I am registered and training with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, but only currently offer beta reading services.
Now a published author, over sixteen years ago I began beta-reading other writers' works. I've been doing it on-and-off since then, helping both aspiring and published authors. I began beta-reading more seriously three years ago, and over the years, I've helped countless authors with their projects. Please, check out my testimonials below, they speak for themselves, and many contain links to the actual authors and/or their books.
I'm supportive, encouraging, but bluntly honest. My beta-reads are similar to developmental assistance provided by writing mentors, and I alter my approach depending on your requirements. I have experience assisting with first-drafts (alpha-reads) and well polished manuscripts.
I have 32k followers on X (formerly Twitter)
I'm very involved in the writers' community there, and have a solid reputation.
@NathanJonesBook.
If you're interested in my help, email the first couple of chapters of your novel to nathanjpj@hotmail.com, and I'll reply with an assessment of how I can help you.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see published books I've contributed to.
BETA-READ PACKAGE
£1.40 per 1k words
(£112 for 80,000 words)
I spend a month with each client. First, I give your manuscript a rapid speed-read then start again. As I work through more slowly, I make inline comments on any minor potential improvements I spot and I highlight any errors I find, in a similar vein to a proofread. On a second document I make longer notes on each chapter covering more complex issues; highlighting the good, and discussing any potential issues. I'm quite blunt but always encouraging and constructive.
At the end I write a summary, which is usually several thousand words, covering most of the major elements; plot, character development,
logic, conflict, style, language, voice, setting, dialogue, plot, pacing, info dumps, sensitivity, descriptions, etc. I don't generally interfere with a writer's style or prose preferences, as they're sacrosanct as far as I'm concerned - in fact, I'll try to help you preserve your own approach to storytelling and keep you consistent throughout.
Send your sample to nathanjpj@hotmail.com
July, 2023
"An honest, comprehensive beta-reading service that pulls no punches in helping the author improve their story.
The beta-reading service I received from Nathan Jones has been exceptional from the point of view of helping me move from an adequate draft to a finished, polished novel. His comments were not only intelligent and insightful but also (sometimes brutally) honest – if he didn’t think something worked, he didn’t tiptoe around it. His clarity in highlighting the parts of the novel that hit the mark and the parts that were either too ambiguous or – in some cases – contradictory or confusing allowed me to cut through the fog that had arisen during the editing process and do what needed to be done to make the story better.
Nathan’s understanding of the nuances of storytelling comes through in the extensive notes and comments he made and I have gained a better understanding of my novel as a result – and indeed some great ways to improve it. Given the quality (and quantity) of the feedback Nathan provided, his beta-reading service would have offered great value at five times the fee.
I would strongly recommend Nathan’s beta-reading service to any author who is serious about improving their novel before either self-publishing or sending it to agents. But don’t expect a constant series of pats on the back. Yes, there were plenty of very encouraging comments, but it has been the honest and concise criticisms of the sections/chapters/ideas that didn’t work that have been the most useful.
Thank you."
DLC Hanson, author of The Inimitable Miss Crace
June, 2023
"I can't begin to say enough good things about Nathan and the service he provides as a professional beta reader. He was very honest and professional with his assessment of my manuscript, pointing out things I completely missed - things I could change to make my book even better.
Having never had a beta reader or even a professional editor before, I didn't know what to expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised and so very grateful. From general grammar to punctuation to whole scene suggestions, Nathan has a keen sense of what works, what doesn't and how to improve my work that readers would appreciate and enjoy. His feedback is worth its weight in gold.
Being traditionally published is getting harder and harder, making it stressful to be an indie author and self-publish. He pointed out not only negatives (which is the point of having a beta reader!) but the positives as well, which was exactly what I needed to improve my work which in turn, boosted my self-confidence.
The work he did on this first book of a five-book series was invaluable and I was most fortunate to work with him on this project. I look forward to working with Nathan on the rest of the series in the future."
