It does not matter how good a writer you are or how easily the words flowed when you started putting them down on paper. You should have someone else read it before you even think about sharing it with the world. Whether you write novels, fanfiction, or poetry, having somebody who can give you feedback can be the difference between a few sales and a bestselling breakout.

When you write, you are just too close to it to see the sometimes nitpicky little flaws that will throw your reader right out of the story. Those tiny flaws exist even after you have taken breaks and gone through a round or three of editing. Hopefully, you have already caught the simple problems of missing or wrong words or accidental changes of tense or point of view before you get to this point. It is still entirely possible that you have missed some of these things.

There are other, more major issues a good beta can help you with, too. Things like problems in your plot or pacing that you can fix before your story “goes live.” A good beta reader can be a life saver, the difference between a pretty good fic and a great one. I have heard it many times, “Oh, I don’t need a beta. I’m just doing this for fun. It’s not like I’m getting paid for it.” I may be true that you are just writing fic for the fun of it. But why would you want something as easily fixable as Peter Mellark being with Katniss in the arena instead of Peeta? (Unless, of course, you are writing a “crack” fic that stars some guy named Peter Mellark from Jersey.) Beta readers can fix any plot whole and help clarify areas that don’t shine within a poem.

Ask your friends to read 

The easiest way to find a beta reader is to ask your friends or family to read your story. Request that they make a note of any mistakes they come across or write down any questions they may have. Of course, this may not always work. If it is for fanfiction, they may not be part of, or at least familiar with, your fandom for whatever reason. It is also a possibility that they may be familiar with the fandom but not interested in reading the story. Or they may not have the time, especially if it is a longer fic.

For poetry, they may not be your target audience. As an example, Rupi Kaur is a poet who has blown up lately. There is so much hate for her poetry online yet she does extremely well and is a very talented poet. She has millions of followers and readers who swear by Milk and Honey. Make sure you’re getting feedback from somebody who actually would want to read your works.

Ask for help online 

If you use social media — and who doesn’t these days — you can go online and request a beta reader. Often, this will be a better route for you. You will only receive volunteers who have the interest and the time for the project. You can usually find volunteers to provide this service on sites like Tumblr or LiveJournal. Goodreads sometimes has beta reader groups that you can use to cross promote stories for people to give feedback on.

These and may others are sites that provide a virtual community where people with similar interests can gather. If someone you have interacted with before in a positive way volunteers, that can be even better. There will already be a level of trust between you. Several fandoms have story competitions or gift exchanges throughout the year. Exchanges are a lot of fun to take part in, but it is almost universal that they require you to have your fic read by a beta before posting. Good online communities will often provide you with a lot of resources on your publishing journey as well. For example, I wrote my query letter because of shared within that community.

If that’s the case, it is not unusual for the competition or exchange to provide a list of beta readers who have volunteered their time and talents. If you sign up for one of these and need a beta, you can search the list for someone who matches your fandom, characters, and story type. You will also have the option to contact the moderators for recommendations.

Make sure your needs are clear 

Once you find a beta — or two, depending on the complexity of your work — you will want to let them know just what kind of a read through you want them to do. If you are good at spelling and grammar, maybe all you will want them to do is make sure there aren’t plot holes. If it is fanfiction, maybe you want them to check that your fic makes sense, works with canon events, or the characters are faithful to the originals.

If you are good at making up stories but you can’t form a correctly written sentence to save your life, don’t worry. A good beta can help you with that, too. Keep in mind that your beta is a volunteer. If you have them look at everything and the kitchen sink, you might need to buy her or him some pizza afterward.

You’ve drafted your manuscript, edited and fine-tuned it, selected your cover design, and it’s ready to hit the presses. Now what?

What are the chances a publishing house will pick up your book? We hate to bring reality crashing down around you, but the truth is it’s not likely that you’ll be getting calls from Random House or Penguin anytime soon.

Even if you invest your time into reaching out to publishers, you’re competing with thousands of other authors from around the globe. What makes you think you’re the standout they’ll pick as the next J.K Rowling?

