Beta Reading & Proofreading

Your story deserves
to be ready to share with confidence!

Professional beta reading and proofreading for children's books, picture books, flash fiction, short stories, and novels. I handle the details so you can focus on your vision.

Jenn, The Author's Back Office
Children's Books,
Short Fiction & Novels ✦
✦ Children's Books & Short Fiction
✦ All Fiction Genres Accepted
✦ 5+ Years Experience
✦ Direct Booking via PayPal & Stripe

A dedicated reader
in your corner.

I'm Jenn, a proofreader and beta reader with a genuine passion for storytelling at every level. Whether it's a picture book that sparks a child's imagination, a young adult novel that keeps a teenager up past midnight, or adult fiction that stays with readers for years, I bring the same careful, inquisitive eye to every manuscript. Whatever you're writing, I show up as a reader who truly cares about your story.

Finding the right reader means finding someone who loves your genre. I do. My favorite reads span children's stories, flash fiction, short stories, adventure, fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, and historical fiction, and I bring that enthusiasm to every project, including genres outside my personal favorites.

"You poured your heart into this. Let me help make sure every reader feels that."

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5+ years proofreading and beta reading across children's books, flash fiction, short stories, and novels
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Volunteer proofreader for Distributed Proofreaders / Project Gutenberg
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Experience with picture books, YA fiction, educational content, and all fiction genres
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Warm, collaborative feedback style: honest without being harsh
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Certified in High-Level Proofreading & Copyediting Pro — Edit Republic Inc. (2024)
Jenn

Readers notice errors. Errors cost you readers.

The indie publishing space has never been more accessible, and never more crowded. Readers browsing e‑book platforms, picking up a print-on-demand paperback, or downloading a self-published novel are making split-second decisions about whether to keep reading. A typo on page one, a character whose name changes halfway through, or a plot thread that goes nowhere can pull a reader out of your story in seconds.

Readers shouldn't have to edit and correct a story in their heads while reading for fun. When they do, they stop reading — and they don't come back.

Getting your story publication-ready isn't just about fixing grammar. It's about making sure every reader who picks up your book gets the experience you intended to give them.

What I Offer

Services

All services are booked directly through this site. Payment is handled securely through PayPal or Stripe — no third-party accounts needed.

Package & Proofreading
✏️
Proofreading — All Formats

Line-by-line review for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency across all fiction and nonfiction formats. You'll receive a line-edited manuscript with tracked changes and comments, ready for your final review.

Children's books · Picture books · Flash fiction · Short stories · YA · Fantasy · Mystery · Sci-fi · Thriller · Educational

Tier 1Up to 3,000 words: $52
Tier 2Up to 8,000 words: $108
Tier 3Up to 20,000 words: $185
Beta Reading
📖
Beta Reading — Fiction & Nonfiction

A thorough read from a fresh pair of eyes. I assess story flow, pacing, character consistency, and readability, then deliver written feedback as comments, suggestions, and questions, plus a style sheet covering character names, locations, and key vocabulary.

Chapter books · YA · Flash fiction · Short stories · Sci-fi · Fantasy · Historical fiction · Mystery · Thriller · Nonfiction

Tier 1Up to 5,000 words: $58
Tier 2Up to 10,000 words: $95
Tier 3Up to 20,000 words: $150
Not sure? Book a free call
Free Offer

Not sure we're the right fit?
Let's find out. ✦

Every great working relationship starts with the right connection. That's why I offer a free 500-word Manuscript Assessment: no obligation, no credit card, no strings attached.

1
Submit the first 500 words of your manuscript Any genre, any format — just paste it into the form.
2
I'll review it and provide honest, actionable feedback within 36 hours Real feedback, not a form response.
3
We'll both get a feel for whether we're the right fit No pressure, no obligation.
4
If we are, I'll point you to the right service for your project I'll recommend the best package for your manuscript. Book directly and I'll send a secure PayPal or Stripe invoice to get started.

The assessment is completely free and gives you a real taste of my editing style before committing to anything. Whether you're writing a children's book, short story, novel, or anything in between — I'd love to take a look.

Submit Your 500 Words ✦
Fill out the form below and I'll be in touch within 36 hours.

This is completely free — no payment or commitment required.

Ready to book directly? No third-party accounts needed. I'll send a secure PayPal or Stripe invoice once we confirm your project details. Email me to get started.

✦ Thank you! I've received your manuscript and will be in touch within 36 hours with your free assessment.
What's Included

Every project comes with…

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Written Feedback

Detailed comments, questions, and suggestions delivered inline in your manuscript — so you always know exactly what to look at and why.

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Style Sheet (beta reads)

A reference document covering character names, locations, and any unusual vocabulary — keeping your story consistent from first page to last.

🔍
Line-Edited Manuscript (proofreads)

Your manuscript returned with tracked changes for grammar, spelling, and punctuation — ready for your final review before submission or publication.

📝
Editorial Summary Letter (publication-ready)

A written summary covering what's working, what to address before you publish, and guidance on next steps for your chosen format — e-book, paperback, or hardcover.

Estimated Turnaround Times

Turnaround times are estimates based on current availability. Every project gets the careful attention it deserves. If my schedule is fuller than usual, I'll always let you know upfront before we begin.

