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Join my Beta Reading Team
Beta Reading: Overview
Beta readers are volunteers—avid readers who do this for the love of it and because they genuinely enjoy being part of the creative process.
As a beta reader, you get an exclusive first look at a manuscript before anyone else—and your feedback helps shape the story into its best version.
You'll share your thoughts on characters, plot, world-building, and story development. What worked for you? What didn't? Why? Your honest reactions help me understand how readers experience the story and guide me in making it stronger.
For many beta readers, this behind-the-scenes role in bringing a book to life is just as rewarding as the reading itself. If you love books and want to be part of the magic that happens before publication, beta reading might be perfect for you!
New to Beta Reading?
Skip down to read the section on this
that explains more specifically what beta reading is (and what it's not)
My Beta Reading Process
The process itself also varies from writer to writer. After much research, thought, and experimentation, here's what I've come up with for how I do it. I've set up a simple, straightforward process using StoryOrigin. Here's how it works:
Getting Started
Click the link for the book you want to beta read and request to join. Once I approve your request, you're in! You'll start with Chapter 1, and each time you submit feedback, the next chapter unlocks automatically. No waiting for me to wake up and check my email—you can keep reading at your own pace.
The Questions
Each chapter has a short set of standard questions about characters, plot, and world-building (you can see the actual questions below). You can also add inline comments where you can highlight something specific.
Your responses can be as brief or detailed as you like—some readers write a sentence, others write paragraphs! The most helpful thing you can do is explain why something does or doesn't work for you.... it's not helpful to not know what it is that you don't like... give me something to work with.
Timeline
I typically request 1-2 days per chapter, but I get it—life happens! Just drop me a note if you need more time so I don't worry that I've lost you.
What You Get
My eternal gratitude, your name in the book's Acknowledgements, and a free copy of the ebook once it's published.
Want to Get More Involved?
I have a Facebook group where I connect with my beta reading team between books. It's where I give updates on the current manuscript, discuss plot points for works in progress, share favorite quotes, and ask for input on story decisions. It's not required, but if you love being part of the creative process and want more behind-the-scenes involvement, it's the perfect place to dive deeper!
Manuscripts coming soon for beta reading
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Title: The Long Way Home
Series: The Magic of Wishes & Dreams, book #10
Length: 120k
Heat Level: None
Paranormal Elements: Shapeshifters, Elementals, Vampires, Magical Beings & Critters
Setting: Hudson Valley, NY
Manuscript Status: In progress; should be ready for beta reading by the middle of November. Beta reader signups should be open no later than the end of October.
Basic Premise:
Amy Harris used to be someone else. Someone smaller. Someone who learned to apologize first, keep the peace, and keep her mountain lion locked so deep inside that she nearly forgot it was there. And then she discovered she was pregnant.
The man she married has a very different kind of life, one full of hate for shifters. If he finds out what his child will be, neither of them will be safe.
So Amy Harris vanishes, and Maya Rivers is born. With a new name, a Shifter Council lawyer, a best friend's burner phones, and a baby on the way, she lands in a sleepy Hudson Valley town teeming with shifters and Others... paranormal beings of many kinds.
Declan Hayes has spent years in his garden and his workshop, listening to what the earth has to say. He's an earth elemental who likes order, patience, and things that grow. When anti-shifter violence reaches the town's doorstep, he offers to guard it. He never planned on a hunted woman with amber eyes, a talent for art, and a stubborn streak she's only just discovering.
But the past doesn't stay buried. And this time, Maya isn't running.
A paranormal romance of found family, second chances, and the long way home.
Click here to sign up to beta read The Long Way Home on Story Origin!
The Questions
These are the standard questions I have for each chapter in this manuscript:
1. What are your initial thoughts and impressions after reading this chapter?
2. Hero & Heroine: What are your thoughts on Trinket and/or Vasilis as/if they appear in this chapter?
3. Other characters in the chapter (if any): How do they come across to you? Is there enough (or too much) introduction to recurring characters?
4. Scenes in the chapter: Does each scene work? Do you understand what is happening?
5. World Building: Does it work for you? Why or why not? Do you get a sense of time and place?
6. Were any parts confusing or inconsistent?
7. Do you have any predictions, i.e., guesses as to what will happen next or in the future? (This question is optional... I leave it in because you all seem to like it so much, and it tickles me to see your predictions)
New to Beta Reading?
If you're new to beta reading, here's what you need to know:
What Beta Readers Do
You'll provide feedback on characters, plot, world-building, and story development. When something works for you (or doesn't), you'll share your reactions and explain why. Your reader perspective is invaluable in shaping the story!
What Beta Readers DON'T Do
Beta readers are NOT editors or proofreaders! You're not responsible for fixing grammar, punctuation, or spelling. You'll receive a clean manuscript—as polished as possible before it goes to a professional editor. Your job is to focus on the story and characters, not the technical details. Every writer handles this differently, but the golden rule is: you're giving feedback on content, not correcting copy.
Want to Learn More?
Jenna Moreci is my go-to resource for the beta reading process! She has fantastic YouTube videos that are both informative and entertaining. I've based my own process on her advice, and I think you'll love her approach.
Then these two older videos, which are also well worth watching:
I also highly recommend this blog post: What is Not Required of a Beta Reader. It's a great reminder that as a volunteer, you shouldn't let anyone take advantage of you or expect more than reader feedback.