Beta Reader Manuscript Feedback
This comprehensive beta reader feedback form helps authors collect structured, actionable feedback on their manuscripts. The multi-page format guides readers through evaluating plot development, character arcs, pacing, dialogue, world-building, and writing style. It includes chapter-by-chapter ratings and space for detailed comments, helping authors identify what works and what needs revision.
Try the Form
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
export function betaReaderFeedbackSurvey(form: FormTs) {
// Beta Reader Manuscript Feedback - Multi-page survey
// Demonstrates: Pages (multi-page wizard), MatrixQuestion, StarRating, EmojiRating, Slider, SuggestionChips
// ============================================
// HEADER
// ============================================
form.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('header', {
label: 'Beta Reader Feedback Form',
computedValue: () => 'Thank you for being a beta reader! Your insights help shape this story.',
customStyles: {
backgroundColor: '#7c3aed',
color: 'white',
padding: '28px',
borderRadius: '12px',
textAlign: 'center'
}
});
});
// ============================================
// MULTI-PAGE WIZARD
// ============================================
const pages = form.addPages('feedbackPages', { heightMode: 'current-page' });
// ============================================
// PAGE 1: Reader Profile & Overall Impressions
// ============================================
const page1 = pages.addPage('overallImpressions');
page1.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('page1Title', {
label: 'Page 1 of 4: Overall Impressions',
customStyles: {
fontSize: '18px',
fontWeight: 'bold',
color: '#7c3aed',
marginBottom: '8px'
}
});
});
const readerSection = page1.addSubform('reader', {
title: 'About You as a Reader'
});
readerSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckboxList('readingGenres', {
label: 'What genres do you typically read? (Select all that apply)',
options: [
{ id: 'fantasy', name: 'Fantasy' },
{ id: 'scifi', name: 'Science Fiction' },
{ id: 'romance', name: 'Romance' },
{ id: 'mystery', name: 'Mystery/Thriller' },
{ id: 'literary', name: 'Literary Fiction' },
{ id: 'ya', name: 'Young Adult' },
{ id: 'horror', name: 'Horror' },
{ id: 'historical', name: 'Historical Fiction' }
],
orientation: 'vertical'
});
});
readerSection.addRow(row => {
row.addRadioButton('completionStatus', {
label: 'Did you finish reading the manuscript?',
options: [
{ id: 'finished', name: 'Yes, I finished it' },
{ id: 'most', name: 'Read most of it (75%+)' },
{ id: 'half', name: 'Read about half' },
{ id: 'quarter', name: 'Read less than half' },
{ id: 'stopped', name: 'Stopped early' }
],
orientation: 'vertical',
isRequired: true
});
});
readerSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('stoppedReason', {
label: 'What made you stop reading?',
placeholder: 'This feedback is valuable for the author...',
rows: 3,
isVisible: () => {
const status = readerSection.radioButton('completionStatus')?.value();
return status === 'quarter' || status === 'stopped';
}
});
});
const firstImpression = page1.addSubform('firstImpression', {
title: 'First Impressions'
});
firstImpression.addRow(row => {
row.addEmojiRating('overallReaction', {
label: 'What was your overall emotional reaction to the manuscript?',
preset: 'mood',
size: 'lg',
alignment: 'center'
});
});
firstImpression.addRow(row => {
row.addStarRating('overallRating', {
label: 'Overall rating (as a complete work)',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
alignment: 'center',
showCounter: true
});
});
firstImpression.addRow(row => {
row.addThumbRating('wouldBuy', {
label: 'Would you buy this book if it were published?',
showLabels: true,
upLabel: 'Yes!',
downLabel: 'Probably not',
size: 'lg',
alignment: 'center'
});
});
page1.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('nextPage1', {
label: 'Next: Story Elements →',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('storyElements')
});
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 2: Story Elements
