Alpha Reading
Base rate: $35/10,000 words*
- Turnaround is generally 5 business days, subject to availability
- Includes manuscript evaluation with a comprehensive editorial letter (10-20+ pages based on need) addressing your story, character development, plot, pacing, structure, tone, and world-building (if applicable) and a 30-minute follow-up meeting
If you've landed on this page after reading about developmental editing with Dark Star Lit, you’ll probably be relieved to discover that alpha reading is offered at a flat rate of $35 per 10,000 words.
*Based on a novel’s word count, the cost equates to:
100,000 words = $350
80,000 words = $280
60,000 words = $210
40,000 words = $140
Developmental editing is expensive but there's no reason why any author shouldn't be able to access the assistance they need.
I like to think of an alpha read as a Developmental Edit Lite.
An alpha read includes:
- A full read-through of your manuscript, of course (it does not have to be complete)
- Manuscript evaluation with a comprehensive editorial letter addressing your story, character development, plot, pacing, structure, tone, and world-building (if applicable)
An alpha read does not include:
- In-draft margin notes or suggestions
- Grammatical changes
- Proofreading
- Editing of any kind
Think of an alpha read as a big-picture evaluation before you proceed with further edits or writing if your manuscript is unfinished.
Schedule An Alpha Read With Dark Star Lit
Benefits Of Working With A Professional Alpha Reader
Right about now, you might be wondering if hiring an alpha reader is even worth it.
Why pay someone to read your book when you’ve got family or friends who will do it for free?
As any author who has worked with volunteer readers can tell you, you'll likely wait weeks or months for feedback—if you receive it at all. On the other hand, paid alpha readers examine your work and provide timely feedback like it's their job—because it is.
Additionally, although your friends or family can (and should!) read your work and offer feedback as an end-reader would, many will struggle to provide the deep insight needed to improve upon your story’s structure, pacing, character development, plot, or world-building.
This can be (at least in part) because they’re not writers themselves, but the main reason is that they know you personally. They’re your biggest champions already—the cheering squad standing on the sidelines, screaming your name as you race toward your goal.
Love you as they do, the last thing they’ll want to do is hurt your feelings.
At best, they might hold back extensive critique or only offer some minor suggestions to avoid coming across as being overly critical of your work.
At worst, they might tell you every last word is wonderful—even if it isn’t.
A professional alpha reader wants to see you succeed just as much as your loved ones do. Still, they’re objective enough to focus on the story alone and provide thorough, unbiased critique—without worrying about feeling awkward around you at the next social event.
(But don’t worry—critique is delivered with tact and compassion in these parts.)
Schedule An Alpha Read With Dark Star Lit
