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Hello Ellen,I would be interested in have a proofreader and a beta reader for my novel: Because the Demons Scream So Loudly. The novel is 117k words. It is literary fiction- it is a slow burn, introspective, pensive novel. It is an epistolary novel- it is written completely in journal/diary format. The novel is a mixed bag of religion/spirituality/romance/vampiric elements.
Excerpt: Entry 148- I still don't know how I managed it, Holy Sonom Soeht; the mind is indeed a powerful thing. My mind had already started to dissociate as the bleeder ran up to me, pinned me on the ground, and sunk his teeth into my neck. I fixed my eyes on the emerging moon as blood dripped down the back of my neck. The night lights blurred with tears but did not disappear. Not a single muscle of mine moved as he released my neck and stood up. To my shock, the bleeder spoke then as my gaze remained pinned on the sky. “It’s been quite a long time since I drew blood without a fight, and from a god woman to boot.” I heard him pick up my broken cleric chain off the ground. His foot pushed against my still frozen face as he stood over me, dangling my chain from his hand. “Such a shame that misery and naivety are not virtues,” he declared with blood still on his lips. The chain fell on the dirt beside me. As I listened to his footsteps turn and leave me, he hollered, “A word of advice, woman. If I can smell the insincerity on you, don’t you think your omniscient deity can?” I’m not sure how many minutes passed after he left, with me still paralyzed on the ground weeping.
As far as proofreading, I would be interested in any corrections/feedback on anything from grammar to sentence structure to spelling to general readability to etc. As far as beta reading feedback, I am looking for developmental feedback- pacing, plot construction, character development, reader satisfaction, etc. If you are interested in proof reading or beta reading or both, just let me know! Please feel free to ask me any additional questions. Thank you so very much for your valuable time in considering it!
Hi there,My name is Mary and I have a manuscript for a novel called "Mullo". I am looking for beta readers to read and critique it, and I saw your advertisement in a Goodreads "Beta Reader Group". I would describe "Mullo" as historical fiction, horror, romance. It goes back and forth between a story that takes place in the past and one that takes place in the present. Here is a blurb I wrote for it:
"THEN
In 19th century Romania, death is always just around the corner. Zorya, a Roma healer woman, knows this well. But when a stranger unexpectedly calls on her expertise, she, her husband, and her children, find themselves in a place they were once forbidden from entering. But even as their life becomes more stable and prosperous, it may only take one tragedy for things to fall apart."
"NOW
Nick Alicea isn’t having a bad day. He’s having a bad life. Stuck in a dead-end job, drowning in debt, and haunted by a tragedy from his past, he's struggling. So, when a chance encounter leads to a friendship with Mirza Durvari, a quiet doctor with a mysterious illness, Nick’s life starts to seem a little less bleak. But even as their relationship becomes more intimate, Nick is forced to ask himself: Who is Mirza Durvari"
The entire manuscript is 125,000 words. Let me know if you are interested in beta reading.
Looking forward to hearing from you..
~Mary
Hello, I have an untitled manuscript that is complete. It is 62K words and is a YA Sc-fi novel. It describes how easily it is for authoritarianism to be set up. and then how an unlikely band takes it down by winning hearts and minds. It has key themes of what order really means, not judging a book by its cover and redemption. It stays away, or tries to, from sci-fi tropes and is clean, but does have a little violence (no blood or gore). If you'd be interested I would be honored to have you read my manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Heath
Just want to post this: Shoutout to Ellen for her outstanding workmanship.
She proofread and beta read my book Lies I Can’t Unsee—and she didn’t disappoint. Ellen communicates clearly and effectively, often providing feedback in easy-to-digest bullet points. Her attention to detail is top-notch, and her insights helped strengthen both the flow and the clarity of the manuscript. Reliable, thorough, and professional—Ellen is the kind of collaborator every author hopes to find.
She’s a rare find. Integrity is hard to come by these days, and Ellen is an integrity in action.
Wow. Thanks, Jane! Glad I was able to help
Ellen wrote: "Seeking an opportunity to enjoy your work on a pro-bono basis, in exchange for feedback and experience to develop my skills in beta and/or proofreading. My experience at this time is limited to t..."
Hi Ellen,
Would appreciate if you can beta read my manuscript. It's 90k words.
Blurb:
SHYLO – A high-stakes thriller of survival, betrayal, and the fight for freedom.
Brodie Ryman’s life implodes when a routine trip for milk erupts into a deadly gang shootout. Forced to kill in self-defence, he loses everything—his freedom, his future, the life he once knew. Sent to Shylo, a secretive off-grid prison with no memory of how he got there, escape seems impossible—until an unexpected breach changes everything.