Surprise fact – Even Rowling started a self-published author, and that’s going to be the route you’ll have to take as an industry newcomer. Before you throw your hands to the heavens in dismay, relax; being a self-published author isn’t a curse; it’s a blessing.

That might be hard to wrap your head around right now, but let us present why self-publishing your work is the way to go.

Reason #1 – Technology – A New Era of Publishing

Self-publishing your work in the 1990s presented a vastly different landscape to the opportunities available to authors in today’s market. The advent of the internet changed the world. Technology saw the growth of marketplaces like Amazon, and shifts in consumer habits saw them move from retail to online shopping.

Fortunately, you can leverage these changes to make yourself a self-published success. Today, you can publish your book using digital tools, market it using social media, and build a reputation online as the next up-and-coming self-published success. Sound good? Well, we’re just getting started here.

Reason #2 – Complete Control Over Artistic Expression

As a self-published author, you don’t have to bow down the “the man.” You get complete creative control and publishing rights over your work. No agent or publisher is telling you what to do, how to edit your work, or change your storyline – You’re in charge of your future, your work, and your future.

Reason #3 – You’re the Boss

As a self-published author, you’re the boss. You choose when you want to write, set your deadlines, and control the creative process and the marketing experience. That’s personal freedom you don’t get when you’re signed to a publisher.

When you realize the freedom you have as a self-published author, you’ll laugh at ever wanting to sign with an agent or publishing house. The reality is the only thing pushing doubt into your mind is the income and sales you receive from the publisher.

Take that out of the equation, and the benefits of being a self-published author seem all the more appealing, right?

Reason #4 – Work to Your Timeline, Not the Publishers

Published authors might get that wonderful advance, but every blessing comes with a curse. Publishers run a business, and you’re nothing but an employee to them. They see you as an asset, and they control you.

If they decide they don’t want to invest capital into marketing your book or feel like leaving it on the shelf for years while they work with other established authors, that’s not their problem. As a self-published author, you work to your timeline and set your goals for publishing, marketing, and promotion.

Reason #5 – The Lion’s Share of Profits

When you sign with a publisher or agent, you benefit from that tasty advance. It seems amazing at the time that someone paid you something for your work. While you’re over the moon with the situation, the reality is you’re probably getting short-changed.

As we said, a publishing house is a business. They keep their best interests at heart, not yours. They see you as a cash cow and nothing else. So, if your book does become the next “Harry Potter” franchise, you’re not going to get the rewards you deserve.

The publisher locks you into a contract that benefits them, not you. If you become a smashing success, you’ll get the short end of the stick, and those checks aren’t as big as you expect. As a self-published author, you get the lion’s share of the profits, and you don’t pay a publisher a cent.

Reason #6 – You Control the Marketing Budget and Strategy

Signing with a publisher might seem like a dream come true, but it could become your worst nightmare. The publisher won’t see your book in the same light as you do. They might decide they have other projects they want to dedicate their budget too, leaving you waiting in the wings.

It could be years before your book hits the shelves, and you’ll be left holding the bag as you watch that advance disappear under your expenses. As a self-published author, you get to promote and market your book. Sure, you might not have the same capital to invest in a marketing plan as a publisher.

You can still do plenty to promote your book with a small budget. Social media and networking allow you to get your work in front of your target audience with minimal investment in a marketing plan.

Reason #7 – Bookstore Sales Aren’t as Important

As a self-published author, you market online, and the bulk of your sales come from online marketplaces like Amazon. You don’t need to get your book into a Barnes & Noble. It might shock you to learn less than 1% of global book sales come from bookstores.

Feeling more confident now, right? Amazon changed the game for self-published authors, allowing you to market directly to your target audience. Many people read books on devices like Kindle, and you have the opportunity to sell eBook versions of your novel, driving down your publishing costs.

Reason #8 – Get Discovered by Publishing Houses

If you still have the dream of being published, that’s fine. Self-publishing your work provides the springboard to landing a fat contract with a publishing house. If your book is a success, you have more leverage to negotiate a favorable contract and start a bidding war between publishers for your work.Don’t take our word for it. Just ask J.K Rowling.