THE YOUNG WRITERS INITIATIVE
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Be an Alpha Reading volunteer!

Volunteer applications for our alpha reading team are open year-round. Alpha Reading projects will be assigned by our Beta Reading Directors and will be given to those deemed most qualified for each project. 
What An Alpha Reader Does
​To put it simply, an Alpha Reader is a pre-beta reader, with a few key differences. Alpha Readers focus on the concept of a story as a whole, and how general audiences would respond to it, while Beta Readers focus more on characterizations, dialogue, writing style etc. Alpha Readers are instrumental in helping writers extract the specific parts of their novel that are hurting the story, or get an idea of how readers will respond to their novel. If this sounds like something you’d wanna do, then Alpha Reading is right for you!
Some TYWI Specialities
  • Less work than Beta Reading or Editing
  • Getting to read new and exciting manuscripts from young authors around the world
  • Getting volunteer hours for school/work/community service
  • Connecting with authors as you read their manuscripts
  • The experience of it all!
Some Requirements
  • Must be 15 years or older
  • Must be able to dedicate 2 hours a week to TYWI
Beta Readers will go through our two week-long Boot Camp Program in which you will learn how to judge fairly through an app called Discord. Therefore, readers MUST be willing to download Discord. If you decide to terminate your responsibilities with TYWI, please give a two week notice. 
​
Please be respectful and helpful. If you are not willing to be constructive, this is not the job for you. 
​
Some TYWI Specialities
  • Volunteer Alpha Readers will submit a form detailing what genres they prefer, what they want to read, and other preferences.
  • New Alpha Readers will go through a two week boot camp process to prepare them to read at our standards. For each week of bootcamp, you will be given a piece of work and taught the proper evaluating and critiquing techniques, and how to catch developmental issues. Alpha Reader applicants who are already certified Beta Readers will only have to do one week of bootcamp
  • Beta Readers will get rewards for their volunteer work, such as volunteer points that will go to future events, programs, and merchandise. 
  • You will work in groups of three and may have occasional discussion sessions about the authors book. 
  • We won't assign you more than one assignment at a time so that you are not overwhelmed. 
  • We will offer you volunteer hours.
How to apply
Click on the button below to be re-directed to a form
In that form, you will be asked to submit some information (your name, age, email, etc.), critique one short excerpt of a piece, and answer a few questions about why you want to be an Alpha Reader. Please be careful about spelling and grammatical errors. This should be done in one sitting.
Alpha Reader Form
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  • Our Services
    • Editing
    • Beta Reading
    • Workshop
    • Cover Design
    • Book Reviews
    • Book Consulting
    • Community Discord
  • Get Involved
    • Editor
    • Beta Reader
    • Alpha Reader
    • Cover Designer
    • Book Reviewer
    • Workshop Teacher
    • Submission Reader
  • Juven Press + Mag
  • Contests
    • Era Contest
    • Projects >
      • Black Lives Matter
  • Events
    • Spring Festival
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board Members
    • Editors
    • Beta Readers
    • Book Reviewers
    • Cover Designers
    • Judges
    • Follow Us >
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter!
      • Follow us!
  • Merch
  • Donate