Word Count Estimated Turnaround
Under 5,000 words 2–3 business days
5,001–12,000 words 4–5 business days
12,001–18,000 words 5–7 business days
18,001–30,000 words 7–9 business days
30,001–60,000 words 10–12 business days
60,001–100,000 words 14–18 business days

Have a specific deadline? Mention it in your booking request and I'll confirm availability before we get started.

Ready to book directly? Let's get started. ✦

Already know which service you need? Fill out the form below and I'll follow up within 24 hours with your invoice and next steps.

I'll follow up within 24 hours with a project confirmation and your PayPal or Stripe invoice.

✦ Thank you! I've received your booking request and will be in touch within 24 hours.

Author Testimonials

Kind words from authors I've had the pleasure of working with.

★★★★★

There was real pleasure to work with Jennifer! All the communication was convenient and effective. Jennifer made everything necessary and even more!

R
Rimma K.
Minsk, BY  ·  ✓ Verified Client
★★★★★

I was nervous sending my manuscript to a stranger, but Jenn made the process so easy. Her proofreading was meticulous — every change was tracked and explained. I felt like she genuinely cared about my book.

T
Terry G.
Self-Published Children's Author
★★★★★

Getting both big-picture feedback and line edits in one round saved me so much time. Jenn delivered ahead of schedule and the report was incredibly detailed. Worth every penny.

T
Tamara L.
Flash Fiction Author
✦

Worked with me? I'd love to hear from you.

Your feedback helps other authors know what to expect — and means the world to me. Reviews are moderated before appearing on this page.

Reviews are sent to Jenn for moderation before appearing on this page.

✦ Thank you so much! Your review has been received and will appear here shortly after moderation.
Common Questions

FAQ

Beta reading focuses on the big picture — story flow, pacing, character consistency, age-appropriateness, and overall readability. Proofreading focuses on the line level — spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Most authors benefit from both. If you're unsure which service fits your project, feel free to email me and we'll figure it out together.
I work with children's books (picture books, early readers, chapter books), flash fiction, short stories, novellas, and full-length novels. All fiction genres are accepted — romance, paranormal romance, horror, thriller, mystery, cozy mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, historical fiction, humor, and beyond. I also work with select nonfiction.
The Publication-Ready service is designed specifically for writers who want to publish their fiction as an e-book or on a digital platform. It combines proofreading (spelling, grammar, punctuation) with editorial feedback — I'll flag story and plot issues, note pacing problems, and point out character inconsistencies, all in a summary letter alongside your line-edited manuscript. You'll walk away knowing exactly what's working and what to address before you hit publish.
Manuscripts within 10% of a tier's word count are accepted at that tier's rate — no extra charge. If your manuscript exceeds a tier by more than that, I'll let you know before starting whether it fits the next tier up or needs a custom quote. No surprise charges, ever.
All bookings are made directly through this site. Email me to discuss your project, or submit your free 500-word assessment above to get started. Once we confirm your project details, I'll send a secure PayPal or Stripe invoice — no third-party accounts needed. Not sure which service is right for you? Book a free 30-minute discovery call.
Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) is preferred, especially for proofreading — it allows me to use tracked changes so you can see every correction and comment. I also accept Google Docs and PDF. Google Docs works great for collaborative feedback, and PDF is accepted for beta reads.
Absolutely — first-time authors are very welcome. I'll walk you through the process clearly and make sure every piece of feedback feels supportive, not overwhelming. My goal is to make you feel like a collaborator, not a student.
The editorial work — proofreading, story feedback, pacing, character consistency — is the same regardless of your chosen format, so the Publication-Ready service covers e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers, and mass market paperbacks. What changes by format is the guidance I include in your editorial summary letter. I'll flag things specific to your format: for example, how dialogue-heavy scenes read differently in e-book versus print, or how chapter length affects pacing in a physical book. I'll also point you toward formatting resources for your chosen platform — whether that's Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, or another distributor — so you know exactly what to do with your manuscript once the editorial work is done. Formatting itself (page layout, margins, font specs, image placement) is a separate step handled by a book formatter or designer, and I can recommend trusted resources for that.
If anything in my report is unclear or you want to discuss a specific note, I'm always happy to follow up at no extra charge. I stand behind the quality of my work and want every author to feel the service was worth the investment.
Your manuscript is always kept confidential, and you retain full ownership and copyright at every stage — nothing about working with me changes that. You can read the full plain-language terms on my Editorial Services Agreement page.
Ready to Get Started?

Let's bring your story to life.

You've worked hard on your story. Now let's make sure it's ready to impress. Book directly with me — no third-party accounts needed.

How to Book ✦

Email me to discuss your project and I'll send a secure PayPal or Stripe invoice once we confirm the details. Not sure where to start? Submit your free 500-word assessment above, or book a free discovery call below.

✉️ Email Me to Book Directly

Secure payment via:

🔒 Secure payment through PayPal.com or Stripe.com — you'll see The Author's Back Office business details before you pay. I'll send your invoice with the exact amount after we've discussed your manuscript.
Not sure yet? Book a free 30-minute discovery call first →
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