A beta reading service is where I read your draft and give you honest feedback from a reader’s perspective. I don’t make changes to your writing. Instead, I tell you what I enjoyed, what confused me and where I wanted more.
Beta reading is useful if you just want a sense check for your writing but you don’t want to commit to editing. While you don’t get specific feedback about what to improve, you get a reader’s genuine impression of the story and the parts that worked really well or not so much.
Do I need beta reading or a manuscript assessment?
Manuscript assessments are professional evaluations with a comprehensive written report focusing on big-picture elements like structure, plot and character development. They offer strategic guidance for major revisions, helping writers understand the overall potential of their manuscript.
Beta reads, in contrast, are conducted by target readers rather than professional editors. They provide informal, reader-focused feedback that centers on audience engagement and emotional response. Beta reads are most useful when a manuscript is nearly complete, offering writers genuine insights into how their target audience might receive the work.
The fundamental difference lies in their purpose. A manuscript assessment is a structured, professional analysis aimed at improving the manuscript’s fundamental elements, while a beta read captures raw, unfiltered reader reactions to help writers understand their work’s potential impact.
I also recommend a beta read when you aren’t sure what level of editing you need or where you should go next with your manuscript. As they are much quicker and cheaper than a manuscript assessment, a beta read is a good entry point for a serious conversation about where to go next with your manuscript.
If you have questions about beta reading or if you’d like to book a beta read for your manuscript, please send me a message with the Contact page.