Shea Gibson, author of Tree Guardians and the Endless Bog (Tree Guardians series)
May, 2023
" I was hesitant to pay for a beta reader; I’d used friends and family, but the feedback was only helpful in stoking my ego. I needed someone outside my circle and some ‘real’ feedback. I’d read the testimonials for Nathan and took a punt. So glad I did, as the feedback has been invaluable. Not only did I get the manuscript back with helpful track change edits (and wow, the grammar help, thank you!) but also extra inline comments that helped me rethink my wording. On top of that, I received a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Having someone give you their insights as they read each chapter was fascinating to see almost real-time reactions to your story, and the extra advice was great. While Nathan openly admitted romantic elements weren’t really his forte, he offered a professional approach to the whole manuscript and a final detailed summary focusing on plot, pacing, grammar, and info dumps. The work he put in as a ‘beta reader’ (more like a line editor!) has been so helpful, and I hope to continue working with him on future projects. "
Jessica Pankhurst, author of Heart of A'dara
"As a first-time novelist, I was anxious about getting a "serious" beta read done on my baby. How ugly would Nathan think it was? At the same time, I knew I needed to break out of the bubble of other readers who'd run their eyes over the manuscript and get an independent, honest assessment of where I was with my writing. Nathan provided fantastic, actionable feedback, highlighting issues I needed to think further about, identifying what did and didn't work for him, and providing thoughtful, considered, summary comments on my work. He asked great questions about what I was doing and why, and gave me a lot to work with on my next draft. For the level of feedback and valuable advice Nathan gave me, his service was excellent value for money, and if I ever get my next novel finished, I'll be heading his way again!"
Tony Neilson, author of Terra Incognita
April, 2023
"As a new writer, I was swamped with conflicting options of who to ask for their professional beta reading services. I didn’t really have any experience and wasn’t in a group of writers to ask. Luckily I was on Twitter and been gathering pace in connecting with fellow writers.
Nathan and I had been following each other on Twitter for a while and I regularly chuckled at his tweets. I decided to message him and have an informal chat as to what he offers. Needless to say I was convinced and decided to book myself a slot.
The process was easy and frictionless; I sent him some sample material, he had a look and wanted to know more, so the ball was now rolling.
I sent him the manuscript, he read it in the stated time, which is longer than normal beta readers, but for a very good reason: Nathan gives an in-depth feedback, more in line with editing services. I was elated with what I received back and to be fair to him, he was brutally honest where I needed him to be. Sometimes you can look at your manuscript through rose tinted glasses, and family/friends can blow smoke up your ass unless you have one of “those” family members. My ass was full of smoke and I needed some honesty.
Nathan has a similar sense of humour as I do and I was happy he took my manuscript. His suggestions have all been taken on board, and in most cases I believe the re-edit has worked a treat on my manuscript. It must have, as I was recently told that my entry into the Page Turner Awards – Writing Award – was taken forward to the finalist stage.
Shrek has layers, like onions, but Nathan knows his onions. As long as he’ll have my work and has room, I’ll definitely be using his services again.
Darren Roberts, author of The Correctors
March, 2023
"I’d never used a professional beta reader before. In the past I would have family or friends read one of my drafts and I’d always get the canned responses: “That was great”, “Nice job”, et cetera. It was okay feedback for the ego, but they weren’t going to tell me where I went wrong, or if something in the story wasn’t working.
I sent my manuscript to Nathan earlier this year. His review and the recommendations he made have been indispensable in writing my final draft. He wrote a detailed section on every chapter and made notes in the margins of the manuscript itself. Nathan has a way of gathering parts of your story and showing them to you from different angles: what works, what doesn’t, and ways to make the good parts even better.
I am very grateful for his help, and I’ll definitely be returning for more when book two is ready!"
Joe Rivet, author of From Dust
February, 2023
"Nathan was great to work with. I live in the United States and with him being in the United Kingdom, I couldn't tell he wasn't American. He was very professional, passionate and understanding when it came to the needs of my novel. Nathan was honest and upfront about what he could do for me. Before the process he provided me with a sample that fueled me to want to work with him. It gave me peace of mind knowing he could get this done. It instilled confidence in me. The updates he gave me throughout the process helped a lot. It was not always business. I got to learn a some things about him as he did with me. His service was top notch. I got my novel back within a month and it was a really good read. It was good to see how he kept my same tone while changing verbiage around. Nathan was great overall. I will definitely use his services again when it's time to edit my next project. Thank you Nathan for contributing to the success of my novel."
Anthony Speights, author of Back to Love
January, 2023
"Nathan’s feedback was invaluable in helping with the editing of my novel before I started the agent querying process. In addition to his page by page comments and his overall analysis of plotting, character and pacing, I found his observations at the end of each chapter really helpful to get an insight into how the reader was thinking at each point. It helped to know if the reader's reaction or feeling at the end of each chapter was on a par with what I wanted, or if the plot needed some clarity, or the pacing had slowed, or if the cliff hangers and red herrings I had built in were working, or if the characters were fleshed out enough for the reader to care about them. All-in-all, I would thoroughly recommend him to any author looking for honest and actionable feedback on their work."
