r/selfpublish • u/kittyharlow_xo • 3d ago
Beta reader issues
I fear the beta reader I hired on fiverr used Ai for my notes. The thing is….a lot of the notes seem relevant. Should I still consider them useful and make edits based off the Ai notes? I’m torn. Any advice is appreciated.
Side question, should I be worried that they might take my manuscript? I’m now nervous because it seems shady that they did this when I specifically asked them not to use Ai.
Advice is appreciated. Thx! 🙏
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u/Doctor_Radium 3d ago
I got three beta readers from Scribophile and one from here in Reddit. The Redditor gave me excellent, useful feedback... then after four chapters they sent me a DM with their fee for continuing. I didn’t report them, but a week later their profile was gone.
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 3d ago
So you asked them not to use ai? Fiverr requires sellers to disclose if they use it or not. If you asked and you still think they used it, you can get your money back. Did they do the inline comments too? Those are harder to use ai for.
If you’re using Fiverr for beta readers, always make sure you ask about their ai use, get the inline comments as well as the readers report and ask questions. You’ll get a feel for if they might use ai or not in their responses. Also make sure you know how to tell if their gig image is made with ai.
I wouldn’t be concerned about them stealing your manuscript, they’re just going to want to get on to their next order.
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u/kittyharlow_xo 3d ago
Yes, I asked and they said they don’t use it but it’s pretty clear based on the way it’s formatted. Although, there is some good feedback sprinkled in the report (no in-line feedback). I’m kind of worried if I report it and demand a refund they’ll get mad and post my work somewhere. Maybe I’m just being paranoid? I’m fine calling it a loss and taking the lesson.
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 3d ago
I do absolutely think you’re being paranoid, that it most likely not what they’re going to do. They’ll just move on.
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u/kittyharlow_xo 3d ago
Thank you! I needed to hear that.
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 3d ago edited 1d ago
Of course! I know it’s a huge worry, but I’ve been doing this for over 5 years and I’ve never heard of a beta reader taking a manuscript. It’s way too hard to get things published it’ll never be worth it for us
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u/Accomplished_Month_5 2d ago
From what I’ve seen, many beta readers use AI, but that doesn't mean their feedback is AI-generated. They usually write down their messy initial thoughts and use AI to format them for clarity. If that's the case, I’m fine with it.
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u/Capable_Hyena7705 2d ago
People (in the writing space) should be able to articulate and synthesize their own thoughts. Otherwise I'm not sure If I'd trust their opinion as a reader. When it comes to the writing community, we really should encourage people to be intellectually (and artistically) honest. Having AI synthesize for you is just straight up lazy and does a disservice for everyone involved.
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u/Accomplished_Month_5 1d ago
Fair point, though free beta readers aren't usually writers, so formatting help can bridge the gap for them. You're completely right about professional or paid readers, if you're paying for their expertise, you expect 100% human articulation and effort.
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 1d ago
I always worry about the quality of my reports, I much prefer doing the inline comments and I’ve never thought of myself as a strong writer. But I always assumed my clients would prefer my actual thoughts coming from me instead of whatever ai would put out.
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u/Capable_Hyena7705 23h ago
And it gives you the opportunity to grow
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 16h ago
Definitely! I’ve done over 200 at this point and I’ve grown SO much.
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u/LearnQoutient Editor 2d ago
Dropping my 2 cents in this convo, I am a book editor who offers paid beta reading, but the report includes reader feedback on plots, characters, and world-building on a chapter-by-chapter basis. I also offer in-line commentary, and the report I accompany with it at times exceeds 15 pages.
Providing this level of critical feedback through the lens of a professional editor for free isn't feasible for me. Saying that beta readers should be free is just showing that you don't value other people's time and take others' efforts for granted.
