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Whether you're looking for a thoughtful beta reader, a developmental editor, or a detailed manuscript review, my goal is the same: to help you strengthen your story while preserving your unique voice. Many writers reach a point where they've revised their manuscript several times but still feel that something isn't quite working. Perhaps the pacing slows, a character's motivation isn't fully convincing, or the emotional impact isn't landing the way you hoped. Sometimes it's simply difficult to see your own story the way a reader will experience it. That's where I come in. I read as both an engaged reader and an experienced editor, looking at the overall reading experience while providing practical, actionable feedback you can confidently apply during revision. My goal isn't to rewrite your story—it's to help you tell it more effectively. Services I primarily work with authors who are looking for: • Developmental Editing • Manuscript Reviews & Editorial Assessments • Beta Reading • Copyediting (select projects) My Approach My feedback focuses on the elements that most shape a reader's experience, including: • Character development and motivation • Story structure and pacing • Emotional resonance and reader engagement • Dialogue and point of view • Plot development and narrative flow • Clarity, consistency, and timeline issues My background includes a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics, a Master's degree in Counseling, and professional training in editing. Together, they shape the way I approach every manuscript. I pay close attention not only to the words on the page, but also to character relationships, emotional authenticity, and the overall reading experience. I believe the strongest editorial relationships are collaborative. My role is to ask thoughtful questions, identify opportunities for growth, and help you create the strongest version of the story you want to tell while respecting your voice and your vision. Genres I regularly work with: • Mystery & Thriller • Cozy Mystery • Romance (closed-door/clean preferred) • Character-driven Fiction • Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction What You'll Receive Depending on your project, deliverables may include: • A detailed editorial letter or reader report • Feedback on story structure, pacing, character development, and reader engagement • Inline comments throughout the manuscript where helpful • Clear, practical suggestions for revision and next steps Clients often tell me they appreciate that my feedback is thoughtful, organized, and easy to apply. I aim to be honest without being discouraging—highlighting what's already working while providing practical suggestions to strengthen your manuscript. If you're looking for a collaborative editor who will approach your story with care, curiosity, and an eye for both the big picture and the details, I'd love to learn more about your project.

I am an avid reader, who is always catching typos, or grammatical errors. I want to help authors get their best works published.

I read like it’s my job— because it is! I average over 100 books per year and I would love to help you bring your work-in-progress closer to publication. As a dedicated beta-reader, I can promise a quick turnaround time and actionable feedback. I specialize in romance, especially contemporary and paranormal. I am comfortable reading and commenting on spicy, closed-door, or anything in between. But I have also happily worked on YA, cozy mysteries, horror, thrillers, memoirs, and more. You can expect: - clear and timely communication - adherence to all deadlines - quality work with attention to detail - a firm refusal to use AI in any form Let me know how I can contribute to your work becoming a success! I am a former teacher, a prolific reader, and a lifelong writer. I attended a performing arts school for Communications with a speciality in Creative Writing from 2004-2011 and graduated from the University of Florida in 2016 with degrees in English and Psychology with several published poems and writing awards.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my profile! I recently got back on UpWork and I am eager to get new projects started. Please note I closed some very old projects so the "most recent" reviews showing are all no feedback. You have to look beyond those to find ones with appropriate reviews. I am very excited to provide my freelance editing on UpWork. I have a wide range of experience with beta reading, editing and proofreading of documents, novels, novellas, business reports and the like. I have over 5 years of freelance experience. I am open to all kinds of projects and learning new ways to gain experience in proofreading and line editing. I have a wide range of life experience skills from traveling, dragon boat racing, knitting, crochet, and dog mom. I have incredible work ethic, and I cannot leave a project finished without making it the best possible. My whole life I have loved books! I have a personal library of over 1000 novels and texts. No, I have not read them all, but I love supporting authors I love. One day would like to own my very own bookstore! It is a big dream and that is why I am on UpWork. I want to gain as much experience working with books as I can in any type of way. I would like to eventually edit books as my main source of income and move away from the 9-5 life. I have excellent skills with Word documents, PowerPoint, and Excel. I am looking for new projects that I can use to build my resume and work experience in the proofreading and editing world.

