Announcing my new beta reading service

Brown fabric background with coffee in white mug at top left corner, white paper in centre and white pen at right.

I’m excited to announce that I’m now offering beta reading alongside my existing editing, proofreading, and coaching services.

While I hesitated to offer beta reading in the past because some authors may confuse it with developmental editing, I’ve changed my mind. Beta reading is actually very different to developmental editing, and it can be helpful for some authors.

For example, a beta read is a reader’s response to a story. This is, therefore, a more subjective service than developmental editing and a beta read itself looks quite different to a developmental edit.

A beta reader makes comments about where they lost interest in a story and/or notes characters who don’t feel realistic. They might also comment on tropes, worldbuilding, setting, or plot. For instance, they may note places where the story feels illogical or where the setting doesn’t feel vivid to them.

Conversely, they may also note places where the setting is brilliantly portrayed, therefore making the story world feel especially vivid.

On the other hand, a developmental editor would note all these things as well, but they would also examine the story in detail and provide the author with guidance on how they might strengthen any weaker areas. They might do this by showing an author where they could include additional sensory details to bring their story’s setting to life, for example.

As developmental editing takes more skill, training, and time than beta reading, it’s also more expensive. Not all authors can afford developmental editing, or even a manuscript critique (which generally takes less time than a full developmental edit and is therefore less expensive). These authors might then benefit from a beta read, especially a beta read done by someone who’s trained as an editor and experienced in their genre.

A beta read can be especially helpful for authors who have a bit of experience under their belts and feel confident to tackle story issues themselves. Alternatively, a beta read could also be combined with story coaching to support an author as they brainstorm solutions to story problems that arise during a beta read.

If you’re interested in booking me for a beta read of your novel, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Fees for this service vary, depending on the length of your novel. (For novels of 70,000 to 90,000 words, the fee is £200 and includes feedback of one to three pages detailing my reactions to your plot, characters, story, etc.) More information is available here.

As a New Year’s gift for my readers, you can take 10% off the price of any beta read booked before the end of January 2024. Just quote BLOG10 in your email/on your contact form submission.

(If, instead, you’re interested in learning more about my developmental editing service, you can find that here..)