The Mean Auntie Critique
Tough love for your first 8,000 words — emphasis on love
You know the auntie. The one who hugs you at the door, feeds you too much, tells you she's proud of you—and then, halfway through dessert, says "now darling, that man is no good for you and you know it."
That's me.
I'm Natasha Boyd, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and I've written eleven books (8 of them self-published, 1 traditional, the rest hybrid, so I know exactly what it takes to do this on your own terms). I have had also had books hit the Amazon Top 100.
I was lucky. I found a small critique circle when I was starting out in 2012; there were three of us. At my first chapter turn-in, Dave told me "bring your rhinoceros skin" (i.e. this is going to be tough). But the first thing he told me when I arrived at the critique meeting was this: craft you can learn, but telling a good story is harder—and you can tell a story.
By the way it was tough. And I learned to CRAVE that level of feedback.
It took two years before I started critiquing back for the other two members. It was an incredible circle of trust, knowing that every criticism offered was offered with the goal of helping me improve—not to belittle or shame me. Since then I've offered these kinds of critiques to those who've asked. To only a select few who understand that you can't get better if no one tells you what's not working. I have my own books to work on, but I really would like to help other writers which I why I've decided to offer this and also kept my per hour rate as low as I can based on the time I'll spend.
This is a critique honest enough to actually move the needle, kind enough that you don't want to set the manuscript on fire afterward.
I will not blow smoke up your skirt. But I will never, ever make you feel like your story isn't worth telling—because it is. If you've decided to spend your time telling this story, and it's worth it to you, then it's worth it to me.
That's me.
I'm Natasha Boyd, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and I've written eleven books (8 of them self-published, 1 traditional, the rest hybrid, so I know exactly what it takes to do this on your own terms). I have had also had books hit the Amazon Top 100.
I was lucky. I found a small critique circle when I was starting out in 2012; there were three of us. At my first chapter turn-in, Dave told me "bring your rhinoceros skin" (i.e. this is going to be tough). But the first thing he told me when I arrived at the critique meeting was this: craft you can learn, but telling a good story is harder—and you can tell a story.
By the way it was tough. And I learned to CRAVE that level of feedback.
It took two years before I started critiquing back for the other two members. It was an incredible circle of trust, knowing that every criticism offered was offered with the goal of helping me improve—not to belittle or shame me. Since then I've offered these kinds of critiques to those who've asked. To only a select few who understand that you can't get better if no one tells you what's not working. I have my own books to work on, but I really would like to help other writers which I why I've decided to offer this and also kept my per hour rate as low as I can based on the time I'll spend.
This is a critique honest enough to actually move the needle, kind enough that you don't want to set the manuscript on fire afterward.
I will not blow smoke up your skirt. But I will never, ever make you feel like your story isn't worth telling—because it is. If you've decided to spend your time telling this story, and it's worth it to you, then it's worth it to me.
I crave someone telling me what's actually working and not working in my manuscript. Please be mean to me! - Me, every time I write a book, and everyone I've agreed to help.
So what is this?
A deep, line-level read of 8,000 words (roughly your first three chapters), built for romance authors who are early in the craft journey or stuck in that lonely gap between drafts and editors—past the point where you can see your own pages clearly, but not yet ready to hand over cash for a full edit. Or perhaps you've published, and you don't know why it's not hitting readers. You are desperate for the truth. Lovingly, of course.
It's the thing the AI tools and grammar-checkers can't do. Writing/editing tools for authors may tell you that you used "just" forty-two times. They can actually talk about a lot of great stuff these days ... BUTthey will not tell you that the exact moment your heroine realises what she's capable of, is the emotional heartbeat of the whole book and you raced past it in two sentences. I will. Or that if there had just been a tiny pause after what he said to her, it would have landed SO. MUCH. HARDER. I will.
It's the thing the AI tools and grammar-checkers can't do. Writing/editing tools for authors may tell you that you used "just" forty-two times. They can actually talk about a lot of great stuff these days ... BUTthey will not tell you that the exact moment your heroine realises what she's capable of, is the emotional heartbeat of the whole book and you raced past it in two sentences. I will. Or that if there had just been a tiny pause after what he said to her, it would have landed SO. MUCH. HARDER. I will.
Oh my goodness, your reply has brought tears to my eyes — in a very, very good way. THIS is exactly what I was looking for and have not had, to date. I can literally make a checklist of all your comments. I wish you were my editor." - Heidi
This is NOT an edit, however.
I don't want to be an editor. But I LOVE being a critique partner.
This isn't an edit, and it's not meant to be. It's a diagnostic. I might find the patterns, or name your specific quirks and tics, and hand you back a checklist built around your book and your characters so you can go strengthen the entire manuscript yourself. Teach a writer to fish, and all that.
This isn't an edit, and it's not meant to be. It's a diagnostic. I might find the patterns, or name your specific quirks and tics, and hand you back a checklist built around your book and your characters so you can go strengthen the entire manuscript yourself. Teach a writer to fish, and all that.
