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Write the book you want to read. Sage advice considering you will end up reading it many, many times before submitting or publishing it. However, yours should not be the only set of eyes on your manuscript. Beta readers, critiques, sensitivity readers, and overall evaluation are key components of your writing before submitting to your editor. Read below for the services we offer and more information on each. Please use the contact form here for a free consultation, including a needs assessment and quote.
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Critiques
At Wax Seal Productions, we offer two types of critiques, complete manuscript critiques and scene or section critiques. A critique is also known as a critical analysis. The purpose of a critique is to review the work to determine readability, how well points are made, what issues may be overlooked, and to ensure the work fits the author's intended flow and format. In short, critiques look at the work from a writer's perspective, looking for craft issues. With Wax Seal Productions, a full critique falls under Manuscript Evaluation and has a fee involved (see below for more details). However, small scenes and sections of work can be critiqued as part of a writing group for free. For more information on our free writing group and to register, please visit the Calm Scribe's Writer's Room by clicking here.
Manuscript Evaluation
Wax Seal Productions offers a variety of options to review your work, from small free group critiques mentioned above to complete Manuscript Evaluations. Our manuscript evaluations will assess your manuscript for characterization, dialogue, setting, plot, structure, subject relevance, and believability. We will also assess technique and style, clarity, voice, tone, reading level, and audience appropriateness. Where appropriate, remarks on any research required and possible legal liabilities will be included.
Once our review is complete, we will provide a report that offers in-depth comments on the items mentioned above and overall marketability and suggestions to improve your manuscript. As with editing, it is up to you to decide whether to implement any suggestions we make. However, the recommendations provided are intended to offer guidance in editing and final revisions to your work. Manuscript evaluation is but one reading service we offer. Continue reading to see if one of our other services may better suit your needs.
Once our review is complete, we will provide a report that offers in-depth comments on the items mentioned above and overall marketability and suggestions to improve your manuscript. As with editing, it is up to you to decide whether to implement any suggestions we make. However, the recommendations provided are intended to offer guidance in editing and final revisions to your work. Manuscript evaluation is but one reading service we offer. Continue reading to see if one of our other services may better suit your needs.
Outline Review
To outline or not to outline is a debate for another day. However, if you outline, it is important to remember that there is more to planning your story than just having an idea. Which story outline model best suits your work? Where do you begin the story, and from which perspective? How close do you zoom in on a scene, and what is the emotion behind it? Also, is the story being driven by character, plot, dialogue, or something else? What is the theme or central question? There are many questions to be pondered and concepts to be considered when outlining. Luckily, none of the answers are carved in stone and can be changed. A strong outline can lead to a powerful story and greater ease in writing, which can lead to fewer revisions. MICE, LOCK, and SPINE are all elements to be considered. Let us work with you to review and strengthen your outline.
Alpha Reads
Wax Seal Productions offers Alpha Reader services to review your initial draft for any issues before you jump into the revision process. We will review your work and create a detailed report, including problematic dialogue, plot holes, timeline issues, confusion, errors, and other practical and technical concerns. Our report will assist you in a smoother revision process, saving you time, frustration, and extra rounds of revisions, while improving overall readability and immersion for the reader.
The Importance of Alpha Reads
Alpha readers are your first line of review for your work and will read the very rough first draft you have completed. It is important to note that they are not editors, and they are looking at the story overall. However, some may suggest edits that stand out to them. After reading the rough draft, they will provide feedback on readability and story elements, such as pacing, voice, flow, and timeline, to offer advice on how to revising the work before submitting it to Beta Readers.
Not all authors choose to go through an alpha read and choose to jump directly into the first revision. However, it can be a significant step in saving you time and money later. After the alpha read is done, it is time to take the notes and begin working on the first revision and edits.
It is important to have at least three alpha readers to gain a good perspective on your work. Not all alpha readers are paid. Often friends and family will review the work for you, though they may not give honest criticism to avoid hurt feelings. We suggest a mix of average readers and some with writing experience to get a holistic view. Average readers can offer feedback on the overall work from a reader's perspective, while writer-readers can also look for practical and technical issues.
The Importance of Alpha Reads
Alpha readers are your first line of review for your work and will read the very rough first draft you have completed. It is important to note that they are not editors, and they are looking at the story overall. However, some may suggest edits that stand out to them. After reading the rough draft, they will provide feedback on readability and story elements, such as pacing, voice, flow, and timeline, to offer advice on how to revising the work before submitting it to Beta Readers.
Not all authors choose to go through an alpha read and choose to jump directly into the first revision. However, it can be a significant step in saving you time and money later. After the alpha read is done, it is time to take the notes and begin working on the first revision and edits.
It is important to have at least three alpha readers to gain a good perspective on your work. Not all alpha readers are paid. Often friends and family will review the work for you, though they may not give honest criticism to avoid hurt feelings. We suggest a mix of average readers and some with writing experience to get a holistic view. Average readers can offer feedback on the overall work from a reader's perspective, while writer-readers can also look for practical and technical issues.
Beta Reads
Allow Wax Seal Productions to be another set of eyes on your finished product before self-publishing or submitting to a publishing house. As writer-readers, our services include the practical review and the reader's perspective, including how engaging the narrative is, character and plot development, any speed bumps that could prove problematic, and overall enjoyment of the work. We will carefully review your book with an eye on practical and technical issues, as well as overall enjoyment and connection. Once the review is complete, we will provide you with a detailed report with suggestions to improve your manuscript and better position it for publishing.