Fleeing into the unforgiving realm beyond Shylo’s walls, Brodie must outlast ruthless enemies and brutal terrain to reach Domain X, the facility’s hidden control centre, before time runs out. But as he unearths the truth, one chilling realisation takes hold—freedom has a price, and Shylo was only the beginning.
From the desolate sands of an uncharted prison to the dark corridors of a global conspiracy, SHYLO is a pulse-pounding thriller that explores the cost of freedom and the fight against an invisible enemy. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Hugh Howey, and Mark Greaney, this electrifying debut will keep you on edge until the very last page.
Let me know if you have the time to help, will be much appreciated. Thank you. Max
Ms. wrote: "Hi there,My name is Mary and I have a manuscript for a novel called "Mullo". I am looking for beta readers to read and critique it, and I saw your advertisement in a Goodreads "Beta Reader Group"..."
Oooh, that sounds like fun! I sent you a friend request - let's connect and we can email to engage privately.
Heath wrote: "Hello, I have an untitled manuscript that is complete. It is 62K words and is a YA Sc-fi novel. It describes how easily it is for authoritarianism to be set up. and then how an unlikely band take..."
Heath,
I sent you a friend request, but I'm not sure about the YA genre; I generally prefer the movies :) I like the plot though. Sorry, but I don't think I'd do your work justice.
Madasser wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Seeking an opportunity to enjoy your work on a pro-bono basis, in exchange for feedback and experience to develop my skills in beta and/or proofreading. My experience at this time i..."
Madasser wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Seeking an opportunity to enjoy your work on a pro-bono basis, in exchange for feedback and experience to develop my skills in beta and/or proofreading.
My experience at this time i..."
Max,
It sounds like a great plot, but not my genre. Plus I wouldn't want to make you wait for me; I'm ready to begin one and have requested another at the moment. Thanks for your interest !
I have a completed sci-fi/mystery book if you're interested.80,000 words over 33 chapters.
A mysterious mercenary is hired by an anonymous backer to help a detective solve an unofficial case of children going missing in the slums of Vyrnathys, the capitol city of Saurath. Mystery, violence, rescue and even a sword duel at the end.
It's a mix of the familiar and the new as far as technology goes. I tried going with a more of a gritty, realistic feel with this story, using advanced technology only when it's really practical and not just because it's cool, shiny or glows. In fact, things are decidedly not shiny and almost nothing glows.
The people are pretty much like it is now, just with more advanced tech available to them. (no smartphones though!) I also tried to keep the tropes to a minimum, using them only if needed.
Not everything gets resolved in the first book, leaving some minor cliffhangers meant to be resolved with the overarching plot of the book series.
Let me know if you're interested. I really need another set of eyes that aren't familiar with the full story to give me an unbiased view of the book.
Hey James,Sorry for the lag in replying. I've just completed a long one and am in the midst of another. Can you share a brief sample? You can "friend" me here on GoodReads if you don't want to share it publicly here on this thread. It will be another week or so before I can get started on your manuscript...thanks!
Ellen recently completed proof-reading for my manuscript. I was impressed! I had already had a thorough proofreading process done for my manuscript in the past, but Ellen found multiple errors that the original proofreader had missed. My manuscript is sharper and better because of her time and knowledgeable eye! I recommend her for proofreading help!
Ellen wrote: "Hey James,Sorry for the lag in replying. I've just completed a long one and am in the midst of another. Can you share a brief sample? You can "friend" me here on GoodReads if you don't want to sh..."
Friend request sent and I'll send you the first two chapters on google docs to see if you'd be interested.
There's no real rush so take your time.
Hello Ellen, I was wondering if you're still up for betareading. I have a historical adult fantasy that's currently on the query trenches and I just want to get more feedback since I'm still not getting any requests. Here's the query:Chieftain Lapulapu’s two wives both desire the other’s death. Possibly his as well.
He marries his second wife, Alunsina, the princess of aghoys, earning him bountiful harvests through their power over nature. He accomplished what nobody else in their archipelago could to earn their favor. He vanquished his island of aswangs, humans they cursed into beasts for crimes against nature, now mutated beyond control. But rumors spread that Lapulapu harbors those few tamed aswangs who could shapeshift back into humans. Of course, the chieftain denies them.
That’s why he could almost cut his own tongue after discovering his first wife Mayari has been hiding, right on his bed, as an aswang. Her allies secretly lured most of those beasts who couldn’t shapeshift back to humans off the island, hence Alunsina’s favor. Lapulapu’s whole victory is a lie. But his marriage to Mayari is out of love, not politics. Otherwise, he’d have executed her already.
With the aghoys now entangled around him, Lapulapu is forced by Mayari to convince Alunsina to sacrifice their powers and gift aswangs their full humanity back. But Alunsina’s kind will never yield. They will bury not only Mayari, but also Lapulapu, for conspiring with her. Thrust between two warring factions, he bribes her, sustains her disguise, anything to conserve Alunsina’s blessings. But Mayari’s allies tease their presence by burning what Alunsina holds dear the most—nature itself—driving Lapulapu to seek an aghoy sympathetic to Mayari, if one even exists.
