Hot take: Professional beta reading is an oxymoron.
The core value of beta reading is the reader’s role as a stand-in for your eventual audience—everyday readers who pick up your book and experience it fresh, without any bias. An editorial professional, no matter how well-intentioned, brings different expectations, knowledge, and a more analytical mindset to your work. They’re providing a service for your book rather than simply reacting as a reader, which fundamentally alters the nature of the feedback you receive.
Beta readers, on the other hand, are true representatives of the perspective of your future readers. These avid readers approach your book with the same mindset as someone browsing a bookstore. They’ll tell you honestly where they got hooked and where their attention wandered. They’ll question plot holes and character decisions that don’t make sense.
So what’s the problem with hiring a professional to provide the same feedback, potentially with more informed insight and perspective?
Read my take at Insecure Writers Support Group.