// ============================================
const page2 = pages.addPage('storyElements');
page2.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('page2Title', {
label: 'Page 2 of 4: Story Elements',
customStyles: {
fontSize: '18px',
fontWeight: 'bold',
color: '#7c3aed',
marginBottom: '8px'
}
});
});
const plotSection = page2.addSubform('plot', {
title: 'Plot & Structure'
});
plotSection.addRow(row => {
row.addMatrixQuestion('plotElements', {
label: 'Rate these aspects of the plot:',
rows: [
{ id: 'hook', label: 'Opening hook/first chapter', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'conflict', label: 'Central conflict clarity', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'stakes', label: 'Stakes (what characters could lose)', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'twists', label: 'Plot twists/surprises', isRequired: false },
{ id: 'resolution', label: 'Ending/resolution', isRequired: true }
],
columns: [
{ id: 'excellent', label: 'Excellent' },
{ id: 'good', label: 'Good' },
{ id: 'needs-work', label: 'Needs Work' },
{ id: 'weak', label: 'Weak' }
],
striped: true,
fullWidth: true
});
});
plotSection.addRow(row => {
row.addSlider('pacingRating', {
label: 'How was the overall pacing?',
min: 1,
max: 5,
step: 1,
defaultValue: 3,
showValue: true
}, '1fr');
});
plotSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('pacingLabel', {
computedValue: () => {
const pacing = plotSection.slider('pacingRating')?.value();
const labels: Record<number, string> = {
1: '⏪ Too slow - dragged in places',
2: '🐢 Slightly slow',
3: '⚖️ Just right',
4: '🐇 Slightly rushed',
5: '⏩ Too fast - needed more development'
};
return pacing ? labels[pacing] || '' : '';
},
customStyles: {
textAlign: 'center',
fontStyle: 'italic',
color: '#6b7280'
}
});
});
plotSection.addSpacer();
plotSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('plotFeedback', {
label: 'Additional comments on plot and structure:',
placeholder: 'What worked? What confused you? Any plot holes?',
rows: 4,
autoExpand: true
});
});
page2.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('prevPage2', {
label: '← Previous',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('overallImpressions')
});
row.addButton('nextPage2', {
label: 'Next: Characters & Writing →',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('charactersWriting')
});
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 3: Characters & Writing Style
// ============================================
const page3 = pages.addPage('charactersWriting');
page3.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('page3Title', {
label: 'Page 3 of 4: Characters & Writing',
customStyles: {
fontSize: '18px',
fontWeight: 'bold',
color: '#7c3aed',
marginBottom: '8px'
}
});
});
const charSection = page3.addSubform('characters', {
title: 'Characters'
});
charSection.addRow(row => {
row.addMatrixQuestion('charRatings', {
label: 'Rate these aspects of the characters:',
rows: [
{ id: 'protagonist', label: 'Main character(s) likability', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'development', label: 'Character development/arcs', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'motivation', label: 'Believable motivations', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'dialogue', label: 'Distinct voices in dialogue', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'relationships', label: 'Character relationships', isRequired: false },
{ id: 'antagonist', label: 'Villain/antagonist', isRequired: false }
],
columns: [
{ id: 'excellent', label: 'Excellent' },
{ id: 'good', label: 'Good' },
{ id: 'needs-work', label: 'Needs Work' },
{ id: 'na', label: 'N/A' }
],
striped: true,
fullWidth: true
});
});
charSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextbox('favoriteChar', {
label: 'Who was your favorite character and why?',
placeholder: 'Character name and reason...'
}, '1fr');
});
charSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextbox('leastFavoriteChar', {
label: 'Which character did you struggle with (if any)?',
placeholder: 'Character name and reason...'