At the height of their conflict, a conquistador named Magellan drops anchor in a mission to colonize the islands. With his fateful arrival, Lapulapu must decide—whether he’s for humans, aghoys, aswangs, or the whole archipelago.
Let me know if you are interested, thanks! You could also contact me on jamespvictor96@gmail.com
Sounds like a fun read, James. I'm looking forward to it! That said, I'm halfway through a beta and need to finish it in good conscience before moving on to yours.Let's communicate over email from here. I've accepted your friend request here on GoodReads, but let's take it offline to protect your work from here.
Will send you an email so you can share the GoogleDocs link.
Ellen wrote: "Seeking an opportunity to enjoy your work on a pro-bono basis, in exchange for feedback and experience to develop my skills in beta and/or proofreading. My experience at this time is limited to t..."
Hi, Ellen!
If you're interested, I have a manuscript ~69k words long that is a new adult historical thriller with an enemies-to-lovers subplot! I would love to have it proofread and polished up. Here's the summary:
May 10th, 1923. Haunted “detective,” Robin Kellett, prevents a girl from shooting a man in the metropolitan street. Intercepting this girl sends Robin back to work despite her sabbatical. What looks like an alcohol ring amidst the prohibition quickly tears open Robin’s festering wounds as she is again chasing the Masaki crime family. The unlikely pair seeks justice through the unorthodox protocols of Robin’s secretive employer.
As an elusive stranger claims to have information about her missing brother, and the Masaki heir, Benjiro, reveals himself, can Robin seize the chance to redeem her past mistakes? Corruption, extortion, poison, and the Charleston are all common dances in Noxbourne, and Robin must navigate the floor while the Masaki song plays. As the music picks up speed, will Robin delight in the rhythm for the first time in two years? Even with the loss of her brother? Even with the loss of her left hand?
Thank you so much for your time and consideration!
Hi Ellen!If you're interested, I have a 95k sci-fi called "The Shadow of Tarensa." I'll post a summary below!
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Norra has dreamt for years of finding someone like her, but her adoptive parents have never allowed her to leave her hometown. Life is hard enough for a teenage girl, and it’s even harder when you have no idea who you are or where you came from. Lacking anything normal like claws or feathers, her gangly limbs and flat face set her apart in any crowd.
Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Norra has a chance to get out into the real world during her rite of passage journey, with hopes of finally fitting in. However, everything changes when she is kidnapped by a warrior race called the R’caesa, who plan on taking her back to their capital city. While Norra is plotting her escape, she meets another one of their prisoners: a mysterious, shrouded man known only as “the Shadow” whose people, as legends say, came from another world. Norra has always wanted to see a human in real life since she has never really believed the stories about their godlike silver skin and flying ships.
Eventually, Norra is able to make an escape, taking the Shadow along with her. But, even after he’s free, why won’t he lift his veil?
(P.S. If it isn't clear in the summary, Norra is a human too.)
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Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in. Thank you!
Hi Lydia,Your manuscript looks interesting for a beta read, thanks! As of this week, I've altered my approach and am pursuing proofreading as a paid gig. THAT SAID, you read the older post/blurb I'd written so I'll do the proofing for you too (pro-bono this time). It's a hat I can't remove anyway ;-) If you like my proofing work, we can collaborate on a future work of yours for a fee. Sound right? Beta is free either way. If you want to proceed, send me a friend request so we can communicate via email from here.
Note: I have a beta lined up to start next week; are you on a deadline?
Thanks,
Ellen
Hi Kelly,Sounds like a good read for sure. I have another beta starting next week, and potentially another behind it. Are you on a deadline?
Thanks,
Ellen
Hi Ellen,Thank you! I would like to have feedback within the next month or two if possible, but I will understand if it takes longer
Title: Out of the AshesWord count: 111,730
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Beta Start: 8/19/2025
Beta End: 9/16/2025
Sign-up: https://michaeljsullivan.survey.fm/ou...
Description:
WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER THE WORLD ENDS?
Following the destruction of the capital city of Percepliquis, this question plagued every Imperial citizen, but the choices made by three simple people will change the future forever. One decided she didn’t deserve to die. Another resolved to be the ruler he was meant to be. And the third went in search of a nefarious, wizard called Esrahaddon.
Visit the world of Elan in the last days of the dying Novronian Empire. Witness the destruction and turmoil of a fading dream but stay because there is one last hope that is trying to crawl . . . out of the ashes.
In this debut novel, a devotee of the New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan proves why Michael was wise to trust a complete unknown with his cherished multi-series saga. Through this first book in the After the Fall series, you’ll learn the truth about the day Percepliquis fell and witness the birth of a new literary star.
