Alpha reading

This is a writer’s assessment of a rough or self-edited draft of your manuscript. The aim is to pinpoint macro or story-level feedback for improvements at the early stage before beta readers or editing.

INCLUSIONS

What does this involve?

  • Providing feedback on story direction, pacing, overarching themes and genre conventions

  • Identifying any continuity errors or plot holes

  • Assessing character development and narration

  • Please note that this is not a developmental edit

Pricing

$2 AUD / 1000 words

FULLY BOOKED UNTIL OCTOBER 2026

Equivalent to $0.002 AUD/word.

All pricing is listed in Australian Dollars.

This service includes 1 pass of your manuscript with Comments applied. Upon completion, you will receive a detailed email with notes and the option of a follow-up call.

Get started

How it works

Get in touch

We have a chat about your book or manuscript to determine a quote and turnaround time.

READING begins

We send through the notes with Comments and an email for your review and action.

follow-up

We can offer a 1 hour consultation call for follow-up questions and advice as desired.

Contact us

Which type of reading service is right for me?

ALPHA READING

Often the very first look at your rough draft. This is a writer’s perspective, providing feedback on multiple aspects of your work and noting where improvements might be made.

BETA READING

Though similar to alpha reading, beta reading comes in after the first draft. It is performed by a reader familiar with the genre for helpful feedback before your story is ready for editing.

Beta reading service 
SENSITIVITY READING

This is a specific focus on sensitive themes in your manuscript. We can advise on matters concerning LGBTQIA+ characterisation and representation.

Sensitivity reading service

Ready to get started?

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly!

 Frequently asked questions

  • We work with speculative fiction of all types, from high fantasy and science fiction to historical fiction and romance, and everything in between.

  • The amount of time required to perform an alpha read varies, depending on the length of the manuscript. We usually quote 2-4 weeks for novel-length manuscripts, but this may change. We can provide a clearer timeframe when we discuss your project.

  • No limits! We are happy to work on micro stories of only a few hundred words, all the way up to epic stories of hundreds of thousands of words. Please reach out for a timeframe estimate and quote if you are concerned about the length of your work.

  • Yes! We work with authors around the world. We have experience with US English, UK English and AU English.

  • We usually edit your work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes and Comments. We can also apply edits on Google Docs if preferred.

What our authors have to say

  • Michael Michel

    Rachel’s skill at seeing the story I was trying to bring to life, and collaboratively goad it forward, was crucial to bringing my work into the world. And she did it with utmost ease, professionalism, and care. Love her.

  • Helen Rygh-Pedersen

    Kris’s feedback is invaluable in making changes when needed to the plot, knowing when to work on worldbuilding or character arcs, and is always given thoughtfully.

  • Palmer Pickering

    I found Rachel to be easy to work with, professional, prompt, and a good communicator. She has become one of my go-to editors. Highly recommended.