That frustration led to Shimerith.
Today’s article is brought to you by an indie fiction author – I hope you enjoy it.
I’m Emma, an indie author since 2019 with six novels and one novella published.
For years I’ve relied on a newsletter promotion platform that also includes a beta reader function. Even though I didn’t use the newsletter swaps, I kept paying a fairly expensive annual subscription just to access the beta reader feature.
The problem with that is I only publish about one book a year. So, I was paying a large yearly fee… and using the feature only once.
One day I mentioned this to my husband or, to be honest, I grumbled to my husband.
My wonderful husband is a senior product engineer. He builds systems that solve problems and organise complex information into something useful.
After listening to me explain what I wished existed — a simple place to upload a manuscript, invite beta readers, and collect structured feedback — he said, “Just tell me what you want and I’ll build it.”
He built Shimerith and it is a much more powerful manuscript tool than I imagined.
(The name comes from a mythical creature in my first novel – which felt fitting for a platform born out of storytelling.)
How an Author Might Use Shimerith
Imagine an author who has just completed the first draft of a book.
Before publishing, they upload the manuscript into Shimerith, run the Story Intelligence analysis, adjust the manuscript and then invite their group of beta readers onboard.
Story Intelligence Analysis:
This is an inbuilt analysis that examines the manuscript itself, separate from the human beta reader feedback, and reviews it from several different perspectives, such as:
- an editor’s eye for clarity
- a page-turner’s sense of pacing
- a big-picture reader’s sense of structure and theme
When the author receives the report, they can immediately see patterns.
Several readers may note that the opening chapters are engaging but slightly dense. Others may highlight a story or section in the middle of the book that is particularly powerful and memorable.
Beta Reader Feedback:
The platform guides readers through structured feedback questions as well as providing the opportunity for comments/insights.
Readers can comment directly on the manuscript and respond to prompts about things like:
- clarity of ideas
- pacing and engagement
- readability and flow
- character strength or narrative voice
- overall reader experience
Because the feedback is structured, the author doesn’t end up with scattered opinions. Instead, they receive organised insights that show patterns in how readers experienced the manuscript.
Outcome:
Instead of guessing what needs improvement, the author has two sources of insight:
- Story Intelligence analysis of the manuscript itself
- Structured feedback from real readers
The author tightens the early chapters and expands the sections that resonated most strongly with readers. The core message of the book doesn’t change but the reader experience becomes stronger.
And that clarity is exactly what Shimerith was built to provide.
Pricing
Shimerith has two simple plan options. There is a Free plan, which lets you upload one manuscript, invite up to three beta readers, and receive structured feedback, comments, and visual charts showing how readers experienced the book.
If you want the additional Story Intelligence analysis, it can be added for $7 USD per manuscript.
For authors who write more regularly, there is also a Pro plan for $12 USD per month, which includes up to ten manuscripts, up to twenty-five beta readers per book, Story Intelligence analysis included, and priority support.
In the end, Shimerith was born out of a simple need: a great beta reading tool that would help me improve my manuscript without paying for features that I didn’t need. If that sounds familiar, then perhaps Shimerith might be useful for you too.
You can check it out absolutely free at shimerith.com
