Martyn Halm > Status Update

Hiya mate how do you decide on who becomes a beta reader? Always been curious to see how an author decides to pick out the first people who get to see their work. I know this comment is a bit late, as you posted this status in August, but I just spotted it a second ago.

For me it's quite easy--most of these beta readers read my books and send me feedback unasked, so they showed initiative and a willingness to help me improve.

What's important to me is unvarnished opinion, without taking my feelings into account. As we (the beta-reader and I) both know that the work isn't 'finished' yet, every flaw should be hunted down and killed, so I need readers who are prepared to tell me where I messed up, so I can improve the manuscript before publication.