Professional Beta Reading

for self publishing & indie fantasy authors

Structured honest feedback with professional beta reading

Longing for honest reader-centred feedback that strengthens relatability and emotional impact on your reader?

The creative writing world is vast, with would-be authors looking for beta readers often without much success. It seems everyone wants a beta reader, but very few want to be one.

Added to the author:beta reader ratio is the quality of a beta reader. While as writers, it’s lovely to have our egos stroked and told “great story!”, in reality, what actual use is that feedback for improving your manuscript and story? For fleshing out characters, catching gaping plot holes, increasing tension and thus hooking your readers to turn just.one.more.page…..

That’s where a professional beta read comes in.

Not only do you get the critique you’re really looking for, but reasons as to why certain elements are working and where others could do with improvement. What sections are landing flat or feel slow, and which areas hit the pacing in the sweet spot.

With a particular love for character-driven plots, I pay close attention to character development, consistencies with their decision making and whether it feels “out of character”, how well the reader can relate and care for certain characters (whether it’s the protagonist, the underdog side character, or even the antagonist themselves), as well as whether at the end of the story I ever felt that I cared about the outcome and ending, and if I’m left feeling satisfied and wanting more of the world you created.

What you get

By choosing a professional beta read from me, you will receive:

• a detailed 3-5 page report with the main focus on your characters (it’s your choice if you want to focus on just one or two and have more detailed feedback or whether you want more generic feedback but for a bigger cast).
• Suggestions on pacing, tension and conflict — where it’s working and where it needs some help with keeping readers hooked
• What emotions your characters and plot are evoking in your reader and whether they’re the desired feelings for that particular scene / character etc
• Feedback on any inconsistencies either with plot or character behaviour, including plot holes or moments that feel ‘out of character’
• Relatability and likability of your cast — will your readers actually care what happens to them?
• In-line comments highlighting what’s working well and weaknesses that could do with an extra slice of TLC

If you’re serious about feedback on your manuscript and want more than ‘great job!’, then get in touch. You’ve put serious hours, work, and love into your manuscript already. Don’t stall now.

Get in touch today and let’s have a chat to see how I can help you.

“I want to thank Stacey at The Fantasy Wordslinger (TFW) for the content edit of my first manuscript. Stacey was prompt and responsive to all my questions, despite a significant time difference (Stacey is in the UK; I am in the US).

Prior to hiring TFW, we communicated several times via email to be sure we would be a good fit. TFW asked detailed questions about the theme, characters, and main issues where I wanted feedback.

With a content edit, TFW provided a 10-page editorial letter, as well as in-manuscript notes for the first section of the MS. I was promised comments in 6-8 weeks, and received them in just over 6 weeks, well within the agreed-upon deadline.

I especially appreciated the notes provided within the manuscript. Those comments fleshed out the themes she made in her editorial letter, and helped give me a better idea of where and how I could implement specific suggestions. Because of the review, I now have a clearer vision for the character arc of my protagonist, as well as ideas to better create and resolve tension within the manuscript.

If you are a first-time author like me looking for a professional editor, I suggest reaching out to The Fantasy Wordslinger to see if they are a good fit for you.”

– Dan Martin
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