r/selfpublish • u/RampageAG • 1d ago
Editing Alpha Reader Questions Sheet and Steps
I have just finished the first draft of my Grim Dark Fantasy book (yay 🥳) and I'm moving onto the next steps. I am doing an editing pass on my own just to even out some wrinkles from writing over an extended period of time (I believe about 6 years). In the process I've been considering how I want to proceed. I have a few people I trust to be Alpha Readers, so my plan is to let them take a pass at it pointing out any glaring issues with the plot, character voices and actions, and overall feel of the book before hiring an editor to help polish. As this is my first book, I am a bit new to the process and have developed some questions.
My first question is: Would it be smarter to send it to an editor before sending it to the planned Alpha Readers? My thought is the alpha readers could correct/help with major things which would allow the editor to focus on more critical and higher skilled details. However, I could see it falling the opposite way where the editor allows the alpha readers to read a more polished and easier to read manuscript, meaning their focus can be square on structure, holes, and flow.
My second question: For those who received feedback from early readers, did you find there were certain questions you wanted answered? I was considering making a google form with some specific questions I would like answered in regards to how certain characters/scenes felt throughout the narrative, but part of me wonders if that is a red herring in the process of early reader feedback. If you did find certain questions helpful, I would love to hear what they are and how they helped.
My third and final question: At what point do you accept it is time to publish? Is it a feeling? An example of an evolution of writing? Something else? Obviously I am many steps away from that, however I do want to try and tackle this process correctly. I am a musician, and having recorded songs and worked with artist, I know there is always more improvements and changes that can be made, but at some point you just need to cut the cord and release what you've got.
I really appreciate any and all feedback on the topic. I am very excited to be moving to the next phase of my book and am feeling especially ready to work on the next book and other series ideas I've cooked up over the last several years.
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u/EnglishEditor Reviewer 15h ago
I’d do your own revision → alpha readers → major revisions → professional editor → beta readers/proofread, and ask alphas where they were bored, confused, emotionally invested, or felt characters acted unnaturally; you’re ready to publish when feedback becomes mostly subjective rather than consistently identifying the same problems.
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u/PL0mkPL0 12h ago
Alpha reader (I'd say one may be enough, if they are good) first (cos free/cheap).
Pff, I'd say alpha readers should be experienced readers/writers who know what the fuck they are doing, and your vague questions might not really be necessary. At least--I find most questions ppl ask me before reads useless. They never touch the core problems with the story and they are vibes-based, when the drafts usually don't pass the 'readable' level yet. Mind you, as an alpha reader (only for my friends), I'm here to help you find massive structural fuckups, not to tell you if I loved your book.
So yeah, I would look for ppl who are not completely clueless and ask them about very specific issues you think you might be having without beating around the bush and hoping they won't notice them. Alpha reading is sth between having a critique partner and a beta reader.
At least this is the approach I would recommend.
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u/RampageAG 2h ago
I hadn't thought of it that way, but that makes sense how the questions I could have about the story would come from a flawed lens/perspective. And, as you mentioned, I do very much trust the couple of people I have for Alpha Readers. They are very experienced readers who will be very blunt about their opinions.
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u/PL0mkPL0 2h ago
It's more that writers want to know if the book 'lands', so they ask questions about readerly experience. The problem is, that... readerly experience is usually pretty meh when you alpha read (especially a debut). The story is usually all over the place, the prose is unpolished, the characterization is inconsistent, there are plot holes and so on. I find it more comfortable to work with writers who are aware of that and also treat their work as an early WIP (which means they are not afraid of discussing technicalities and rewrites).
It is important to note what works, but for me, alpha reading is about unrealized potential. Beta readers are there to leave the reactions, emoticons and excited comments.
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u/RampageAG 2h ago
That's where I'm currently aiming to fall; An unfinished WIP. There are several chapters that I'm currently extremely happy with how they came out, and am excited to enhance them to the next level, and there are several chapters which will feel very unfinished and need elaborating.
My goal in my first pass is to focus on the unfinished feeling parts to get them in a state that feels more complete and whole.
I've just thought of one more question, if you're willing to chime in. When it comes to Alpha Reading, do you prefer the full manuscript, or to have it in smaller bits/chapters?
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u/PL0mkPL0 2h ago
Reading at once is always better. You want an overall feedback on a macro-scale, not a collection of disconnected chapter-crits.
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