Short Story and
Novel Consultation Services
I offer beta reading, manuscript assessment, and strategic coaching. You can start with either beta reading or manuscript assessment and combine services as needed.
Beta Reading
The Question: How is this piece working?
Beta reading can show you how a draft is experienced by a careful reader. Writers share their manuscript via Google Docs and are welcome to ask for specific kinds of feedback they’re looking for.
I respond directly in the document with comments and questions, focusing on things like clarity and confusion; pacing (where it works, rushes, or sags); characters and themes; where I felt engaged and where my attention drifted; what I understood the piece to be about; how the ending lands; and my overall emotional experience of the work.
This kind of detailed reader experience report can help you revise with confidence. You can use beta reading for early drafts (to see what's working), mid-revision drafts (to see if changes helped), or almost-finished drafts (as a final check before submission).
Manuscript Assessment
The Question: What state is this in?
Manuscript assessment is an evaluation of a piece of writing, based on your questions. For example, I can read the work and give you my opinion about what kind of draft you have: submission-ready, very close with specific needs, or still in need of development. I will provide detailed notes to explain why. We can also talk about whether you might benefit from a developmental editor, copy editor, or proofreader.
Manuscript assessment can be useful when you're trying to understand if a piece is ready to submit. It's also a good step to take when you're struggling with conflicting feedback. You can send me your workshop comments along with a story, and I'll help you sift the helpful signals from the noise.
Strategic Coaching
The Question: What should I do next, and why?
This is support focused on revision and next steps. It's closely tied to both beta reading and manuscript assessment, but goes one step further to develop a revision strategy based on the strengths and weaknesses of a piece. It's about getting unstuck and creating a map for how to move forward with a story or novel. This is especially useful when a manuscript is in a revision loop.
Why Hire a Professional Beta Reader?
As an author, I know what it's like to need more feedback (and support) than a workshop, class, or casual beta reader can provide. Professional beta reading fills that gap with a relatively quick turnaround and without the obligation of a return read.
A professional beta reader can provide comprehensive comments on a whole draft, along with a fresh, objective perspective—which is especially valuable for work you’ve been revising for a long time. I’m happy to answer follow-up questions and talk through responses in detail. For writers who want experienced, trustworthy feedback without sentence-level rewriting or the cost of a full editorial engagement, professional beta reading can be a very effective option.
How I Work
I work with flash, short stories, or novels. The genres I have the most experience with are literary, speculative, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and romance. I’m not a good fit for projects containing graphic violence, sexual abuse, or torture.
My rate is $50/hr. I only bill for time I spend working on a manuscript. Most stories take under two hours. Novels vary, but I can adjust my reading speed depending on whether your priority is budget or depth.
I don't do package deals because I want to let you choose what you need. You might want to combine beta reading with strategic coaching and work together on a regular basis. Or you might only need a very quick manuscript assessment.
Experience
I have over forty years of experience beta reading, writing, and workshopping short fiction and novels. I've done this both professionally and in academic and community settings. I've also worked professionally as an editor, and I've read incoming manuscripts for major publishing houses, film studios, literary magazines, and fiction contests.
In addition to working as a beta reader and editor, I've also hired beta readers and editors to work on my own writing. I always treat authors how I like to be treated, offering respect, insight, and kindness.
Getting Started
If you're interested in learning more, please contact me through the form on this page and tell me about your project.