Non-Fiction Beta Reader Questionnaire:

What to Ask

Before publishing your book or sending it to an agent, it’s helpful to ask someone to read it to have a general feeling of how your audience perceives and interacts with it.

While many authors might give this task to a trustworthy friend or family member, others prefer to hire a professional beta reader to do it for them.

The advantage of hiring a professional is to receive an unbiased and detailed report. Someone close to you might not have the time to create a document with lots of comments. Or maybe they won’t feel comfortable saying certain things to you.

Still, a professional beta reader service comes with a cost. You want to be sure you will get what you are looking for. For this reason, I suggest you give them a questionnaire so they can address what matters the most.

When I beta-read non-fiction books, I concentrate my efforts on answering the following 10 questions: 

 1) Does the introduction give the reader reason enough to buy the book and continue to read?

2) Does the chapter structure make the reading enjoyable and efficient?

3) Are the ideas and arguments presented in a way that is clear and easy to follow?

4) Is the language of the text inspiring and engaging?

5) Does the book sound unique, adding value to the reader?

 6) Does the author sound like an authority in their field?

7) Are there any ideas you would like to see explained in more or less detail?

8) Are there enough concrete/relatable examples to base the arguments?

9) Is the conclusion helpful and satisfying?

10) Would you recommend this book? To whom?

But here is a complete version of my non-fiction questionnaire for beta readers.

My comments cover each chapter, but I also offer a general note with my overall impression of the book, along with improvement suggestions. When it applies, I comment on the book cover and description.

On top of this, I address any specific questions the author might have requested. The result is a thorough report that is more likely to leave the author satisfied.

You don’t have to follow my method, but I strongly recommend you offer clear guidelines to your professional beta readers. This is the best way to make the most of the money you invested.