Reminder: Need a Beta Reader?
I have 3 slots available for April 2024. Want in?
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a darn good writer. (Horn tooted!)
But, most people don’t realize how good an editor I am.
The problem is that editing takes loads of time. And it’s a total brain shift.
I typically work with academics trying to talk to lay readers. Or non-native English speakers trying to reach native-English-speaking audiences.
Anyway, as I shift into ghostwriting more and more, editing has fallen behind. So, I’ve decided to keep my skills fresh by offering beta reading services for a limited time only and for only the kinds of works that I could really help develop.
Here are the genres I can beta read (English only):
Adult/children’s fiction (no more than 200 pages - no poetry), examples include:
Picture books & early reader
YA
Memoir
Short story collections
Academic (300 pages max), topics areas include: Migration, Culture, Society, Global South, Post-colonialism, Identity/Ethnicity, Coming of Age, Psych, etc.
Adult Trade Non-Fiction (300 pages max) :
I’ll consider anything except contemporary US politics, romance, or horror.
Here’s how it works:
I’ve got 3 slots this month. After that, I’m closing up shop for 2024.
Publishers, agents, and authors can email me directly nafeesah@nafeesahallen.com with an abstract, page/word count, and author bio.
I’ll get back to you with a price and timeline for the service.
You say, yes or nah. If you say yes, we get to work.
When the service is done (usually 7 days), you’ll receive a 1-2 page reflection sheet with feedback on your draft manuscript. I will comment from the perspective of an average reader, as well as a publishing industry insider.
You hop back into the revision phase with useful insights about your audience!
Here’s what I’ve already produced, so you know my publishing cred:
Senior freelancer with bylines in BBC, Real Simple, Dwell, BHG, and more!
An academic book about migration with Palgrave
Four celebrity bios for tweens with Capstone
Five self-pub dual language children’s books: https://amzn.to/3DtgmvA
Under contract on dual language children’s book: 2025 release
In early negotiations on a second academic book: TBD
If you’ve been working on a manuscript for far too long and need a second set of eyes, reach out and let’s talk! This beta reading service is a limited-time offering, but I also proofread, edit, and ghostwrite — if you need those levels of treatment.
Reach out: nafeesah@nafeesahallen.com for next steps!
LET’S BE CLEAR: If you’re a publisher or agent looking to send me an advance reader copy for an unpaid review or unpaid media placement, this call isn’t for you.
You’re welcome to email me about that separately, but this call is to help writers get their work out to the world at the highest possible level.
If you don’t know the difference between an advance reader and a beta reader, check out this excellent article by Michelle Cornish!
