchable.
“Looks bright tonight,” I said, the envy bitter on my tongue.
Much better!
I’d suggest cutting “the rested metal ground against a strike plate that had given up years ago” because it doesn’t do much for world building or pacing.
Zone 9’s description could be better connected to your MC as well.
Great job and I hope compatible beta matches come along soon!
Alrighty, so, I finally completed my first 146k-word novel, and what a journey it was! It took me two years to finish it because my 9h-6h desk job was draining all my time and will to live.
I spent three years at that company. Things started out great, but after the director who hired me quit, the environment became toxic. Writing became my escape from the stress, and a way to finally pursue my dream of becoming an author. So, I wrote during my daily commute, to and from work, a little bit every single day.
My brain started to get creative again and my world evolved so fast that without realizing I was already halfway the second book (which I am currently writing right now) so I got back to the first book (calm down brain!!!) and finished it.
This is my current post for anyone interested in beta reading: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1ppdeal/complete_146k_epic_fantasyfantasy_romance/
Looking for honest reviews and critique in plot, pacing, or even the magic system I created or things that make no sense.
Congrats on finishing your novel! Sorry to hear about that job, and I hope your new one suits you well!
I saw your blurb and am wondering if you’re interested in traditional publishing? If so, feel free to post your query draft in r/querying for a full query breakdown.
All the best for finding great beta matches!
Thank you!!! The Universe has been kind to me, and I am in a good job now with good, kind people!
About traditional publishing, I have researched it a lot... I might be wrong, as I am a newbie to all this, but I feel it's not for me. The long wait times are a factor, but my main concern is the possibility of losing autonomy over my manuscripts.
This is especially important because I am working on a book series attached to a larger world-building project that I am preparing to turn into an RPG system. I think there are too many risks involved in being tied to a traditional publishing contract regarding those rights.
I might be overthinking it, or worrying about things that might never happen. But, as much as I would find it awesome to have a large publisher for my books, I am well aware that is a long shot even if I get lucky
Congrats on the good job!
It takes very long indeed, and there’s no guarantees, except if you do go all the way, you don’t (aren’t supposed to) spend a cent.
This isn’t supposed to be common nowadays. You’re supposed to be paired with compatible agents and then editors who usually have a shared vision on how they want to enhance your work. Some publishers might want big changes but you don’t have to agree to all of them. You might have issues with choosing your cover, but that’s also publisher-dependent and they normally allow authors to chime in on design.
It’s entirely up to you if you’d like to go with trad pub with this WIP or a new one, but either way, writing a query helps bring up the important plot points and often helps people revise.
An RPG system sounds fun! Hope all of that goes smoothly for you!
[Complete][80K][YA urban fantasy] Keepers of Mirrors
Finally asked for betas for my completed manuscript (draft I've lost count?), I'm so scared but super excited. I already got great feedback that sent me through a spiral of wanting to check and re-edit everything. I guess work is never done. If anyone's interested here's the link to the post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1pq4yuc/complete_80k_ya_urban_fantasy_working_title/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Congratulations on completing your book!
No need to be afraid of anything here, this subreddit doesn’t allow inflammatory or offensive responses and has many filters up.
If you’re interested in querying this WIP soon, you can check out r/tradpublish for helpful guides and r/querying if you want a full query breakdown. Writing queries helps put important manuscript components front of mind, so it’s often a great idea to try it.
Hope you find compatible beta matches soon!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I’ve always assumed traditional publishers wouldn’t be interested in my book as I’m not based in the US but I might look. This sub has been so helpful and supportive, I’m really glad I’ve posted.
That’s actually a big misconception. Unless you set it in a specific country that is too incompatible with US life, almost all agents and publishers accept international authors!
Be sure to check out the pinned posts to see if it’s for you.
Glad you’re happy and hope things go well!
I’ve noticed that small shifts in internal monologue can really affect pacing and momentum in fiction.
Sometimes reflective passages deepen immersion, but other times they slow the narrative more than intended.
Curious how other readers and writers think about balancing introspection with forward motion.