Shane McGinley, author of The Hero Teacher of Loughroe
"Nathan is without a doubt one of the best beta readers I've had the pleasure to work with. After receiving my first feedback from him I already became a better writer, thanks to his insightful and detailed comments. I've already booked in more time with Nathan."
Peter-Shaun Tyrell, author of The Oath and Blood Prince series
December, 2022
"I am so happy I contacted Nathan to beta read/edit the novel I have been writing on and off for the past decade or so. I finally arrived at the point when I needed a set of eyes who I did not know to read the novel.
[Nathan] did more than just beta read. In my view, he did a full edit of the novel and at an affordable fee. He did a thorough run through for basic grammar and wording issues and flagged bits that were a bit confusing to him and required more explanation. Nathan also created a document giving an overview of what he thought about each chapter–what needed to be worked on and what was good. Both documents have been extremely helpful, and I have applied almost all his suggestions. It is obvious he took the time to delve into my story and give constructive feedback when needed but in a timely manner. His edits and suggestions were neither overbearing nor just quick surface skims.
I would highly recommend Nathan’s beta/editing services to anyone at the editing phase of their novel/story and not hesitate one bit to use his services again for any of my future work."
Brian Wood-Koiwa, author of Flowers Wilt
"I was impressed by how thoroughly Nathan examined my manuscript, giving feedback on both small details as well as big picture issues that needed addressing. I appreciated that he was honest but encouraging, even checking in to see how things were going afterwards. If you're looking for a beta who will give you thoughtful, fair feedback then Nathan is your guy."
Sarah Grundy, author of Bird of Passage
November, 2022
"The writer's craft is a lonely one, and it is easy to lose perspective on your work. The cliché is that you can no longer see the wood from the trees, but for a writer it can work the other way around too--you know the story you want to tell, but lose your focus in the telling. Enter Nathan Jones, writer, reader, banisher of clichés, destroyer of confusion. He works as a peer, and yet his eye is peerless - he can see details that you have missed, and threads of the structure that you never even realised were there. His comments are always honest, yet unfailingly sympathetic - he's a writer himself of course - but it is his perspective as a reader that is most valuable. He can parse the rhythm of a good read and offer perspective on where the reader's patience is tested, what works and what doesn't. I cannot recommend his services enough, his input (his full service offer, I must add) has been invaluable in the development of my own work in progress. Put it this way - if he had provided feedback on this testimonial, it would be shorter, wittier, and more to the point. Hire the man and you won't feel so lonely in your craft any more."
Johannes Walker, author of The Lost Place and The Lonely King
"Nathan is without a doubt one of the best beta readers I've had the pleasure to work with. After receiving my first feedback from him I already became a better writer, thanks to his insightful and detailed comments. I've already booked in more time with Nathan."
Peter-Shaun Tyrell, author of The Oath and Blood Prince series
October, 2022
"Nathan's work was nothing but thorough. He provided every item of service as promised, providing amazing feedback on my novel-in-progress. I wholeheartedly agree with Nathan's self-description of his work as "more of a developmental edit" than a beta read. This is certainly true. His chapter-by-chapter and post-reading comments have been tremendously helpful to me as I revise and edit the work. He is incredibly approachable and provides continuing service after reading and critiquing the work, answering any follow-up questions an author might have. I would recommend his beta reading services to any author, aspiring or not, to produce the best work possible. "
- Jordan Lavender, author of A Darkness Rising
September, 2022
"Nathan should be charging A LOT MORE for his betas; has the skills and knowledge of an editor."
- Jan Phillips, author of Marcus Aurelius.
"I've barely started reading the notes [Nathan gave] me and so far [he's] provided a lot more help than the development editor I paid a lot of money for."
- Bryn Landt, author of Taured.
Older
"Nathan Jones has all the qualities needed for a great beta reader:
I am presently in the process of rewriting my manuscript and I am sure that, thanks to Nathan, it is going to be much better than it was."
- Dave Appleby, author of Bally and Bro
"[I] went through [Nathan's] breakdown and found it more helpful than I'd expected. His comments on pacing were illuminating. I've had complaints, here and there, about action segments that no one else was able to articulate well. I think you nailed the problem. Now that I know the issue, I can fix it. I'm new to this field, so these pointers were much appreciated. He's clearly a professional, and I'd like to continue with his services (after extensive work)."
