Maria's Corner
Hi, I'm Maria, founder of MAR Literary Services. I'm a professional Alpha and Beta Reader, and manuscript evaluator for fiction writers. I specialize in romance, MM romance, paranormal romance, romantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction. I created this corner of the internet because I got tired of seeing promising books fall short—not because authors lacked talent, but because they didn't get the guidance they needed. Whether you're stuck in the messy middle, sitting on a draft you can't see clearly anymore, or trying to work out why readers keep drifting, I'm here to bridge the gap between the story you've written and the story your readers can't put down.Here's how I can help you: 📖 Alpha Reading: Get developmental feedback on your manuscript while it's still in progress—catch story problems early, before they become major rewrites. 📝 Beta Reading: For a finished draft. The big-picture read—whether the story holds together, where momentum drops, and where what's on the page stops matching the story in your head. 🔍 Manuscript Evaluation: A chapter-by-chapter working through of your completed manuscript. Detailed feedback on every chapter, so you know exactly where the problems live and what to fix first. 📚 Free Resources: Subscribe below for craft tips, behind-the-scenes looks at my alpha/beta reading process, and Hard Truths from my blog about what really stops writers from finishing. Plus, get instant access to The Ultimate Beta & Alpha Reader Playbook Bundle, three valuable resources to help you get the most from your betas or alpha readers. Newsletter subscribers get VIP treatment: First access to new digital products (free for 1 week before they go on sale); Priority booking when reading spots open; Exclusive launch pricing and early bird discounts. Ready to get started? Subscribe below.
Aug 16 • 2 min read
A summit I'm actually excited about this year!
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Happy Sunday, Reader, Okay writers, it's been a while since I've done one of these, but I can't help myself. I'm a true lifelong learner. I love it, and it inspires me to do a lot of things I probably wouldn't get around to otherwise. It also puts a lot of ideas inside my very ADHD brain that I know I’ll never get to, but I love it anyway. And the best type of learning is the one where you are not alone. Last year I was made aware of a summit being offered for the first time, called WorldShift, by Many Worlds Writing. It's a summit for speculative fiction writers, but it's not just SF writers who benefit from it. Writing coaches, literary agents, and book coaches will all be presenting, and honestly, any writer looking to get published in the next few months can get something out of a summit like this. When I attended last year, I wasn't expecting much. It was the first time the summit had ever been offered, and I didn't know the organizer. That's actually one of the reasons I didn't mention it here on the newsletter. I wasn't sure yet if it would be worth your attention. This year, I'm sure it will be. Honestly, the experience was more than I expected. The collaborative atmosphere alone made it worth my while. The chats were genuinely interesting, and the people presenting were masters at their craft. Which is why I'm inviting you to attend WorldShift with me this year. It starts tomorrow, Monday August 17, and runs for six days. With over 40 presentations aimed at making us better writers and helping us navigate the publishing industry, it's a summit you won't want to miss. And Escape the Plot Forest will be on the horizon soon enough, too, so keep your eyes open for that announcement. What do you need to do? Go register at worldshift2026.manyworldswriting.com You have two options. A free pass gives you access to every presentation, with 24 hours to rewatch each one after it airs. Or the paid pass, currently $67, gives you access to everything forever. That price goes up to $97 tomorrow morning when the summit starts, and to $127 once it ends. Either option gets you in the door. It's really just a question of whether you want to keep the recordings for good. I am not affiliated. Even if you choose to buy an all access pass, I won't be compensated in any way. I genuinely think this is a great opportunity to expand our knowledge of the craft, and I wanted to put it in front of you. Either way, I'll be back tomorrow in your inbox with the regular newsletter. Until next time,
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Hi, I'm Maria, founder of MAR Literary Services. I'm a professional Alpha and Beta Reader, and manuscript evaluator for fiction writers. I specialize in romance, MM romance, paranormal romance, romantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction. I created this corner of the internet because I got tired of seeing promising books fall short—not because authors lacked talent, but because they didn't get the guidance they needed. Whether you're stuck in the messy middle, sitting on a draft you can't see clearly anymore, or trying to work out why readers keep drifting, I'm here to bridge the gap between the story you've written and the story your readers can't put down.Here's how I can help you: 📖 Alpha Reading: Get developmental feedback on your manuscript while it's still in progress—catch story problems early, before they become major rewrites. 📝 Beta Reading: For a finished draft. The big-picture read—whether the story holds together, where momentum drops, and where what's on the page stops matching the story in your head. 🔍 Manuscript Evaluation: A chapter-by-chapter working through of your completed manuscript. Detailed feedback on every chapter, so you know exactly where the problems live and what to fix first. 📚 Free Resources: Subscribe below for craft tips, behind-the-scenes looks at my alpha/beta reading process, and Hard Truths from my blog about what really stops writers from finishing. Plus, get instant access to The Ultimate Beta & Alpha Reader Playbook Bundle, three valuable resources to help you get the most from your betas or alpha readers. Newsletter subscribers get VIP treatment: First access to new digital products (free for 1 week before they go on sale); Priority booking when reading spots open; Exclusive launch pricing and early bird discounts. Ready to get started? Subscribe below.