Setting up a beta reading campaign

A beta campaign lets you invite early readers to a draft, collect their feedback scene by scene, and manage their access against a deadline.

Create a campaign

In the Studio, click the Beta button in the toolbar (or navigate to Forge → Beta Campaigns in the sidebar).

Click New Campaign and fill in:

• Draft — which manuscript this campaign covers (auto-filled when launched from Studio)
• Headline / description — shown to prospective readers on the campaign discovery page
• Target completion date — readers have until this date to finish reading
• Access type — Public (any reader can apply) or Invite-only

Application period

Once you publish the campaign, readers can discover it through search or your author profile and submit an application. You review applications and approve or decline each reader individually.

Reader access

Approved readers gain access to the full manuscript regardless of the draft's general access mode. They see the draft in their Hearth → Library page with a deadline countdown and a structured review form.

Managing the campaign

From the Beta Campaigns page you can:

• View all applicants and their approval status
• Re-approve an expired reader for a fresh deadline
• Send a cancellation notice (triggers a personalized email to all approved readers)
• Monitor each reader's progress against the deadline