- Joe Svoboda, author of Ashes of Ataraxy
"Nathan's beta read of my novel Head Wounds was thorough and really constructive. He clearly read it at least twice and thought seriously about the novel's structure and story progression, about character development, language and sense. He has been a great help in making the novel more readable and engaging."
- Lyle Closs, author of Head Wounds
"With some beta readers, I cringe inwardly as I go read the suggestions. Not with Nathan. He presented things in such a way that I felt encouraged to change it rather than defensive or insecure. His analysis was thorough and on point. I felt like my book took a giant step in coherence and quality after the post-Nathan rewriting."
- Wes Hubert, author of The Lechapel Gambit
"Nathan’s beta read was not only thorough, but insightful. He provided in-text commentary along with chapter and novel summaries, diving deep into structure & style, language & voice, setting, dialogue, character, and plot. His critiques were spot on, constructive, and gave me the guidance I needed to strengthen my story. Intuitively, my story felt a little flat, like it was missing something I couldn’t quite place, but, thanks to Nathan, I now have what I need to add those missing dimensions and make the story burst from the pages. "
- Jeremy LaFrance, author of The Divided World
"[Nathan] was able to provide me with constructive criticism, giving observations that were spot on. In addition he supported his critiques with suggestions on how I could improve certain issues, and was happy to bounce development ideas with me. [...] if you get the opportunity for him to read your work, snatch his hand off."
- Lisa Thomas, author of Karma's Apprentice
"Nathan's feedback was of absolute use and clarity. I feel utterly in debt to him. I am so happy with his constructive criticism and feel as though I have my vision back concerning my novella."
- Whitney Moon, author of Hotel Ofsomesort
"[Nathan] provided overall comments and some examples by chapter on how each could be improved. By doing it that way, his beta review not only made it easier for me to understand but put me on the right road to being a better writer.”
- J Michael Samuel, author of Until I Say Good-Bye
"If you're seeking an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and imaginative beta reader, I recommend Nathan Jones."
- Alex Austin, author of End Man
"Nathan was an extremely attentive, thoughtful, thorough beta reader. He gave me detailed feedback about each chapter, as well as about the book as a whole. He was also receptive to questions about his feedback. I felt supported and energized as I went back to the book to make changes based on his comments."
- Fran Laniado, author of Frost
"I've been trying to avoid beta readers for the longest time after receiving nothing but criticism (not always the constructive kind), and hearing other beta reader horror stories. I asked for Nathan's help because he offered an opportunity I didn't want to let pass. I was pleasantly surprised with his feedback. He didn't do his very best to blow holes in my story, but offered genuine feedback by pointing out historical inaccuracies, reader hardships, plot holes and grammatical errors. He also had some positive feedback to give, telling me what worked well and which characters he liked. It's a breath of fresh air to have a reader with a goal to fix the story, and not tear it down."
- Minette Bester, author of The Prince of Nixabar
"Nathan provided great insight to my plot regarding pacing, flow, and development, he's given me much to reflect on!"
- Chris Thompson, author of La Signora
"Nathan wa a fantastic beta-reader. He gave superb advice regarding my characters, pacing, world building, story plot holes and much much more. He provided feedback chapter by chapter so I was easily able to recognise where improvement was needed. He was so encouraging and enthusiastic about my work that he has motivated me to continue working on my novel and get it ready for publishing. I felt relaxed and didn't hesitate to ask him any further questions. I round recommend Nathan as a beta-reader any day."
- Lauren Clisby, author of Thornhill Lodge
"Nathan exposed areas of weakness in my plot, helping tighten up my story to be the best it could be. Combined with the praise for my strengths, it was a very helpful experience working with him. I'd highly recommend."
- Brett Rushing, author of Trinity
"Very insightful and helpful. A fresh look on things. Nathan makes good points from a reader's perspective."
- Celine Christiansen & Savanna Luth, auhtors of The Earth Laughs in Flowers
"I found Nathan's beta read of my novel to be extremelt thorough and detailed, so much so that it helped me develop more ideas to improve the novel. Most of all he was encouraging for me. A really valuable experience for me."
Khurram Elahi, author of The Group
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Many thanks to Wendy Aldwyn @artist_wen for the image. wendyaldwyn.com
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