Thank you very much Ellen for your great feedback on my manuscript. Very fast reader but not in a slapdash way. Highly recommended to all inspiring authors here in Goodreads looking for excellent critique.
Hi Ellen I have a first draft of (what I would call a novella at the minute-some 46,000 words). It's a Philosophical Fantasy. "After his sudden death, ruthless corporate executive Richard Ainsworth is enrolled in a bizarre afterlife trial: 17 weeks each in Heaven, Hell, and a third realm. Guided by a celestial bureaucracy, he must confront his past, manipulate new systems, and decide his eternal fate. But as the lines between realms blur, Richard realises the trial isn't about where he's going—it's about who he's willing to become."Would you be interested in giving me your feedback on the plot and characters, as well as any other aspects of writing that you review? Cheers...Chris
James,Glad I could be of help. Good story!
Chris,A nice short read would be perfect for the commute. And I love trial-after-death fantasy. I'm committed to a rather long one at the moment so it might take a few weeks to get done. Send me your email and we can take it from there!
Hi Ellen,I'd love for you to beta read my ~50K-word thriller with a scifi bent.
Following is the blurb:
LUCID
When reality isn’t enough…
Lucid Nightscapes, Inc. has introduced the most immersive entertainment experience in history: lucid dreaming. Clients pick the time and place—a space station, medieval Europe, or a war tournament—and Lucid create dreamscapes impossible to discern from reality.
But some dreams come at a price…
A secret CIA program to track terrorists in the dreamscape has been somehow disabled, and the deaths of lucid dreamers are starting to pile up. To save the company from ruin, CEO Any Crenshaw reaches out to government contacts for help.
Assigned to the case, NSA special agents Alton and Mallory Blackwell fight to untangle the truth from the twisted realities of Lucid’s imaginary worlds…while being plunged into dreamscapes depicting horrific events from their past.
Can the husband-and-wife investigators uncover the truth before perishing in the dreamscape themselves?
I hope this catches your interest! If so, I can be reached at steve.freeman7@gmail.com.
Ellen wrote: "Seeking an opportunity to enjoy your work on a pro-bono basis, in exchange for feedback and experience to develop my skills in beta reading. I am also a paid proofreader, so proofing at least your ..."Hello, I have recently finished my Dark New Adult Fantasy book, Ashes of Revenge (96k words). I am seeking Beta Readers to either read the entire manuscript or any number of chapters you wish to read!
In the land of Corrail, five species use hate and spite to make the land a violent cesspool. Raven, a badly burned teenager, knows that better than anyone. Betrayed by her Kingdom and left for dead in enemy territory, she wants nothing but revenge against the Mundus King who betrayed her.
Helping her achieve her revenge are two other people from differing species, creating an unlikely trio: Colt, a Shifter – a species with knives hiding under their skin – who has experienced the same betrayal from his own Kingdom; and Richard, a stern Farian with massive black wings. Together, the three reign down terror on anyone who tries to stop them or destroy the Farian Kingdom, the only one of the five that opposes submitting to the bloodthirsty King of the Monstros.
However, they are set off course when a new player enters Raven’s game: Death. Using the only two people she cares about as leverage, he forces her to prematurely return to the Mundus Kingdom. But vengeance courses so fast beneath her skin that nothing can stop her from getting what she wants. Not even Death.
You can message me here or PM me or send me an email at mstegall18@gmail.com!
Thanks :)
Hi everyone,Apologies if this comes after you’ve requested a beta recently (shout out to Steven and Molly), but I’m committed to a long manuscript right now (Kelly), and need to go on a temporary hiatus thereafter to try and build my business as a proofreader.
I’ll be back for more free beta reads soon. I’ve really been enjoying your manuscripts!
If you’re looking for paid proofing in the meanwhile, you can reach me at pennypageproofreading@outlook.com A penny per word.
NOTE TO OUR MODERATORS: Let me know if that last bit is a no-no, and I’ll be glad to take it down. I’m an individual of great integrity; my intent is NOT to scam authors seeking beta reads!
Mod
My experience at this time is limited, but expanding rapidly. I have received great reviews, some of them here on this post/thread.
My tools thus far are MS Word, GoogleDocs, epub readers, Merriam-Webster and The Chicago Manual of Style. Any tools you require or suggest are fine, so long as they’re free and I can comment inline within the manuscript.
My favorite reads include historical fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and autobiography. I love comic books as well.
The theme and use of language can be anything at all. I was born and raised in a very large city and am fairly well traveled, so I tend toward interest or amusement rather than taking offense or passing judgement.
In addition to an outstanding command of English, I have sufficient background in Spanish to have beta and proofread a friend's Spanish-to-English translation of her novel.
Please message me here on Goodreads to engage.