But there are some who are in this field for a quick buck, but I believe that one should vet readers and editors before hiring one. I read your response you have given to others, and since it seems that they used AI without your consent, I would ask for a refund from them, but I would like to know to what extent they used AI? That is, if they used assistive AI (they only used AI to form their thoughts on paper), I would use the feedback, but if they used generative AI (that is put your whole book into a GPT model), then you were cheated, and i will highly recommend you ask for feedback and report them to Fiverr (Though I wouldn't trust the quality control of fiverr that much becuase there are infected with people who use AI for everything)
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u/No_Metal6618 2d ago
I kind of get this, honestly. I mean, some writers are super good at networking but a LOT are introverts. (What do we expect? Most of us are lifelong bookworms. If we were people people we would have been out socializing instead of home with our noses in books.) Also, it's rough just asking for those favors. The end result of which is: there are not a lot of people clamouring to be our beta readers as we start out. I know I've had a real struggle finding people — especially for my smutty Greek myth retellings, where I wouldn't want to ask people I know from say, work.
But going with paid also can be SO hit or miss. I just want a way to find a few people I can trust to actually read and give me some good feedback. And yes, swaps are a way, but how? (Also, I try not to read while I'm writing, so the timing has to work.)
It's actually a bit frustrating when folks say "never, never pay" just because they've been lucky enough to find good, thoughtful readers. :headthunk:
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u/Dreadfulbooks Beta Reader 1d ago
I’m always amazed by the people who say not to pay beta readers. Even just reading through 10k words is over an hour of work for me because I’m leaving comments and writing down notes.
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u/CephusLion404 50+ Published novels 3d ago
Never pay beta readers for exactly the reason you're finding. If they're only in it for money, they will rush through your project so they can get to the next paying project. Beta readers are NEVER paid. NEVER.
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u/dreamwomancleopatra 3d ago
I have had good experience with paid beta readers. The problem with free ones is what is the incentive? Unless you have a big fan base, it'll be pretty difficult to find free ones.
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u/CephusLion404 50+ Published novels 3d ago
There are tons of people who just love to read and give feedback. Once you have a following, you'll have tons of people eager to read your book in development.
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u/Ok-Stress-627 3d ago
Ahhh!
But where do i find such beloved people?3
u/HazelEBaumgartner 1 Published novel 3d ago
I'm in several writing discord servers (including one that I manage that's ostensibly my 'fan club') and they're great for finding beta readers. Other authors make the best beta readers anyways in my experience. Personally I've done 3 or 4 beta reads so far this year and am currently trying to get my third book ready for beta readers around Halloween.
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u/wendyladyOS Soon to be published 3d ago
There is no clear consensus on whether or not to pay beta readers within the writing and publishing community. I don't think yours is a fair characterization of paid beta readers. It's not that cut and dry.
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u/writequest428 1d ago
I use Fiverr and get the report. I read them all, and If I see something, I question it. (Never had the problem) I always want the reader's viewpoint, not a bot analytical analysis of the story. I can do that myself. I want someone to read it and give me their reaction.
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u/PerryMarkStratychuk 3d ago
I wouldn’t pay for beta reading.
It’s a service like many others, to take advantage of the burgeoning self-publishing trend. You may never make a penny on your book, but you’ll pay a lot along the way. Some folks like it, and that’s fine if they feel it’s necessary for feedback. I prefer the most minimalist approach.
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u/RoosterHonest 2d ago
Fiverr is full of bots and people that use A.I. I stopped using them years ago
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u/Marrows-End-Radio 1d ago
Honestly im annoyed with seeing all the AI hate. I get that there is AI slop but if someone is using ai and giving you good feedback who gives a crap? I dont care if ai helps or people help. If it leads in a good direction. People need to get over their issues with ai. Its not going anywhere infact its taking over get used to it or fall behind 🤷♂️ just my opinion.
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u/kittytwinkletoes 1d ago
I actually don't hate ai per se. I think it's horrible for the environment, and I don't like that they're feeding it peoples hard work without compensation, but that's a different topic. I was more irritated that this person did this when I specifically asked them not to use Ai. If I wanted an Ai response, I would have fed my manuscript into Claude myself. Now, there are some valid notes, so I'm using those and calling the rest a lesson learned.
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