Help! My manuscript needs something, but I can’t put my finger on it.

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There are experts just waiting to give you the feedback you need to take your book from meh to must read!

Complete your draft faster

Get better input

Complete your draft faster Get better input

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Hands up if ...

  • You don’t know where to begin to find beta readers for your first novel.

  • You feel weird about asking your college roommate, your pickleball partner, or your book club bestie to be your beta readers.

  • Your Aunt Alice read your draft and hated it. But, she doesn’t even like mysteries.

  • Instead of feedback on your plot and characters, Katie from your writing group caught typos and gave you line edits.

There’s got to be a better way to elevate your novel so it is in tip top shape when you go to query agents.

You’ve worked so hard on your novel, and you know it needs something, but you just aren’t sure exactly what that something is.

You would love to find beta readers (or maybe you’re just learning that beta readers exist!), but it all seems like a big hassle.

I mean, sometimes you hardly have time to shower, much less find someone who is the perfect target audience for your book.

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You could ask your friends or family, but the last thing you want is sugarcoated feedback, and most of them don’t even read the genre you’re writing in.

Then there are the people in your writing program, but you worry they would critique your writing style instead of reacting as a typical reader would.

You've put so much work into your manuscript and you want to make it shine before you start querying agents.

Complete your draft faster

Get better input

Complete your draft faster Get better input

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You’ve come this far with your manuscript ...

but you also know that you have blind spots.

You want your manuscript to be bulletproof before starting the grueling querying process. No second chances with agents, first impressions matter.

You just want to feel confident when trying to find an agent who will sell your first book.

After all, you can already picture it on bookstore shelves!

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Don’t worry, friend, because help is on the way!

What we love most is connecting debut writers with seasoned beta readers who are passionate about the genre that you are writing in.

We provide actionable, organized  reader feedback to help you refine your first novel so you can pitch your dream agent with confidence and sell your book.

We know you’ve invested so much time and energy in getting this far in writing your first novel. You deserve a freaking medal.

Now it’s time to get it in front of vetted, expert beta readers (not just friends, family or fellow writers) to ensure you receive well-rounded and actionable feedback.

Ready to polish your manuscript?

Get insightful and actionable feedback on your manuscript. 

Special offer for Book Incubator members: a full beta read at a $200 savings!

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Here’s what the Bespoke Beta Read (BBR) Program includes:

  1. Tailored Insights: Three seasoned readers, handpicked for your specific literary genre, will dive into your manuscript and provide detailed feedback using our Beta Reader Feedback Template. You can submit up to four targeted questions to get specific answers on pressing questions you may have.

  2. Organized Feedback: All reader insights will be compiled into a comprehensive summary report, ready for you within just four weeks of submitting your manuscript and payment.

  3. Personalized Consultation: Schedule a 45-minute 1:1 Zoom consultation to discuss the feedback, ask any burning questions, and brainstorm your next steps.

You’ll also receive these bonuses:

  • Compelling Pull Quotes: Get three impactful quotes from real readers that you can showcase in your synopsis or query letter.

  • Curated Comps: A curated list of comparable titles that will help position your book in the market.

  • Reading Recommendations: A suggested reading list of must-reads in your genre to inspire and guide you.

  • Final Product Hype: When your book is published (and we’re confident it will be), we’ll read the final version and help promote it.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Beta reading is when someone reads and provides feedback on an unpublished manuscript or story before it's finalized.

    Beta readers differ from editors in that they usually provide feedback from a reader's perspective rather than technical editing. They help authors understand how their target audience might receive the work and what areas might need improvement.

  • 3 savvy readers of your specific literary genre will read your book and provide input on your draft as follows:

    • Feedback will be provided using our custom feedback template, plus you can add up to 4 additional questions that are specific to your book.

    • All reader input will be organized into a summary report for your review, which will be ready in 4 weeks from when we receive your manuscript and payment.

    • You can also schedule a 45-minute Zoom consultation to discuss feedback, ask any questions, and brainstorm.

    As a bonus, you will also get…

    • 3 pull quotes from readers about your book that could be used in a synopsis or query letter.

    • A list of possible comps for your book.

    • A suggested reading list for books in your genre.

    • When your work gets published (and we mean when!), we will happily read the final product and hype it up.

  • You will receive your feedback report and schedule your 1:1 consultation call 4 weeks from when we receive your manuscript.

    You can also pay a $500 rush fee if you need input sooner.

  • You betcha! All of our beta readers are seasoned, smart readers, who specialize in your genre and understand genre conventions, story structure, and market expectations.

  • Once payment is complete, you’ll be prompted to submit your manuscript electronically.

  • Your manuscript should be submitted as a Word doc or PDF, please.

  • We are still here for you, rooting you on as you revise your manuscript and start the querying process.

    When your book is published (and we’re confident it will be), we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

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We get it. The whole idea of getting feedback on your manuscript seems daunting and, if we’re being honest, a little bit scary.

Maybe you're afraid of harsh criticism, negative feedback, or have previously had a bad experience with unreliable and unfocused feedback.

But at Long Story, we simplify and optimize the beta reading process to provide you with clear, actionable, and timely feedback.

So you can focus on making your manuscript shine, landing your dream agent, and selling your first novel!