}, '1fr');
});
const writingSection = page3.addSubform('writing', {
title: 'Writing Style'
});
writingSection.addRow(row => {
row.addStarRating('proseQuality', {
label: 'Overall quality of the prose',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
alignment: 'center',
showCounter: true
}, '1fr');
row.addStarRating('dialogueQuality', {
label: 'Quality of dialogue',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
alignment: 'center',
showCounter: true
}, '1fr');
});
writingSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckboxList('writingIssues', {
label: 'Did you notice any recurring issues? (Select all that apply)',
options: [
{ id: 'none', name: 'No major issues' },
{ id: 'info-dump', name: 'Info-dumping/exposition' },
{ id: 'telling', name: 'Too much telling, not enough showing' },
{ id: 'pov', name: 'POV inconsistencies' },
{ id: 'tense', name: 'Tense shifts' },
{ id: 'repetitive', name: 'Repetitive words/phrases' },
{ id: 'passive', name: 'Too much passive voice' },
{ id: 'dialogue-tags', name: 'Clunky dialogue tags' }
],
orientation: 'vertical'
});
});
writingSection.addSpacer();
writingSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('writingFeedback', {
label: 'Comments on writing style:',
placeholder: 'What did you love about the writing? What could be improved?',
rows: 4,
autoExpand: true
});
});
page3.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('prevPage3', {
label: '← Previous',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('storyElements')
});
row.addButton('nextPage3', {
label: 'Next: Final Thoughts →',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('finalThoughts')
});
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 4: Final Thoughts & Summary
// ============================================
const page4 = pages.addPage('finalThoughts');
page4.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('page4Title', {
label: 'Page 4 of 4: Final Thoughts',
customStyles: {
fontSize: '18px',
fontWeight: 'bold',
color: '#7c3aed',
marginBottom: '8px'
}
});
});
const strengthsSection = page4.addSubform('strengths', {
title: 'Highlights & Suggestions'
});
strengthsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addSuggestionChips('bestParts', {
label: 'What were the strongest elements? (Select up to 3)',
suggestions: [
{ id: 'characters', name: 'Characters' },
{ id: 'plot', name: 'Plot' },
{ id: 'world', name: 'World-building' },
{ id: 'dialogue', name: 'Dialogue' },
{ id: 'prose', name: 'Prose style' },
{ id: 'pacing', name: 'Pacing' },
{ id: 'emotion', name: 'Emotional impact' },
{ id: 'hook', name: 'Opening hook' }
],
max: 3,
alignment: 'center'
});
});
strengthsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addSuggestionChips('needsWork', {
label: 'What needs the most work? (Select up to 3)',
suggestions: [
{ id: 'characters', name: 'Characters' },
{ id: 'plot', name: 'Plot' },
{ id: 'world', name: 'World-building' },
{ id: 'dialogue', name: 'Dialogue' },
{ id: 'prose', name: 'Prose style' },
{ id: 'pacing', name: 'Pacing' },
{ id: 'ending', name: 'Ending' },
{ id: 'beginning', name: 'Beginning' }
],
max: 3,
alignment: 'center'
});
});
strengthsSection.addSpacer();
strengthsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('mostMemorable', {
label: 'What scene or moment was most memorable to you?',
placeholder: 'Describe the scene that stuck with you...',
rows: 3
});
});
strengthsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('finalAdvice', {
label: 'If you could give the author one piece of advice, what would it be?',
placeholder: 'Your most important suggestion...',
rows: 3
});
});
const marketSection = page4.addSubform('market', {
title: 'Market Fit'
});
marketSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('targetAudience', {
label: 'Who do you think the target audience is?',
options: [
{ id: 'ya', name: 'Young Adult (13-18)' },
{ id: 'na', name: 'New Adult (18-25)' },
{ id: 'adult', name: 'Adult (general)' },
{ id: 'mature', name: 'Adult (mature themes)' },
{ id: 'mg', name: 'Middle Grade (8-12)' },
{ id: 'unsure', name: 'Not sure' }
]
}, '1fr');
row.addTextbox('compTitles', {
label: 'What published books is this similar to?',
placeholder: 'e.g., "Hunger Games meets The Night Circus"'
}, '1fr');
});
const summarySection = page4.addSubform('summary', {
title: 'Feedback Summary'
});
summarySection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('summaryContent', {
computedValue: () => {
const overallRating = firstImpression.starRating('overallRating')?.value();
const wouldBuy = firstImpression.thumbRating('wouldBuy')?.value();
const reaction = firstImpression.emojiRating('overallReaction')?.value();
const pacing = plotSection.slider('pacingRating')?.value();
const proseQuality = writingSection.starRating('proseQuality')?.value();
const bestParts = strengthsSection.suggestionChips('bestParts')?.value() || [];
const needsWork = strengthsSection.suggestionChips('needsWork')?.value() || [];
let summary = `📚 Beta Reader Summary\n`;
summary += `${'═'.repeat(25)}\n\n`;
if (overallRating) {
const stars = '⭐'.repeat(overallRating) + '☆'.repeat(5 - overallRating);
summary += `Overall: ${stars}\n`;
}
if (reaction) {
const moodLabels: Record<string, string> = {
'sad': '😢 Sad/Frustrated',
'down': '😔 Disappointed',
'neutral': '😐 Mixed feelings',
'happy': '😊 Enjoyed it',
'excited': '🤩 Loved it!'
