So, you've got yourself a novel and you want to submit it to an editor. You've looked over it a thousand times and it's absolutely perfect -- or so you hope.
The problem with editing your own work comes with subjectivity. When you've made a piece on your own, you can't look at it objectively. You've seen it too many times and you've done your best to make it a fantastic piece of work; and that's great!
However, there are things you won't be able to notice on your own. Maybe you you wrote a word twice, you're grammer or spelling has mistakes, or your story has some character or plot holes.
That's where a beta reader comes in.
Beta readers are trusted editors who look over your completed manuscript and help you polish it. They'll give you advice and, most importantly, have an objective view of the piece.
The best way to work with your beta is to communicate exactly what you want done and accept their criticism for what it is. Set your pride aside and acknowledge that it can always be made better.
A sensitivity reader is slightly different.
A sensitivity reader is someone that comes from or has experience with a minority group. You might look for a black, disabled, and architect sensitivity reader, or maybe you're looking for one very specific experience instead.
It's highly recommended that any time you have a minority group (be it ethnicity, disability, culture, or otherwise) that you have a sensitivity reader. They can point out flaws in your characters and in your story; as well as tell you where you're being offensive or flat out wrong.
An important thing to remember when you hire sensitivity readers is that they may tell you to completely rewrite something. Your character may be stereotyped or a harmful portrayal of that group. You must be willing to rewrite or entirely drop a project if many of your readers find it offensive.
It's counter productive to hire beta and sensitivity readers and not listen to them.
Betas are important for the overall quality of your piece. They can fine-tune it, make it engaging, cut out the extra bits. They're fantastic workers if you work with them -- they're there for you to be successful.
Sensitivity readers are important because they represent their group. Hiring multiple people from all walks of life to ensure that your story is respectful and accurate is one of the best things you can do.
For example, writing an autistic character as someone who cannot do anything for themselves or only as victims is insulting. Writing an autistic character that doesn't follow any of the DSM would take away the point of them being autistic. It's important to find a balance and be realistic and respectful.
These people are not there to see you fail. They are there to help you and your writing skills.
But you must be able to take their criticism.
I cannot stress how important that is. As a writer, you will always be criticized and it's our job to learn from that and grow as people.
Betas and sensitivity readers are important. Use them well and you will improve vastly.