Katharen M.

If you need an honest reader, an experienced editorial eye, or someone to help keep a book project on track, I’d love to help. I’m a native English speaker based in the U.S. I’ve worked professionally with manuscripts on Upwork since 2023, with more than a decade of writing, editing, and manuscript experience outside the platform as well. I work with authors, publishers, ghostwriters, and project managers from outline through final proofreading. CURRENTLY ACCEPTING: • Beta reading • Developmental editing / developmental reads • Proofreading • Outline reviews • Writer / ghostwriter evaluations • Fiction publishing project management • AI-assisted ghostwriting with full human revision BETA READING & DEVELOPMENTAL FEEDBACK Most of my work is fiction, especially romance and commercial genre fiction, but I also beta read nonfiction. For fiction, I look at pacing, character development, romance progression, plot logic, continuity, emotional payoff, repetition, confusing moments, and where I start leaning in or losing interest as a reader. For nonfiction, I focus on clarity, organization, pacing, repetition, reader engagement, and whether the book delivers what it promises to its intended audience. My feedback is honest, but never cruel. If something doesn’t work for me, I explain what happened and why. If something works beautifully, I’ll tell you that too. I can provide inline comments, a full report, or both. OUTLINE REVIEWS & WRITER EVALUATION You don’t have to wait until a manuscript is finished to find out something isn’t working. I can review outlines before drafting begins and flag plot holes, weak motivations, pacing issues, repetitive beats, missing emotional development, continuity problems, and places that may become harder to fix later. If you hire ghostwriters or other fiction writers, I can also review their work against your outline or brief and tell you whether they’re actually delivering the story you hired them to write. FICTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT If you’re managing several books, writers, deadlines, or stages of production at once, I can help keep everything moving. I can track milestones, review submitted work, flag problems early, organize revision rounds, communicate writer-facing feedback, and help move projects through drafting, editing, revisions, proofreading, and final delivery. AI-ASSISTED GHOSTWRITING + HUMAN EDITING I also offer AI-assisted fiction production for clients who already use AI in their publishing workflow. You provide the plot, outline, characters, tropes, style requirements, and project instructions. I use those materials to create the draft through an AI-assisted workflow, then personally revise and edit the manuscript. That human pass covers characterization, continuity, pacing, dialogue, romance progression, emotional depth, repetition, awkward AI phrasing, overexplaining, and scene flow. I’m also familiar with fast-moving commercial fiction styles, including FPA-style romance projects. If you want traditional, word-by-word human ghostwriting from a blank page, I've retired from that service. PROOFREADING Proofreading means proofreading, but I promise I’m nicer about it than that sounds. If you hire me to proofread, I expect a manuscript that has already been edited. If it actually needs substantial line editing, rewriting, developmental work, or AI cleanup, I’ll let you know so we can adjust the scope rather than quietly turning a proofreading contract into a much larger job. ABOUT “JOBS IN PROGRESS” Upwork’s “jobs in progress” number does NOT mean I currently have that many manuscripts on my desk. Upwork counts contracts as active until the client formally closes them. Many of mine are completed projects, ongoing client relationships, or contracts that simply remained open after delivery. If my profile says I’m available, I have availability for you! GENRES I work heavily in romance and commercial fiction, including contemporary, romantic suspense, dark and paranormal romance, cozy mystery, horror, thriller/crime, urban fantasy, science fiction, slice-of-life, coming-of-age, fairytale retellings, and other speculative or character-driven fiction. First drafts don’t scare me. Neither do messy outlines, AI-assisted manuscripts, continuity problems, or projects that need a little extra guidance. You can expect clear communication, respectful honesty, thoughtful feedback, and someone who genuinely wants your project to succeed.