};
summary += `Reaction: ${moodLabels[reaction] || reaction}\n`;
}
if (wouldBuy) {
summary += `Would buy: ${wouldBuy === 'up' ? '✅ Yes' : '❌ No'}\n`;
}
if (pacing) {
const pacingLabels: Record<number, string> = {
1: 'Too slow', 2: 'Slightly slow', 3: 'Perfect',
4: 'Slightly fast', 5: 'Too fast'
};
summary += `Pacing: ${pacingLabels[pacing]}\n`;
}
if (proseQuality) {
summary += `Prose quality: ${proseQuality}/5\n`;
}
if (bestParts.length > 0) {
summary += `\n✨ Strengths: ${bestParts.join(', ')}`;
}
if (needsWork.length > 0) {
summary += `\n📝 Needs work: ${needsWork.join(', ')}`;
}
return summary;
},
customStyles: () => {
const rating = firstImpression.starRating('overallRating')?.value();
const baseStyles = {
padding: '16px',
borderRadius: '8px',
whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap',
fontFamily: 'monospace',
fontSize: '14px'
};
if (rating && rating >= 4) {
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#d1fae5', borderLeft: '4px solid #10b981' };
} else if (rating && rating === 3) {
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#fef3c7', borderLeft: '4px solid #f59e0b' };
} else if (rating && rating < 3) {
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#fee2e2', borderLeft: '4px solid #ef4444' };
}
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#f5f3ff', borderLeft: '4px solid #7c3aed' };
}
});
});
page4.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('prevPage4', {
label: '← Previous',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('charactersWriting')
});
});
// ============================================
// FORM CONFIGURATION
// ============================================
form.configureSubmitButton({
label: 'Submit Beta Reader Feedback'
});
form.configureCompletionScreen({
type: 'text',
title: 'Thank You for Your Feedback!',
message: 'Your detailed insights are invaluable to the author. Beta readers like you help make stories shine. Happy reading!'
});
}
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beta readers should I use?
For fiction, 5-10 beta readers provides good variety without overwhelming you with feedback. Choose readers who match your target audience and have diverse perspectives.
When should I send to beta readers?
Send your manuscript after at least one round of self-editing. It should be complete and readable, but doesn't need to be polished. Beta reading happens before professional editing.
Should I pay beta readers?
Most beta readers volunteer in exchange for early access to the book. Some authors offer acknowledgment, free copies, or gift cards. Professional beta readers charge fees but provide more detailed feedback.
How do I handle conflicting feedback?
Conflicting feedback is normal. Look for patterns - if multiple readers flag the same issue, prioritize it. For one-off comments, trust your artistic vision. Not all feedback needs to be implemented.
What if a beta reader doesn't finish?
This form captures where readers stopped, which is valuable data. If multiple readers abandon at the same point, that section may need work. Send a brief follow-up to ask why they stopped.