What should I be asking beta readers?

[Marscaleb]

I feel like I'm not really poised to get good feedback from beta readers. I basically feel like I'm still asking a generic "is this any good?" when I need to be asking questions that would reveal what my story really needs to change.

What are some good questions to ask beta readers? What are some good practices to use with beta readers to get good advice and direction for your story?

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Do you notice any holes in the plot?

Did anything confuse you?

Did you stop reading? When and why?

What did you like? What did you dislike?

 

[DoctoreX]

List I use:

Overall Impressions​

• What was your overall impression of the story?
• Did the story hold your attention from start to finish?
• At what point (if any) did you feel your attention waver?
• Would you describe the book to someone else - and if so, how?

Plot & Structure​

• Was the main plot clear and engaging?
• Were there any parts that felt confusing, unnecessary, or rushed?
• Did the story’s pacing feel consistent (too slow or too fast anywhere)?
• Were there any plot holes or unresolved threads?
• Did the climax feel satisfying and earned?
• Did the ending provide closure or leave you wanting more (in a good way)?

Characters​

• Which characters did you care about the most, and why?
• Were any characters confusing, unrealistic, or inconsistent?
• Did the protagonist have clear goals and believable motivations?
• Did character relationships feel natural and developed?
• Were the character arcs satisfying (especially for the main character)?
• Did anyone feel underused or too convenient to the plot?

Worldbuilding & Setting​

• Did you feel immersed in the setting/world?
• Was the worldbuilding clear and consistent (rules, societies, politics, etc.)?
• Did any descriptions feel too heavy or too vague?
• Were there any parts where you wanted more detail or explanation?
  Dialogue & Writing Style

• Did the dialogue feel natural and distinct for each character?
• Were there moments of dialogue that felt forced or out of place?
• Was the prose engaging and easy to follow?
• Were there any sections that felt overwritten or confusing?
• Did the tone and style fit the genre and story mood?

Theme & Emotional Impact​

• Did you grasp the story’s main theme or message?
• Were there moments that made you feel strong emotions (joy, anger, sadness, tension)?
• Did anything feel preachy, heavy-handed, or unclear?
• What scenes stuck with you the most?

Reader Experience​

• How would you rate your overall enjoyment (1–10)?
• Was there any point where you considered putting the story down?
• What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
• Would you recommend this story to a friend? Why or why not?

Optional Targeted Questions​

These depend on what feedback you’re seeking:

• Does the prologue add value or could the story start elsewhere?
• Is the romance subplot believable and balanced?
• Are the action scenes clear and impactful?
• Do the political/military elements feel authentic?
• Does the ending feel like the right resolution for the tone of the story?

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Woh. Those are all great questions, but if an author handed me a list that long, I'd regret my beta offer.

 

[JT Woody]

I've recently started using a Beta Reading questionnaire (Linked)
A writer on another site shared a list not unlike @DoctoreX , but I kept it to 15 questions (technically 14, since the last one is asking if they'd like to continue beta reading for me and isnt about the manuscript)

 

[Marscaleb]

I've recently started using a Beta Reading questionnaire (Linked)

Oh wow, those are some good questions!
It's still a long list, but these seem like great ones to address broad issues.

I'm really fond of:
-At what point did you think, “Okay, now the story has started!”
-Did you find any inconsistencies in this book? This could be in the timeline, concrete details, character growth or portrayal, theme development, etc.
-If you had to choose, which secondary character would you give more screen time on the page?
-Which of your predictions came true?
-Were there enough descriptions to the scenes? Did you “see” the scenes clearly?
-If you could cut one scene, which one would it be and why?

 

[JT Woody]

It's still a long list, but these seem like great ones to address broad issues

yeah, the original list from that author was like 30 questions lol.
I pulled what i liked from the list. and, of course, made all questions optional

2 people have answered the questionnaire in full and its been really helpful!