It’s a balance, of course. Underlying tension, voice, plot intrigue, good pacing, and more needs to propel the reader forward. Introspection is also important, and it needs to be there, but most commercial genres don’t emphasize it as much. Slower moments/scenes to balance things out are also important but placement is an important factor.
Reading a lot of published books help with figuring out the balance the market wants, and beta reading often helps with seeing how unfinished works can be improved.
What’s your thoughts on them?
I agree. Placement seems to matter just as much as the amount of introspection itself.
As a reader, I usually don’t mind reflective passages when they’re anchored to something actively changing in the scene (a decision forming, tension escalating, information shifting). That’s when introspection feels like forward motion rather than a pause.
When it starts to slow me down is when multiple internal beats reinforce the same emotional state without something external pushing against it. Individually they can be well-written, but collectively they can flatten momentum.
Beta reading has definitely made me more aware of that distinction, especially seeing how small trims or repositioning can change how a scene feels without changing its meaning.
Another aspect to consider is the amount of introspection in a chapter or scene, as that also flattens momentum. Problem is that different people react differently to them, but I usually recommend seeing if more than one person calls out the section, in which case serious thought should go into whether the passage needs to be trimmed or rewritten or removed.
Writing and editing a lot also helps with the way a scene feels. Do you plan to write/are you already working on something?
Hope you find fun beta reads here and thanks for contributing!
That makes a lot of sense. I agree that when more than one reader flags the same section, it’s usually worth taking a closer look, even if the reaction varies person to person.
I’m definitely in the “write first, refine later” camp. I find that beta reading while drafting helps me internalize those pacing signals early, especially around when introspection is adding texture versus when it’s just reinforcing the same beat.
Appreciate the insight, and thanks for the thoughtful response. This kind of discussion is exactly why beta communities are so useful.
I’m also team “write first, refine later” and a lot of authors use this method, including Agatha Christie.
If you haven’t seen the r/betareaders wiki/sidebar yet, feel free to check it out, it has a lot of resources and helpful information within. If you end up posting your WIP in the future here, please link your post in the pinned highlighted threads such as this one to have more eyes on it.
I'm brand new here. Working on a VERY amibitious book (Ted Chiang + Theory of Everything) and I would love to find some bright people to let me know how it's going. I'd like to figure out how to read someone else's work first, though, and I'm just coming up to speed on that task at present.
Welcome to our sub!
It’s highly recommended that users try giving feedback via a private copy of a GDoc. Feel free to scroll our feed, and also click on the automod link to other posts with similar word counts in the same genre.
When you feel ready, feel free to post your project here! Make sure you check out the sidebar for more information. The wiki is also very helpful.
Hope you find fun reads soon!
Novel information: [Complete] [122k] [Fantasy] Nira
Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1pika30/complete_122k_fantasy_nira/
Critique, slay, criticize, be honest, please. Point out areas that make no sense, or that drag too much. Point out any detractions from the storyline. Looking for honest reviews.
[In Progress][46K][Literary Metaphysical Fiction][Working Title:The Journy]
I decided not to compromise artistic integrity and keep it niche, so it is not destined for tradition publishing. However I'd still like to give it all the respect and care that I can. Learning an incredible amount about restraint, balancing heavy introspection, balancing ambiguity, not being afraid to cut and be ruthless with editing. etc.
https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1prc1ci/in_progress45kmetaphysical_literary/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Hello. Got into writing a few months ago because I got injured playing a sport lol. I'm glad it happened because I found a new passion. I ended up writing two 100k word stories that i didn't finish because I discovery wrote them. but now I have a rough outline and find myself even more excited to write the scenes. I recently worked up the courage to post my first chapter and decided on this sub. If anyone could find time to read and critique it that would be awesome. Just trying to get better and hone my craft.
Manuscript information:[In Progress][3953][Fantasy, Dark Fantasy]Untitled
Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1pq7m74/in_progress3953fantasy_dark_fantasy_untitled/
Not the best place maybe to ask this but how do we actually post? I keep having issues here and having to seek beta readers in groups not called beta readers lmao. I follow the rules but still no go, any clue? Definitely needs to be clarified given this isn't a issue anywhere else.