I have a co-worker. Yes, yes, I have a couple of “real” jobs that I drive to, and they have co-workers, but I mean at home. There’s a co-worker here. I’m never really alone.
We know Writer Island is your very favorite source for beta reading services! We read your unpublished manuscript with that special combination of readerly pleasure in discovering your story and a sharp eye for the missing details or jarring notes that need adjustment.
Some novels require a great deal of research (looking at you, historical fiction!), but the truth is, every novel needs a little fact-checking. In some cases, you’ll be hiring a researcher, but in most cases, you are your own professional researcher. And to a researcher, the most valuable partner is an expert in Library and Information Science, a.k.a., your local librarian.
When I talk to my friends about beta reading, sometimes one will say, “Well, I could just read my own book! Why would I hire a beta reader?” Well, with a beta reader, you’ve acquired a second set of eyes. Generally, you only have the pair in your head, and they are attached to your own brain. Your amazing brain, which created your fabulous work of fiction, is completely familiar with the story you wrote.