Welcome to my little corner of Upwork! I’m Gloria, a professional Beta Reader and Editor specializing in contemporary and dark romance! I help authors strengthen emotional impact, pacing, and character dynamics while staying true to their unique voice and vision. When I beta read or edit, I focus on how your story feels to a reader. I look closely at emotional flow, tension, chemistry, character motivation, consent and power dynamics, and pacing. I am comfortable working with explicit and spicy content and provide feedback that respects the genre, the tone, and the intent behind intimate scenes. You will receive thoughtful inline comments, a clear Reader Report, and actionable guidance that highlights what is working beautifully and where the story could be tightened or deepened for maximum impact. Great romance relies on connection and payoff. If the emotions hit too late, linger too long, or fall flat, readers feel it. My goal is to help you fine tune those moments so your story pulls readers in and keeps them invested from the first page to the last. As a lifelong reader, a writer, and a mom who understands how precious creative time can be, I know how vulnerable it can be to share your work. My feedback style is supportive but honest. I will always respect your voice while being clear and direct about what a reader experiences on the page. If you are unsure what kind of feedback your manuscript needs, I offer consultations where we talk through your goals, your genre, and the stage your draft is in. If you decide to move forward with a project, your consultation fee is applied toward that service. Outside of editing, you will usually find me surrounded by books, two toddlers, a wonderful husband, and a small herd of rescue animals. I value kindness, honesty, and connection, and I bring those same values into every author relationship. If you are looking for a beta reader/editor who understands romance, respects darker themes, and is fully comfortable with spicy content, I would love to work with you. Let’s make your story unforgettable!

That hesitation you just felt reading your own first page? THAT’s the gap. ↔️ The distance between what you meant and what a reader takes in. It’s invisible to you because you wrote it. You know what you meant, so your mind fills it in. Your readers don’t. I’ve built my whole editing practice around closing that gap. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I found myself accepting the majority of her suggestions because they genuinely made the manuscript better while still sounding like me.” – Upwork Client I don’t impose a style: I listen for the one already living in your draft, then help you polish and reveal it clearly. My job isn’t to “fix” your writing, but to HEAR it and coax it into YOUR best version. I’ve taken literary courses I didn’t need because I love this. I read voraciously across genres, track what’s trending in publishing, and watch TV and movies with the mindset of a storyteller. I think about structure, pacing, and emotional payoff the way other people breathe. I have a knack for crawling into the nooks and crannies of a story, for spotting the plot holes quietly weakening your narrative, and finding the hidden pockets where your world is trying to stretch and grow. I bring that structural thinking to every manuscript. WHAT I DO Think of me as your manuscript’s first REAL reader – not your nice friend or a grammar robot. I’ll read the way your audience will because I AM your audience, just with decades of narrative experience. I help with ✅DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING: Does your structure hold? Do your themes land? Are character moments earning their payoff? I zoom out and look at your story as a whole. ✅LINE EDITING: This is where the magic of making YOUR voice come alive happens. I work sentence by sentence perfecting rhythm, clarity, and personality to make your voice sharper. ✅PROOFREADING: A final sweep to sift out typos, fix punctuation, and clean up layout consistency; everything that may slip through even after 10 drafts. I catch it so your readers never do. WOULD WE WORK WELL TOGETHER? We’re probably the right fit if ✅You’ve revised so many times you can’t see it clearly anymore ✅You want an editor who sharpens YOUR voice, never replacing it or flattening it ✅You want honest feedback with actionable suggestions, not polite platitudes I’m not the choice for you if ❌You want rubber-stamp approval that changes nothing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “She went above and beyond what I expected… without ever being pushy or trying to steer the story away from my vision.” – Upwork Client No mystery. No guesswork. ➡️You send me your manuscript (or even first page to start) ➡️I give you a clear timeline upfront and stick to it ➡️You get Suggestions or Track Changes and margin comments so nothing is a surprise ➡️After delivery, I’m still available for questions as you work through revisions TRIAL ASSESSMENT 💵Before you commit to the full manuscript, start with a money-back trial for your first chapter. You’ll get exactly the kind of detailed feedback I’d bring to your whole book. You see the work before you buy the work. MY PATH TO EDITING For the past ten years (three of them professionally) I’ve been a game master. Yes, really. What it requires is building worlds with internal logic that holds under pressure, tracking dozens of interlocking plot threads and character motivations, and collaborating with storytellers in real time to shape narratives that land emotionally. I know when the story loses the room, AND what it takes to pull it back. I studied Hebrew texts at the graduate level, which is one of the most intentional languages ever written. Every word carries layers of meaning. I’ve learned to read slowly, precisely, and ask what’s under the surface. I also spent years as a Resident Assistant, aka the person who delivers hard news while keeping the relationship intact. Conflict resolution. Honest feedback. Empathy under pressure. This is exactly what you need from an editor. I’ve had YEARS of practice. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Highly recommend working with Deanne if you need a fresh, discerning look at your manuscript.” – Upwork Client ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “If you are thinking about hiring Deanne as a beta-reader, developmental editor, line editor—any role that is about making your writing a better version of itself—hire her now!” – Upwork Client ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “She isn’t only highly skilled and professional but also a pleasure to collaborate with.” – Upwork Client LET’S BEGIN TODAY I know what it’s like to hand something you’ve worked on to another person. It’s vulnerable. I don’t take that lightly. You will always get honest feedback, but not harsh words. I want to make both you and your manuscript better. Your story deserves to be heard the way you meant it. Let me make sure it will. 🖋️Send me a message with your genre, word count, and what you need from me. Or just send me that first chapter as a trial. Either way, let’s work to make your story shine.