Do you need beta reading or another kind of feedback service?

There are five main options available to indie authors who seek ‘big picture’ feedback on their fiction.

• Ask a loved one to read the manuscript.
• Bring in a sensitivity reader.
• Find a beta reader.
• Use a manuscript evaluator.
• Hire a developmental editor. 

A beta reader is a member of your intended readership. Ideally, they’re a fan of your genre. They tell you what it was like to read your story. Beta readers need to be good at observing and describing their own reactions. Ideally, they should be people who can put aside their own personal tastes and admire quality in all kinds of stories.

You can buy my beta reading service on a freelance platform called Contra. Here is the link:

https://contra.com/s/22PvFvs3-beta-reading-or-romances-or-couples-aged-35-or-65-k-to-90-k-words

Manuscript evaluation is a one-off service delivered by a professional editor. The evaluator reads your manuscript and then sends you a feedback letter that discusses technical aspects of writing craft. The letter helps you assess what works and what doesn’t work in your story. A manuscript evaluation usually costs more than a beta read.

A developmental editor gives detailed feedback on every page of your story. They suggest what to change, delete, and add. Authors and developmental editors work together in a partnership over quite a long period.

Developmental editing is a very expensive service because the work involved is very intensive. When you choose a development editor, be sure to check their experience and qualifications.

Sensitivity reading is helpful when you write about lives and cultures that are not your own. A sensitivity reader can tell you if your story pushes stereotypes, feels unrealistic, or could cause offence.

I don’t offer sensitivity reading, but I can help with stories set in England. I’ll tell you if there’s anything that feels off to me, such as the presence of raccoons in the English countryside! (Disney mistakenly used raccoons in the film 101 Dalmatians.)

A loved one can give useful feedback for free, but their relationship with you could make things awkward. Only you can judge whether showing a friend or relative your manuscript is a good idea.