Your cart is currently empty!
Is It Safe to Use Beta Readers?
They are questions that come up again and again: Is it safe to use beta readers? Will a beta reader steal my work or ideas? How can I protect my manuscript when using beta readers? These are just a few of the important questions authors should ask themselves before entrusting another person with their book.
Can beta readers steal your work?
In theory, yes, beta readers can steal your work. And since family and friends generally aren’t the best for offering critiques, finding readers you trust is often a challenge. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should skip the beta reading process. Beta readers can be extremely valuable. They provide feedback from a reader’s perspective, and readers are the ones who will purchase your book (or not). Here are some things you can do to protect your manuscript when working with beta readers.
Ask readers to sign an NDA
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is an agreement between you and the beta reader that prevents them from sharing your work. However, using such an agreement is no guarantee. For example, a scammer might use a fictious name, and even if a legitimate reader uses their real name, suing them (and actually collecting) isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s so important to vet your readers, whether they are free or paid beta readers. (More on that in a minute.)
Vet your readers
If you’ve put out the word that you’re looking for beta readers, it’s likely you’ll receive several paid offers for beta reading services (and possibly free ones as well.) Rather than jump at the first too-good-to-be-true offer, it’s a good idea to vet your reader. While some legitimate readers might not check every box, here are some things to look for:
- Do they have a website? (Some freelance beta readers might not.)
- Are they impersonating someone else? (Try a reverse Google image search of their profile photo.)
- Is their profile new, empty, or locked? (Does it look like they recently made a profile for the sole purpose of getting beta reading jobs? This can sometimes indicate a scammer.)
- Are the communications riddled with grammatical errors?
- Does the beta reader clearly communicate their process and what the feedback will include? (You might need to ask this yourself.)
Keep original files of your manuscript
You are the owner of your own work, so save your manuscript, with a date that predates when you send it to readers. For good measure, back up those files and save them in more than one place.
Document communications
Don’t let those emails or messages between you and the reader disappear. Star them in your email, save them to a specific folder, or take screenshots. If you want to be extra thorough, do all three. That way, if there is any disagreement, you can refer back to older conversations.
Go through a trusted company
Ordering beta reading services through a trusted company can provide you with extra protection. Companies often take extra measures to protect their customers. For example, here at Beta Reader Bookings LLC, we vet every reader for you and state in our terms and conditions that authors retain all rights to their work.
Just remember that anyone can create a website, and not every company vets their freelancers, so do your research before working with a “business,” too.
Watermark your manuscript
Some authors choose to watermark their manuscript, just as artists might watermark a digital painting. Microsoft offers instructions for inserting a watermark into a Word document. You can also add a watermark in Google docs. However, like NDAs, watermarks don’t come with any guarantees. If a scammer is determined to steal your work, which is not very common, they can. That’s why vetting your readers is so essential.
How to send your manuscript to beta readers
How you send your manuscript is entirely up to you and your beta reader. Some authors send a PDF, others send a Word document, and some share access via Google docs. As stated above, if a scammer wants to steal your work, the file type isn’t likely to stop them. However, you can help keep your work protected by sending it via a secure connection. For extra security, some authors choose to protect their work with a password. Of course, you’d need to share this passcode with your reader if you want them to actually read your work.
Beta reading scams that target authors
While the fear of having unpublished work stolen is common, it’s not the only thing authors should watch out for. There are other beta reading scams that target authors.
- ‘Beta Readers’ who don’t actually read your book (These people might use AI to generate a beta reading report, or they might skim your book and put together a report that doesn’t accurately reflect your work.)
- ‘Readers’ who never deliver feedback (While it’s not uncommon for free readers to ghost authors, some paid ‘readers’ might too. These scammers will take your money and disappear.)
- Scammers who create fake profiles to recommend themselves (A scammer might create a fake author profile to recommend themselves as a paid beta reader.)
Unethical beta reader practices
While scammers might not be the most appropriate word to describe these less-than-honest readers, most professionals will agree the following practices are unethical.
- Someone offers to read your manuscript for free, but they later disclose they charge for their services.
- A reader provides only (or mostly) positive feedback, hoping to obtain more business or receive a favorable review.
- A reader claims they love your genre when they don’t.
Find trustworthy beta readers
There are several places you can find beta readers, but finding good ones might take some time and effort. Whether you’re looking for free readers, paid readers, or manuscripts swaps, ensuring your readers are trustworthy and are a good fit for your work can make all the difference.
At Beta Reader Bookings LLC, we don’t let just any reader freelance for us. To work with us, readers must pass assessments and truly understand the genres they beta read for. Every project is compared to the readers’ profiles, and we match every manuscript to the best-fitting reader. If you’re interested in beta reading services, you can contact us at [email protected] or order a beta reading service directly online.
Read More
-Beta Reader Checklist: 10 Things to Consider