Beta needed for long travel memoir

[Zhanna]

Hello -

I am looking for a beta reader (or readers) for a rather lengthy travel-oriented manuscript. I particularly need a reader who is willing to wade through this and considered structure as well as categorization. The manuscript is based on fact, with a few dates and names changed, and for purposes of marketing and legal safety, I was hoping to categorize it as fiction. However, nothing else inside it (events, characters) has been created by me and therefore I would assume it is nonfiction.

At present it is 141,000 words. I *know* this is too long! I do have a five-page chapter outline that may help. Briefly, the manuscript is about a young American woman who quits her job, sells her car, gives up her apartment in San Francisco and leaves for Russia, where she "infiltrates" the famous Mariinsky Theatre and achieves her initial goal of jump-starting a career as a ballet critic. The protagonist is me, and it's written in first person.

I can provide more background or answer any questions if needed. If someone would be interested or willing, please reply to this post. Many thanks in advance!

[Sohia Rose]

It'll take me about two days to edit both my WIP, and I just volunteered to beta-read a 3,000 word article for someone else in this forum, which is due in 24 hours. But I can read this for you if you give me up to three weeks?

I'll admit, I don't have reading experience for "travel" memoirs, but I have experience reading, and writing, memoirs. I can offer advice on tone, flow, consistency, missing elements, and my emotional reactions. One of my WIP is a memoir.

[Zhanna]

Hi Sohia Rose,

Thank you so much! Take four weeks if you need to. I really appreciate the help, and the fact that you're working on a memoir too is just icing on the cake.

How shall i get the manuscript to you, and when would you like me to send it? The chapter outline is about 100kb as an attachment and the full MS is about 1800kb. I dont want to overload your inbox so let me know how/when to send.

[BTW I also consider this a WIP...and it will be until it gets a contract, or gets thrown in the trash!]

very best wishes,
Zhanna

[Sohia Rose]

I'll send you a private message for my email.

[Sohia Rose]

Oh, and by the way, I'm not a crude, rude, or mean critic. I believe that a critic or an opinion can be provided in a nurturing, positive way. I soften the blow with gloves. And I won't make it my work. I'll try to help you be the best you can be. So don't get nervous. :)

[Zhanna]

Ha ha. I didn't think you would be mean :-). Just the fact you said that means you're aware of how sensitive these issues can be. Double icing on the cake! I will check the PM box.

[Zhanna]

p.s. My MS is *not* double spaced at present time, just bc its easier for me when trying to deal with structure (as I have been) to work Single spaced. But i can send you a double-spaced version if that's easier to work with. Let me know which you prefer.

[historian]

Arrrgh. I wrote a post but it disappeared. Here goes again.

This sounds interesting. I'd love to read it if you need more critiques. I have had short stories, articles and a gardening book published but no novels so far. I have critted several novels and my specialty is condensing :)

You could send it as an attachment. I trust you have anti virus protection.

historian

[Zhanna]

hi Historian,

Same thing happened to me just now -- post was eaten by cyberspace, I think.

The answer is yes! I can always use a pair of fresh eyes, even better if condensing is your specialty. May I ask what subject area your published articles are in (aside from gardening?)

Is single-spaced OK with you? PM me with your email address, let me know, and I will send the attachment. I have norton *and* semantec and today did my weekly virus check: totally virus-free!