Who Reads Your Book Before It’s Published?
Understanding the roles of beta readers, sensitivity readers, and editors, and when to bring each one in
You’ve finished your draft. Maybe even your second or third. You’ve stared at it for so long that you’re not sure if it’s brilliant or a complete mess. You know it needs feedback, but from who? A beta reader? An editor? Someone who can tell you if you’ve unintentionally written something harmful?
This is where a lot of new authors stall. Not because they aren’t willing to improve, but because they don’t know who to turn to, when to bring them in, or what to send.
Let’s break it down.
Start with Beta Readers
Beta readers are your first real audience. They help you find plot holes, pacing issues, and character decisions that don’t quite land. They are not looking for typos or polishing your prose. They are reacting to the story as a reader would.
When to use them:
After a full self-revision, when the manuscript is readable but not yet polished. You want feedback on the story, not grammar corrections.
What to ask them:
Give them a few specific questions. Examples:
Did anything confuse you?
Were you invested in the main character?
Were there any scenes that dragged?
Open-ended questions like “What did you think?” are less helpful. Be clear about the type of feedback you want.
Cost:
Most beta readers are unpaid. You can thank them in your acknowledgments, offer a free ebook when it’s published, or include a small gift. If you're asking for detailed notes or a fast turnaround, consider offering $25 to $50 as a courtesy.
Where to find them:
Your email list or social media followers
Reader groups on Facebook
Bookstagram or BookTok communities
BetaReader.io or Scribophile
Common mistakes:
Sending out a rough, typo-filled draft
Trying to implement every piece of feedback
Expecting professional insight from a casual reader
Beta readers give you a snapshot of how the book lands with your audience. That only works if your draft is clear enough for them to engage with it fully.
Consider Sensitivity Readers
If your book includes characters or experiences outside your own, especially involving race, disability, gender identity, religion, or trauma, it’s worth investing in a sensitivity read. Sensitivity readers help you avoid unintentional harm by flagging stereotypes, inaccuracies, or missed nuances you may not see from your own perspective.
Not sure what a sensitivity reader is? They’re paid professionals with lived experience or deep knowledge of a specific identity, culture, or topic. Their role is to flag potentially harmful or inaccurate portrayals, not to censor your work but to help you write with care and nuance.
When to use them:
After you've revised based on beta feedback. The story should be close to its final shape.
What to provide:
A revised manuscript, a summary of the characters or themes they should focus on, and a short note explaining your intent. It helps to be clear about what you hope to avoid or get right.
Cost:
Rates vary based on manuscript length, depth of review, and subject matter:
$50 to $250 for partial or short reads
$200 to $500 or more for full-length novels
Where to find them:
Writing Diversely Database
Sensitivity Reader Directory (via Writer’s Digest)
Online communities and author networks
Referrals from other writers or editors
Common mistakes:
Hiring someone just to “check a box”
Being defensive about the feedback
Asking them to rewrite parts of the manuscript
Treating one reader’s feedback as representative of an entire group
Not every book needs a sensitivity reader. But if your story centers on an experience you haven’t lived, it’s a professional safeguard that helps you write more responsibly.
Editing Comes Last, but Not All at Once
Editing is not a single step. It’s a multi-layered process that happens in stages. Skipping one of those stages can lead to problems that show up in reviews and reader reactions.
Developmental Editing
This is the big-picture stage. Developmental editors focus on structure, plot, pacing, character arcs, and story logic.
When to hire:
After beta and sensitivity rounds, your story is mostly locked in and ready for refinement.
Cost:
$0.02 to $0.06 per word
Roughly $500 to $2,500, depending on word count and scope
Common mistake:
Skipping this stage altogether. If the story doesn’t work structurally, no amount of polish will save it.
Line Editing
Line editors focus on the language itself — how the sentences sound, how the ideas flow, how the tone carries.
When to hire:
Once the story structure is solid. At this point, you are no longer moving chapters or rewriting characters.
Cost:
$0.01 to $0.04 per word
Around $300 to $1,200 for a full manuscript
Common mistake:
Hiring a line editor and expecting them to fix story problems. That’s not what they do.
Copyediting
Copyeditors focus on grammar, punctuation, spelling, word usage, and consistency. This is about accuracy and clarity.
When to hire:
After line edits are complete. This is your final polish before formatting.
Cost:
$0.01 to $0.02 per word
Approximately $200 to $800
Common mistake:
Bringing in a copyeditor too early, before your sentences are fully shaped.
Proofreading
Proofreaders come in once the book is formatted and ready for production. They check for lingering typos, layout errors, and minor issues that might have crept in during formatting.
When to hire:
After the book is typeset or formatted for digital or print.
Cost:
$0.005 to $0.01 per word
Generally $100 to $300
Common mistake:
Skipping this step. Even with multiple rounds of editing, new errors can sneak in during formatting or conversion.
Who Comes First?
Here’s the typical order for most indie authors:
Self-edit your manuscript
Send to beta readers
Revise based on feedback
Hire sensitivity readers if needed
Revise again
Hire a developmental editor
Revise once more
Hire a line editor
Hire a copyeditor
Format the manuscript
Hire a proofreader
Street Team
Publish
Each step builds on the previous one. Skipping a stage often leads to rushed fixes or preventable issues later.
What If You Can’t Afford All This?
You’re not alone. Most indie authors work within tight budgets. The key is to be strategic about what you prioritize.
Bare-bones option:
3 to 5 beta readers
One focused sensitivity reader, if applicable
Combined line and copyedit from a single freelancer
Free tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid
Self-proofreading or help from a trusted peer
Modest option:
Beta and sensitivity readers
Developmental critique instead of a full edit
Line and copyedit from separate professionals
Formatting assistance with built-in proofing
Full-service option:
Each editing stage is completed separately
Professional formatting
Proofreading by someone outside the design process
Early reader feedback via an ARC team
The most common regret among indie authors is not investing more in editing. Do what you can afford, but be honest about what you’re skipping and what that might mean for the final product.
Final Thoughts
Publishing your book is not just about finishing the draft. It’s about creating a final product that respects the time and trust of your readers. The clearer your manuscript, the more useful the feedback will be. The stronger the feedback, the better the final result. And when you approach each stage of the process with clarity, purpose, and respect for your collaborators, you set yourself up not just for one book, but for a sustainable writing career.
