Writing.Com General Discussion

That depends on what you want from the reader. Would also say quality over quantity applies here.

While this isn't exact, here is my general view about each role:
1. An editor is someone who will focus on the technical side. They might make some comments on big picture items or check for inconsistencies but their main focus is on cleaning up the product. They usually come in handy right before publishing.
2. Alpha readers tend to be people closer to the author but could be strangers. They read the messy versions. Some will even read first drafts. An alpha helps consider plot points, character development and general story details. They can overlook typos or missing commas because those details aren't important until after rewrites.
3. Beta readers are similar to alphas. They tend to look at the big picture items too. Most of them are going to check on the overall story and give the point of view as a reader. Some could make edit comments (like I've been an editor so if I was a beta I could add that information if requested) but that is not the particular role. They usually don't read until after rewrites and get a closer to publishable draft.


How you get one will depend in part on what you need. I have a couple ideas and am sure others have information too.