The Importance of Beta Reads
The beta read is a test read of your polished yet unreleased book or manuscript. After the alpha reads, revisions, and edits, your manuscript is polished and ready for beta readers. While alpha readers look at the rough work, beta readers expect a more polished manuscript. They will review the completed work from a reader's perspective before it is published or sent to a publisher and offer feedback, often noting issues like broken timelines, missing character arcs, confusing scenes, disjointed narrative, speed bumps, and other issues which may distract a reader.
Not all beta readers are paid, as with alpha readers, friends and family may review the work for you, though they may be hesitant to offer a critical and honest review. As always, we recommend a mix of friends and family and professionals who can offer insights from within the literary world.
Like with alpha readers, we suggest having at least three beta readers to gain a proper perspective. We also recommend a mix of general readers and writer-readers to ensure you gain the broad perspective and an experienced craft perspective looking for practical and technical issues. General readers and writer-readers will offer tips on what they like or dislike and note anything that may have been missed during the myriad of edits and revisions.
It is important to remember that while self-editing is a crucial step, it can also be challenging. As a writer, you have spent countless hours, days, months, and perhaps years working on the piece, and it is easy to overlook issues.
The Importance of Beta Reads
The beta read is a test read of your polished yet unreleased book or manuscript. After the alpha reads, revisions, and edits, your manuscript is polished and ready for beta readers. While alpha readers look at the rough work, beta readers expect a more polished manuscript. They will review the completed work from a reader's perspective before it is published or sent to a publisher and offer feedback, often noting issues like broken timelines, missing character arcs, confusing scenes, disjointed narrative, speed bumps, and other issues which may distract a reader.
Not all beta readers are paid, as with alpha readers, friends and family may review the work for you, though they may be hesitant to offer a critical and honest review. As always, we recommend a mix of friends and family and professionals who can offer insights from within the literary world.
Like with alpha readers, we suggest having at least three beta readers to gain a proper perspective. We also recommend a mix of general readers and writer-readers to ensure you gain the broad perspective and an experienced craft perspective looking for practical and technical issues. General readers and writer-readers will offer tips on what they like or dislike and note anything that may have been missed during the myriad of edits and revisions.
It is important to remember that while self-editing is a crucial step, it can also be challenging. As a writer, you have spent countless hours, days, months, and perhaps years working on the piece, and it is easy to overlook issues.
Sensitivity Review
At Wax Seal Productions, we approach Sensitivity Reads through a lens of equity, inclusion, diversity, and industry expectations. Our staff and partners regularly take part in conferences and further learning seminars to ensure up-to-date knowledge. As equal opportunity employers and with experience as community developers and work with people of all backgrounds and abilities, we offer a wide range of topics we are able to review. If a topic does not fit within the confines of our experience, we will provide recommendations on other sensitivity readers, which may be a better fit. Allow us to help guide your manuscript with a free consultation to determine your needs and guide you towards best practices.
More Information on Sensitivity Readers
We often discuss alpha and beta readers in the literary world, but we do not discuss the importance of sensitivity readers nearly enough. Sensitivity readers are a form of beta readers that review unpublished manuscripts specifically for problematic language, bias, stereotypes, cultural inaccuracies, lack of understanding, and representation issues. After reading the work, they report on what problems they have found and offer corrective suggestions. Whether you choose to incorporate the suggestions is entirely up to you. Look for sensitivity readers that belong to the community in question and readers that are familiar with the literary and publishing world with an understanding of equity, inclusion, and diversity.
But do you need a sensitivity reader? Not all books will need a sensitivity reader. However, it may be a good idea if your manuscript includes groups, topics, or issues you are not connected to or that are unfamiliar. While a sensitivity reader will not guarantee your work will not have any problematic issues or be immune to criticism, they help prevent harmful or offensive content that may repel some readers and publishers. They also help add representation, depth, and authenticity to your characters and work while improving the overall quality.
As one person is not the representative voice for an entire community, it is impactful to have more than one sensitivity reader to get a variety of perspectives on the same topic. It is important to remember that sensitivity reads are not censorship or pandering to a specific group. They are taking an extra step to ensure accuracy and inclusion because "write what you know" does not mean you should not be inclusive.
More Information on Sensitivity Readers
We often discuss alpha and beta readers in the literary world, but we do not discuss the importance of sensitivity readers nearly enough. Sensitivity readers are a form of beta readers that review unpublished manuscripts specifically for problematic language, bias, stereotypes, cultural inaccuracies, lack of understanding, and representation issues. After reading the work, they report on what problems they have found and offer corrective suggestions. Whether you choose to incorporate the suggestions is entirely up to you. Look for sensitivity readers that belong to the community in question and readers that are familiar with the literary and publishing world with an understanding of equity, inclusion, and diversity.
But do you need a sensitivity reader? Not all books will need a sensitivity reader. However, it may be a good idea if your manuscript includes groups, topics, or issues you are not connected to or that are unfamiliar. While a sensitivity reader will not guarantee your work will not have any problematic issues or be immune to criticism, they help prevent harmful or offensive content that may repel some readers and publishers. They also help add representation, depth, and authenticity to your characters and work while improving the overall quality.
As one person is not the representative voice for an entire community, it is impactful to have more than one sensitivity reader to get a variety of perspectives on the same topic. It is important to remember that sensitivity reads are not censorship or pandering to a specific group. They are taking an extra step to ensure accuracy and inclusion because "write what you know" does not mean you should not be inclusive.