Would love a Beta to read the first 3,000 words of my contemporary adult novel

DannySherbet · 11-14-2009, 07:24 PM

Fellow writers!

I am seeing if anyone would be kind enough to read the first 3,000 words or so of my WIP. Possibly with a view to reading the whole manuscript when it's finished. I am over 60,000 words into an 80,000 word novel.

A warning: if you are easily offended, then my story might not be for you. It's a contemporary novel, darkly comic in tone, set in Bradford - which is, for those on the other side of the Atlantic, a working-class town in Northern England - and as such contains swearing and is written in a colloquial style. It also contains some drug use and scenes of masturbation! P G Wodehouse it is not.

However, if have a dark sense of humour, and appreciate the works of Chuck Palahniuk, Irvine Welsh, Martin Amis, James Kelman, Sue Townsend, Roddy Doyle, and others, then my story just might appeal.

In addition to some encouragement and positive appraisal (ie, what you thought was good about my work), I am also looking for some gentle criticism and areas where you think I might be able to improve.

What will I offer in return? Oodles of thanks, and a willingness to read and appraise your own work (if that's what you want).

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

Danny.

RobinGBrown · 11-19-2009, 03:51 PM

I've got the first four chapters (12K words) of a modern adult story set in London that needs beta reading. There's more to come too.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

PM if interested.

Phlex · 11-25-2009, 10:33 PM

I may not be the most experienced of writers or beta readers, but if you would be willing to hear my humble novice opinions concerning what you've written, I'd be more than happy to help where I can.

Use Her Name · 11-30-2009, 08:37 AM

I might take a look. I'll only read the masturbation scenes if they involve sheep or argile socks.

DannySherbet · 12-01-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Use Her Name

I might take a look. I'll only read the masturbation scenes if they involve sheep or argile socks.

Sadly, they contain neither.

However, maybe I should turn my WIP into the first book of a trilogy, and then I can explore my protagonist's argile-sock fetish in the second tome.

And then maybe in the third tome he'll move on to French mustard and rubber chickens.

smoothseas · 12-01-2009, 12:36 AM

If your needin' another pair of eyes...

pm me. What kind of file is it?

Modog814 · 12-01-2009, 09:03 PM

I'll also give it a look if you're looking for another beta. PM Me if interested.

11-14-2009, 07:24 PM	#1
DannySherbet Wellversed in procrastination. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: England Posts: 46	Would love a Beta to read the first 3,000 words of my contemporary adult novel Fellow writers! I am seeing if anyone would be kind enough to read the first 3,000 words or so of my WIP. Possibly with a view to reading the whole manuscript when it's finished. I am over 60,000 words into an 80,000 word novel. A warning: if you are easily offended, then my story might not be for you. It's a contemporary novel, darkly comic in tone, set in Bradford - which is, for those on the other side of the Atlantic, a working-class town in Northern England - and as such contains swearing and is written in a colloquial style. It also contains some drug use and scenes of masturbation! P G Wodehouse it is not. However, if have a dark sense of humour, and appreciate the works of Chuck Palahniuk, Irvine Welsh, Martin Amis, James Kelman, Sue Townsend, Roddy Doyle, and others, then my story just might appeal. In addition to some encouragement and positive appraisal (ie, what you thought was good about my work), I am also looking for some gentle criticism and areas where you think I might be able to improve. What will I offer in return? Oodles of thanks, and a willingness to read and appraise your own work (if that's what you want). Thank you in advance to anyone who can help. Danny. __________________ Current WIP: 66,100 (80,000). Presently editing and expanding. Good luck to everyone else on this site with their writing endeavours! Last edited by DannySherbet; 11-14-2009 at 07:29 PM. Reason: Typo

12-01-2009, 12:36 AM	#6
smoothseas Life sucks... Then ya die... Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: yawn... in da land of the terminally bored. Posts: 2,987	If your needin' another pair of eyes... pm me. What kind of file is it? __________________ seas The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. - Dorothy Parker Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other. - Arthur Schopenhauer I fell asleep reading a dull book and dreamed I kept on reading, so I awoke from sheer boredom. - Heinrich Heine It is only a step from boredom to disillusionment, which leads naturally to self-pity, which in turn ends in chaos. - Manly Hall

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11-19-2009, 03:51 PM	#2
RobinGBrown New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London Posts: 157	I've got the first four chapters (12K words) of a modern adult story set in London that needs beta reading. There's more to come too. I'll show you mine if you show me yours! PM if interested.

11-25-2009, 10:33 PM	#3
Phlex New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dunellen, NJ Posts: 16	I may not be the most experienced of writers or beta readers, but if you would be willing to hear my humble novice opinions concerning what you've written, I'd be more than happy to help where I can.

11-30-2009, 08:37 AM	#4
Use Her Name Self-Banned Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,760	I might take a look. I'll only read the masturbation scenes if they involve sheep or argile socks.

12-01-2009, 09:03 PM	#7
Modog814 New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	I'll also give it a look if you're looking for another beta. PM Me if interested.