Beta Readers keeps track of everyone reading your drafts and, if you like, delivers the manuscript to them and collects their comments in the app.
Run your first beta round
- Click Beta Readers in the left sidebar.
- (Optional) Connect an email account. If you see Connect Email → at the top of the page, click it to go to Settings. Without one, rejection emails open in your own email program instead of sending from the app.
- Click Send manuscript.
- Enter the Reader name and Reader email, and choose the Book.
- Add a Draft version such as "Draft 2" and pick a Due date.
- Under Manuscript, choose Upload a file or From Book Storage, then wait for Reading your manuscript… to finish.
- In Where should readers start?, click the line where your story begins so the title page and contents are skipped.
- (Optional) Tick Include specific questions for your beta readers? to add questions.
- (Optional) Tick Notify me when this reader leaves comments and choose Email, In app or both.
- Click Send invite.
The reader gets an email with a private link, and a row is added to your Beta Readers table with the status Invited.
Send the same draft to more readers
Click Send manuscript again, choose the same book, and pick the Already sent tab. Choose the manuscript from the list. Every reader of that manuscript gets the same questions, and their feedback appears together on one page, each in their own colour.
Track readers you manage yourself
If you share drafts outside the app, click + Add Beta Reader and fill in the Name, Book, Draft Version, Chapters Assigned, Status, dates and Rating (1–5). Only a name and book are required.
Read the summary tiles
- Total Beta Readers: everyone in the table (archived readers are left out unless Show archived is ticked).
- Applied: applicants you haven't accepted or rejected yet.
- Awaiting Feedback: readers at Invited, Reading, Feedback Due or Partial Feedback.
- Complete: readers who have finished.
- Response Rate: completed readers as a share of everyone who completed, declined or ghosted.
A red Overdue badge appears next to the due date when it has passed and the reader hasn't finished.
Reading the feedback
When a reader has a manuscript, their row shows View feedback → and Questions links. A pill such as "2 new comments" tells you something is waiting. When the reader clicks "I'm done reading", their status changes to Complete automatically.