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UF Cultural Critique (Native American and Spokane, WA)

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Polenth

Polenth

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I'm looking for some readers able to offer a cultural critique of my urban fantasy (approximately 70K). It's a murder mystery set in Spokane, told from the point-of-view of a bigfoot and a Spokane man. The groups of readers I'm looking for are:

* Native Americans. Though many of the characters are Spokane, I'm interested in perspectives from other tribes too.
* People who live in Spokane, Washington or one of the nearby towns.

Though someone who fits in both groups would be awesome, I'm imagining most people will be one or the other. I'm literally just asking for a critique of the cultural stuff - things that are inaccurate, offensive and so forth. I'm not looking for feedback on grammar, storytelling, etc.

In return, I can beta something for you (where betaing is defined as a single pass through a completed manuscript). My main genres are science fiction, fantasy and children's, though I will beta other genres. I offer general comments, rather than line-by-line critiques.
 
FoamyRules

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Polenth said:
I'm looking for some readers able to offer a cultural critique of my urban fantasy (approximately 70K). It's a murder mystery set in Spokane, told from the point-of-view of a bigfoot and a Spokane man. The groups of readers I'm looking for are:

* Native Americans. Though many of the characters are Spokane, I'm interested in perspectives from other tribes too.
* People who live in Spokane, Washington or one of the nearby towns.

Though someone who fits in both groups would be awesome, I'm imagining most people will be one or the other. I'm literally just asking for a critique of the cultural stuff - things that are inaccurate, offensive and so forth. I'm not looking for feedback on grammar, storytelling, etc.

In return, I can beta something for you (where betaing is defined as a single pass through a completed manuscript). My main genres are science fiction, fantasy and children's, though I will beta other genres. I offer general comments, rather than line-by-line critiques.
Click to expand...
Well my grandmother is Native American (full blooded) and I pretty much grew up within the tribe. So maybe I can be of some assistance.
 
backslashbaby

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Oh, my brother is huge on the cultural appropriation or misinformation about bigfoot! If you'd like a militant NA view, I could get you a review of those passages. He won't tell you the real beliefs, however. He's part of a Lakota tribe now, if that helps, but his knowledge of NA culture is broader than one or two tribes. He is nomadic, basically (and does whitewater rafting and snowboarding instruction... he doesn't hunt for a living or anything ;)).

You'd certainly learn what could be offensive about anything, lol ;) But I'm serious, if that would help you.

eta - change tribe to 'nation' in everything I just said when speaking to anyone like my brother, btw. I don't want to spread any bad habits (that aren't bad habits around NA folk who say 'Indian'.)
 
OnlyStones

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I'm Northern Cheyenne, born and raised on the reservation. I'd be more than happy to discuss a swap. I'm doing some historical fiction, it's right around 60,000 words and is about 3/4 done as you can tell by the little ticker thingie.
 
Polenth

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Replying to both at once. If this sounds okay, feel free to drop a PM with an email for me to send stuff (or if you have further question, ask away.)

OnlyStones said:
I'm Northern Cheyenne, born and raised on the reservation. I'd be more than happy to discuss a swap. I'm doing some historical fiction, it's right around 60,000 words and is about 3/4 done as you can tell by the little ticker thingie.
Click to expand...

I read a bit of historical here and there too, so I'm sure I can help out. I didn't mention it in the first post, but if your novel isn't ready to beta yet... that's fine. The offer doesn't have an expiry date on it (other than me dying). I've been here for years and I'm not planning to disappear suddenly.

backslashbaby said:
Oh, my brother is huge on the cultural appropriation or misinformation about bigfoot! If you'd like a militant NA view, I could get you a review of those passages.
Click to expand...

If he's okay with it, maybe I could send a chapter from the POV of each character? I'll pick the two I think have the most likely cause for issues. But I do want to be sure he's comfortable with it. The book is fantasy, and there is made-up stuff. The references to Spokane stories are real world, but the bigfoot culture is pulled out of the sky (so to speak). I'd understand if he's not okay with that on the general principle.
 
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