What you get
1. Your pages, marked up. Inline comments and suggestions straight in the document — this is where I'm blunt (aka mean auntie with love)
You'll see:
You'll see:
- Where I stumbled, got confused, or had to re-read (real reader reaction, in the moment)
- Your personal writing tics and crutch words (the ones you can't see anymore because you're too close)
- Style and craft notes: white space, paragraphing, POV switches, sentence rhythm.
- Places your POV can go deeper and hit harder (first person is not automatically deep POV (a myth I will happily bust))
- Tension and pivotal moments you're rushing past or underselling
- Chapter openings and hooks — are they earning the page-turn? Is your reader putting the book down to go to sleep?! (Horror. Not allowed!)
- Character first impressions — what your reader actually thinks of your people on the page.
- This isn't my focus for this work, but I'll point out typos and grammar flags along the way (we all miss them in our own work, it's human)
- And the bits I genuinely loved — flagged and celebrated, because you need to know what's working as much as what isn't
Your critique is giving me so much writing energy — I am so excited!" - Shivani
Who it's for?
This is for you if you:
- Write romance and are early-ish in your craft journey
- Have a draft that maybe no one but you has read yet, and you have no idea if you're any good
- Have published a typo-free, almost-perfect-in-every-way book, but your reader isn't getting hooked from the get-go and you don't know why
- Want to make your pages submission-ready or editor-ready before you spend big money on a professional
- Understand that AI and writing-aid programs can't see what your human reader is craving
- Can take honest feedback and actually want it—no smoke, no participation trophies
Your ideas are freaking brilliant — as I'm re-reading, every single one has me thinking 'why didn't I think of that?!' So many amazing suggestions. I am very, very grateful." - Elizabeth O. USA Today Bestselling Author
The details
$150 — flat fee, founding-client rate. (This is an introductory price while I figure this out. I am working on my own books too, so don't have a lot of time, but I realized how important this is for writers, how much I need it myself and I want to make it accessible).
Up to 8,000 words. Send your first three chapters (the natural fit—openings make or break a book). If you've gone over 8,000, I critique the first 8,000. I'm sorry I don't have time for more. If your pages aren't from the start of the book, just send a short blurb and any context I need to land in the scene—totally fine, we'll make it work.
Romance and its sub-genres. It's my home turf, and craft feedback is genre-specific—you want someone who knows the lane.
100% human. Your words stay yours. I will never upload your work to any AI system, LLM, or AI-driven service. Every comment comes from a real reader who's actually read your pages, ME — not a machine. Equally, I don't want to read AI generated slop. I will return your manuscript and refund you fee if I think you have used AI. This is about LEARNING CRAFT and HUMAN EMOTION. The machines are doing enough, let's keep our art.
Turnaround: Within 15 days of receiving your pages. If I'm ever carrying a backlog, I'll tell you up front before you book—no surprises.
Format: I prefer a Word doc, but I'll work with you to find a format that suits us both. I'll return your marked-up pages in Word plus your overview document via email.
Up to 8,000 words. Send your first three chapters (the natural fit—openings make or break a book). If you've gone over 8,000, I critique the first 8,000. I'm sorry I don't have time for more. If your pages aren't from the start of the book, just send a short blurb and any context I need to land in the scene—totally fine, we'll make it work.
Romance and its sub-genres. It's my home turf, and craft feedback is genre-specific—you want someone who knows the lane.
100% human. Your words stay yours. I will never upload your work to any AI system, LLM, or AI-driven service. Every comment comes from a real reader who's actually read your pages, ME — not a machine. Equally, I don't want to read AI generated slop. I will return your manuscript and refund you fee if I think you have used AI. This is about LEARNING CRAFT and HUMAN EMOTION. The machines are doing enough, let's keep our art.
Turnaround: Within 15 days of receiving your pages. If I'm ever carrying a backlog, I'll tell you up front before you book—no surprises.
Format: I prefer a Word doc, but I'll work with you to find a format that suits us both. I'll return your marked-up pages in Word plus your overview document via email.
I cannot thank you enough for this, Tasha. That was an amazingly useful critique — I'm only regretting not having sent this to you sooner!" - Brenna Aubrey, USA Today Bestselling Author
One more thing
Every single comment I make is in the spirit of helping you and your craft—never to tell you you're not good enough. You are. The blunt notes inside the file and the warm arm around your shoulder are the same thing: I'm hard on the page precisely because I think the writer is worth it.
Take the feedback slow. Keep what's useful, discard what doesn't fit. (It's your book, always). And then go make it unforgettable.
Again, if you've decided to spend your time telling this story, and it's worth it to you, then it's worth it to me.
Take the feedback slow. Keep what's useful, discard what doesn't fit. (It's your book, always). And then go make it unforgettable.
Again, if you've decided to spend your time telling this story, and it's worth it to you, then it's worth it to me.