Gather & manage beta reader feedback

Readers unlock each chapter by leaving feedback on the previous chapter or answering questionnaires

Author launching
Success stories! Beta Copies in action.

StoryOrigin is the third beta reader feedback service I've tried. I think it's perfect. I've no plans to use any other service, ever.

Kate Darroch
Full review

StoryOrigin has made gathering feedback for my novel The Void Beyond the Walls, as well as other shorter stories, a breeze.

Relvin Gonzalez
Full review

I love the StoryOrigin beta-read feature. The functionality is simple and easy to use for both writers and readers. Highly recommended!

Lynne Basham Tagawa
Full review

...switching my beta reader process over to StoryOrigin I have seen both the number of people who complete the beta process and the quality of feedback increase.

Jamie Dalton
Full review

I used the beta copy option for the first time last fall. All of my beta readers loved the setup... it proved far easier for all of us compared to sharing documents separately as I did in the past.

Althea Damgaard
Full review

I love how the beta copies feature makes it easy for me to approve readers, collect all the beta feedback in one place, upload new versions for review or new readers, and track how I approach my edits.

Ingrid Moon
Full review

The single best feature I've used is StoryOrigin's beta-reader management system... every book I write in the future will take advantage of the StoryOrigin system.

John Pearce
Full review

I absolutely love the beta reader feature. Its suggestions and customization has helped prompt my readers to give me more in depth feedback. Super easy to use!

S. T. Sanchez
Full review

The beta reader feature has been a game-changer for me in getting centralized feedback for the books in my series. I would have gone crazy managing this with Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Steve Pantazis
Full review
Get more & better feedback from your beta readers
Feedback Required

Readers unlock each chapter by leaving feedback on the previous chapter

Questionnaires

Embed questionnaires between chapters to collect over-arching feedback

Slice & Dice Feedback

Sort feedback across versions, readers, and keywords

Track Progress

Track each reader's progress through the book at a glance

Control Access

Secure content and control each individual reader's access and expiration time

Unbiased Feedback

Readers only see their own comments, so they don't bias each other's feedback

Readers Leave Feedback to Unlock Chapters

Readers have to leave end-of-chapter feedback to unlock the next chapter.

Add critique guidance or questions at the end of each chapter solicit specific feedback from readers.

Screenshot of Readers View of Unlocking Next Chapter
Screenshot of Authors View of All Readers' Progress
Track Reader Progress & Control Access

See how far long each beta reader has gotten through the book.

Set access expiration dates for beta readers or turn off their access anytime.

Collect Inline Comments & Mark To-do's

Beta readers can leave short inline comments on specific words, sentences, or paragraphs.

Mark & filter comments as to-do items or filter inline comments to only see comments by specific readers.

Screenshot of Inline Comments from Beta Readers
Screenshot of End-of-Chapter Feedback from Readers
View End-of-Chapter Feedback

Filter end-of-chapter feedback by chapter, reader, keyword, or status (unread, to-do, etc.).

Readers can only see their own feedback, but everything is compiled and easy to sort through on your end.

Ready for better feedback from beta readers?
Upload your manuscript
Video Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the beta copies feature?

The beta copies feature on StoryOrigin allows authors to securely share manuscripts of their books to beta readers to gather feedback before the book is published.

Can readers download beta copies?

No, readers cannot download the manuscript. Beta Copies on StoryOrigin are only readable in the browser making your manuscript much more secure than simply sending out a Word doc or EPUB file.

Are there any restrictions on the types of books that can use the Beta Copies feature?

No, the beta copies feature is available for all types of books across various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, etc.

Note: the Beta Copies feature does not support uploading images, so it does not work well for books that depend on readers being able see pictures embdedded along with the text.

Do readers need to pay to have an account on StoryOrigin?

No, the Beta Copies feature is totally free on the reader side.

Readers do need to create a FREE account, so that StoryOrigin can tell you who left which comments / feedback.

Can I control who gets access to my beta copy?

Yes, you can add questions to the application process and choose to approve or decline requests from beta readers based whatever criteria you want (genre preferences, # of books they've read before, etc.).

Can I set a deadlines for beta readers to submit feedback?

Yes, authors can set deadlines for beta readers to submit their feedback. This helps to manage the beta reading process effectively.

Can I revoke access to my beta copy?

Yes, you can turn off access to your beta copy to any particular beta reader at any time.

Can I communicate with beta readers directly through StoryOrigin?

StoryOrigin provides you with your beta reader's email address, so you can email them directly.

You cannot communicate with beta readers directly through StoryOrigin.

Can I track the progress of readers?

Yes, you can see how many chapters each reader has completed, so you know how far along each beta reader is in the process.

Testimonials! StoryOrigin, the author tools you need.

Is there a 5 star rating system on this? Because StoryOrigin is at least 6 stars. At least! I've used the other platforms... and none of them approach the flexibility and power of StoryOrigin

W.H. Lock
Full review

I used to use several sites and groups to facilitate things like newsletter swaps, multi-author book promos, reader magnets, and reviews, but I can do it all and better on StoryOrigin.

A. F. Stewart
Full review

I love StoryOrigin. I've used other sites for promotions and newsletter swaps but this one is easier and more author-focused. Highly recommend for new or serious authors.

Gina Kincade
Full review

StoryOrigin changed my life, and it's the BEST tool that actually works with increasing sales, subscribers, and reaching new readers.

Anca-Melinda Coliolu
Full review

... compared to a lot of similar sites designed to help authors, StoryOrigin has the best UI, the most features and a great community of authors.

Dave Walsh
Full review

StoryOrigin is absolutely the must-have author tool. You can build your newsletter list with interested people, sell your books, find newsletter swaps, get reviews, and more

Katherine Gilbert
Full review
See 150+ more reviews
Have more questions? Just shoot me an email
Evan Gow, indie developer of StoryOrigin
Evan Gow, Indie Developer
evan@storyoriginapp.com