Beta Reading | Studio Marginalia

Before you begin your next round of revisions, it's worth knowing how your story lands with a fresh set of eyes.

A beta read tests the reading experience before your manuscript reaches the audience you're writing it for. I read your story as an engaged first-time reader, documenting my thoughts and reactions as they naturally unfold. Rather than analysing every storytelling decision, I focus on the experience of reading the manuscript itself: where I became invested, where my attention drifted, what surprised me, and what stayed with me after the final page.

Who This Service Is For

A beta read is ideal if:

You've completed a draft and want an honest reader-first perspective
You want to know whether your story delivers on its promise before investing in deeper editorial work
You're looking for genuine reader reactions rather than an editorial critique
You're preparing to query, self-publish, or move on to professional editing

What You Receive

In-line Comments

For beta reading, the comments are the experience. They capture my real-time reactions as I read: excitement, confusion, curiosity, predictions, and questions. You'll see exactly how individual scenes and story beats land with a reader.

Detailed Reader Report

After finishing your manuscript, you'll receive a concise report covering my overall reading experience, including:

Plot
Whether the story remained engaging, coherent, and satisfying from beginning to end.
Characters
Which characters I connected with most, whose motivations felt believable, and who left the strongest impression.
Setting/Worldbuilding
Whether the world felt immersive, consistent, and easy to visualise.
Pacing
Where the story maintained momentum, where it slowed, and where my attention began to drift.
Emotional Impact
Which moments resonated most strongly, what surprised me, and whether the emotional beats landed as intended.
Overall Reader Experience
My overall impressions after reaching the final page, including what stayed with me and what readers are most likely to remember.
Genre & Reader Expectations
Whether the manuscript delivered the experience I expected from its genre and who I believe it will resonate with most.

Before You Submit

If there are particular questions you'd like answered while I read, you're welcome to include them with your manuscript. Whether you're concerned about a character arc, a subplot, your ending, or anything else, I'll keep those questions in mind throughout the read.

What This Service Doesn't Include

Beta Reading is designed to evaluate the reading experience, not provide editorial analysis. As such, this service does not include:

Developmental editing
Line editing or copyediting
Proofreading for grammar, spelling, or punctuation
Detailed craft analysis or a structured revision plan.

If you're looking for in-depth editorial guidance and actionable revision advice, the Manuscript Critique is likely the better fit.

Communication

Beta Reading is an email-only service.

Once your beta read is complete, you'll receive your annotated manuscript and Beta Reading Report by email. If you have any questions about the report afterwards, you're welcome to send one follow-up email for clarification.

Questions?

If you’re unsure whether this service is the right fit for your manuscript’s current stage, feel free to get in touch. I’m happy to help you figure out what kind of feedback would best support your revision goals.

Investment

Pricing is based on your manuscript's total word count.

Manuscript Length	Price (USD)
1,000 – 20,000 words	$100
20,001 – 40,000 words	$200
40,001 – 60,000 words	$300
60,001 – 80,000 words	$400
80,001 – 100,000 words	$500
100,001 – 120,000 words	$600
120,000+ words	Custom Quote

A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking, with the remaining balance due before your beta reading report is delivered. Manuscripts exceeding 120,000 words are priced individually based on length and complexity.

My Policies

Everything you need to know before you book.

NO AI. EVER.

I do not use AI at any point in my service: to read your manuscript, write your letter, or assist in writing the letter. If you suspect AI use, you are well within your rights to request proof of actual human work, which will be provided. Studio Marginalia is built for humans, by a human.

Payment

All services and payments are agreed upon in advance and paid in USD. All services are confirmed with a 50% deposit to secure the booking and begin the project. The remaining 50% balance is due upon completion of the service and before delivery of final materials (your Critique Letter and the Annotated Manuscript). Final deliverables are released once the remaining balance has been received.

Refunds

Clients may request a full refund at any time before I send my start-of-work confirmation email. Once that email is sent, the project is locked in and no refunds will be issued. If I am unable to complete the service after receiving payment, the client will receive a full refund.

Communication

You may contact me at any time via email while I have your manuscript, and I respond within 24 hours. After delivery, communication follows the revision support terms outlined in your specific service.

Word Count Minimum / Maximum

The minimum word count is 1,000 words. The maximum word count is 120,000 words. I am open to working with manuscripts over this limit, but you must contact me beforehand to discuss.

Confidentiality

Your manuscript and any feedback shared are treated as confidential by default. I will never share, publish, or discuss your work without your permission. I provide my own contract for all projects, but I'm also happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or use your contract upon request.

Right to Decline

I reserve the right to decline a manuscript if it isn't a good fit for my services or expertise. If this happens, you will be notified before any deposit is charged, and no payment will be required.

Contact

Stop Revising Blind. Start Revising Smart.

Tell me about your manuscript and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours.