Beta reading

                                     What is beta reading?
​A beta read is a reader’s reaction to the story. Authors who seek to understand how the readers will experience their manuscript often seek out beta readers.

As an avid romance reader, I will read your romance story and provide constructive and honest feedback from the reader’s point of view. I will spot the big-picture storytelling issues in your romance story and tell you how a future reader might understand it.

   What is the difference between beta reading vs other services?
Beta readers do not edit your manuscript. They don’t explain why anything is going wrong or give potential solutions. The beta reading service points out potential big-picture storytelling issues. It does not include editing developmental or copyediting issues. 

                                             Romance genres
I offer beta reading services in the romance genre. I specialise in beta reading the following romance subgenres:
  • contemporary romance 
  • YA romance
  • romantic comedy
  •  paranormal romance
  •  romantic suspense 
  • fantasy romance
  • romantasy

Please read the heat/spice levels and the content warnings webpage to make sure we are a great fit to work together.   

                                             The beta reading process
I will read your romance story and provide constructive and honest feedback in a reader's report. 

The service includes feedback on the following big-picture storytelling issues:
  • Characters (goal, motivation, conflict)
  • Plot
  • Point of view       
  • Pacing
  • Genre conventions
  • Overall impression about the story

My feedback will be focused on answering the questions in this beta reader questionnaire but you can ask any other related questions you have.

The service includes:
  • a reader's report with 3-5 pages of detailed, constructive and honest feedback about the big-picture storytelling issues mentioned above
  • if I believe your manuscript needs further editing services
  • 30 minutes of follow-up support (email or video call)         ​                            
"Maria did a beta read for a romantic comedy I had written, and I couldn't be happier with the feedback she gave. She had an easy to follow format of questions already prepared as she read my manuscript. It allowed me to see her thought process and what she found important as a reader. Her suggestions were very valuable and I hope to use her again."
Pamela Dean, romance comedy writer
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                          Why choose the beta reading service?
  • You are on a limited budget
  • You are a new author
  • You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
  •  Make sure you have a strong story premise

                                               Why me?
  •  Avid romance reader and romance genre specialist
  •  Dedicated and passionate about my work
  •  Attention to detail
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Safety: your book is protected and not shared with anyone else
​"Maria provided beta reading of my contemporary romance novel, and her feedback was invaluable, especially after I had completed numerous revisions and was struggling to pinpoint where my plot issues were. I appreciated the chance to have a new and unbiased set of eyes on my manuscript. She pointed out an issue with a subplot that I had not considered before, which helped me to focus my revision efforts effectively. Her feedback was timely and thoughtful, and I'd recommend her to any fellow authors seeking beta reading feedback."
Kate Underwood, contemporary romance writer
 "Thank you for beta reading my manuscript. I found it extremely helpful to have an experienced second set of eyes to verify there were no plot holes or major inconsistencies in my manuscript. Your Beta Reading Report was useful, and covered all of the areas I was looking for...I really appreciated your time and effort. Your communication with me was great, and you were very responsive. Thank you very much!"
Rachel Anthony, romance writer
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​                                             Investment
Estimated cost
€150 for a 50,000-word manuscript
€195 for an 80,000-word manuscript
€225 for a 100,000-word manuscript

Estimated deadline:1-2 weeks
The cost and the deadline provided are estimates. Please contact me to get a customised quote for your manuscript.
 
Please note that a 20% non-refundable booking fee is required at the time of booking to secure a slot in my schedule. Read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy for more information.

                                     How it works
Every editing project is unique. Fill in this form to contact me and send me your completed manuscript along with any other related documents (synopsis, summary). I will respond to you as soon as possible with a no-obligation quote based on the specific needs of your manuscript.