Alpha Readers
This is not a public program.
Alpha reading is for people I know and trust. If you don’t already have a working relationship with me, this isn’t the right program — but ARC and Beta are open.
What alpha reading actually means
Alpha readers receive chapters or full drafts that are not finished. These aren’t polished manuscripts. They are early, rough, and sometimes structurally incomplete. Alpha reading is not proofreading — it’s reading at the level of story. Does the plot hold? Does the character make sense? Is something fundamentally broken?
- Reading in-progress drafts, sometimes chapter by chapter
- Giving structural feedback — pacing, character, tension, logic
- Being honest when something isn’t working, not reassuring when it is
- Keeping everything read under strict confidentiality
What it requires
This asks a lot.
You need to be comfortable sitting with rough writing. First drafts are not final drafts.
You need to give useful feedback, not reassurance. “I loved it” is not feedback.
You need to keep everything confidential. No sharing, no posting, no quoting.
You need to be available on the timeline I give you — alpha reading doesn’t work on a flexible schedule.
You need a genuine understanding of the genre and what I’m trying to do in it.
If you’ve been personally invited
You’ll receive a direct message or email with specifics about the current draft, the timeline, and what I’m looking for from your feedback. Everything you need to get started comes in that message.
Invitations are extended one project at a time. Being an alpha reader for one book doesn’t automatically carry over to the next. I re-evaluate what I need each cycle.
Other ways to get involved
Beta and ARC are open applications.
If you’re looking for an earlier entry point as a reader, Beta readers receive complete drafts and give structured feedback. ARC readers receive finished books before publication in exchange for honest reviews. Both programs are open.
Optional inquiry
If you believe we have an existing working relationship and you haven’t been reached out to, you can send a brief note. This is not an application. It’s a message.