Call for betas!

[feuervogel]

As I approach the end of this revision, I'm asking for a few good betas. If you're a writer, I'll offer to beta something for you. If you're not, we can work something else out.

Here's what I'm looking for:
Pacing: does it drag? do parts move too fast?

Plot: Where are the plot holes? Are there scenes you think don't contribute anything? Are there scenes you think should be there but aren't? Does the whole narrative make sense? Do you care about what happens?

Characterization: are they realistic? Do they act consistently? Do you care about what happens to them?

Worldbuilding: Does it make sense? Does anything need more explanation?

Specific things: There are places I may have more specific questions about that I'll put in the email when I send you the file.

I'm not looking for a close grammatical/sentence-level reading. If you come across awkward phrasing or anything that makes you go back and double-take, please point it out, though.

When do I want it back? 4-6 weeks sounds reasonable to read a novel-length work. (I could be wrong.) If I get it out July 1, August 15 would be when I'm looking to get it back.

File types: Scrivener can output doc, odf, rtf, pdf, and epub. I haven't tried its epub capabilities yet, but I don't have an ereader.

Comments

[yhibiki]

I can look at it, if you like? :)

[feuervogel]

Yay, thanks :D I still have your email address. Do you want a .doc?

[yhibiki]

Yep, .doc is good. :) I'm interested to see how much it's changed since I last read it.

[feuervogel]

Oh wow, how long ago did you read it? After I finished the first draft last year, right? Hopefully it's changed for the better ;)

[krait]

I'd be delighted to help however I can! It's been so interesting, "listening" to the progress you're making without any concrete knowledge of the text itself. :D

I can do .doc or .pdf, and my email is oddplaces at gmail dot com.

[feuervogel]

Hooray! Having someone else who likes the subgenre read it is definitely a bonus :3

[luckykitty.livejournal.com]

I'd be glad to help!

[feuervogel]

Yay <3 I'll have a look at whichever project you want me to :) What format do you want?

Email me with the email address you want me to use (cc@gmail). My phone had a sync issue and it deleted some of my contacts.

[ashke.livejournal.com]

I would be willing to be a beta reader too (I'm always looking for new, fun things to read and I like critiquing plot/characters, etc.). If you do not want to utilize me, I completely understand. Just let me know if you need my e-mail address.

[feuervogel]

It's cool :) I have an email address for you at aol, angel5fire. Is that the one I should send to? (Yay for really old contact information...)

What format do you want?

[ashke.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's really old! I'm at khollyshea@gmail.com

Can I have it in epub format (so I can load it on my phone and my Kindle)?

[feuervogel]

Will do! I have no idea how the epub exporter works, so let me know if it comes out unreadable.

[ashke.livejournal.com]

Will let you know.

Also, what genre would you call your story? (My husband might be willing to beta as well but he wanted to know the genre)

[feuervogel]

Space opera with mercenaries in, I think. Doesn't quite fit the bill for military sf, but it's borderline.

[ashke.livejournal.com]

If you are alright with it, my husband would be willing to beta for you too. His e-mail address is squirrelloid@yahoo.com (He probably wants text or pdf but I will verify with him tonight). He loves reading new material too and he is actually better on some of the critiquing type of things.

[feuervogel]

Sure :D I like readers' opinions as well as writers', because they show different things.

[feuervogel]

What format does he want? Also, can your e-reader read epub?