Starting Reader/Critique group...

[seawasp]

To improve (hopefully) the overall quality on my stuff, I want to get a group of people to read the material as it's produced and offer commentary. Currently I have two people to whom I read or give copies of my material as it's made: my wife Kathleen and Shana, my Loyal Lieutenant. I'd like, I think, about seven or eight more -- a total of around 10.

Comments

[shana.livejournal.com]

I put the WIPs on my rocket ebook, for convenience. You will get commentary -- probably tomorrow, unless we get inundated by cousins.

I won't comment until I've been through them multiple times -- so Shadow is likely to get the first batch of comments...

[shana.livejournal.com]

And if you don't get enough takers from this post, I suggest asking on rasfc or Paradigms Lost.

[corvidophile.livejournal.com]

ooo ooooo! *raises hand as high as she can*

Pick me me me me me!

[randallsquared.livejournal.com]

*deep breath*

Um, I mean, I would be honored to offer such commentary, in the even that you believe it would be useful for me to do so.

And I guess if you don't get enough people (or the right sorts of people, even...) here, and still not enough on rasfc or "Paradigms Lost" as slrose suggests, you'd probably get about a hundred takers on rasfw.

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[randallsquared.livejournal.com]

Just to be clear, by "the right sorts", I meant to imply that we rabid fans might make up a disproportionate response pool, and rasfw includes people who might be more, er... critical. :)

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[seawasp]

Are you saying that I *DON'T* want a clique of sycophants and yes-men to simply affirm my brilliance?

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[randallsquared.livejournal.com]

Yes, sir!

Ooh. I mean. Um. No, not at all?

Could you rephrase the question?

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[kgbooklog.livejournal.com]

You are, of course, absolutely correct.

I wouldn't mind trying, but I'm not sure if I'm in your target audience (I really should finish reading DK one of these days). But I am experienced: papersky let me beta-read Lifelode (though she hasn't said if my comments were useful or not).

If you did send me something, I'd make a list (indexed by paragraph number) of snarky comments and questions (addressed to the story not the author) based on my first impressions. If something seems inconsistent I'll go back and check, but I probably wouldn't do a full reread.

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[seawasp]

I thought I HAD picked you, in fact. You show on my "invitations" list, but no sign of you accepting the invitation. Sign up for the community (rykspoor_beta) and that should do it.

Re: Pick me me me me me!

[randallsquared.livejournal.com]

Okay!

[eacole72.livejournal.com]

I would love to be able to say yes, but I'm afraid that I wouldn't always have time to be able to offer critiques in a timely manner.

Been there, done that...

[seawasp]

... time is a major issue. As people in my PBEM keep reminding me....

Re: Been there, done that...

[shana.livejournal.com]

You mean I'm not the only one who whinges at you?

[meril.livejournal.com]

I wish you good luck with finding beta readers. I am not volunteering myself because I haven't managed to get around to reading your book, much less the fic you sent me last year. (No, this isn't an issue with your writing; it's an issue with me and remembering to do things/remembering where things are.)

Then again, if you don't mind beta readers who can only read on Saturdays...and only until fall semester starts...I'm certainly here...

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

I wish I could say yes, but I'm a slow reader. I've been beta reading a ms for 3 months now and am barely at the halfway point. *sigh* It woulda been so nice....

[cateagle.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind giving it a try. The next six months look to be brutally busy at work and that would just the change of pace I need to help maintain whatever tenuous grip I hold on so-called sanity. *smile* Besides, I do enjoy your writing.

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

Erm...how do you feel about "I'll read it and spot homonym typo-type thingies if you'll IM with me while I do so?"

Ooh =)

[origamilady.livejournal.com]

Hrmm if you are still looking for folk, I would be very happy to be "beta-reader" -honored in fact.

[kengr]

I'm interested, but a lot depends on the format of the files. :-(

I can do RTF easily, Doc has to be converted to RTF (at least if I'm going to read it on what I do most of my reading on)

Plain text is no problem. Anything else gets weird.

1st Reader Group.

[rugor.livejournal.com]

I'd be very interested in helping with that. I usually have plenty of time to read on my iPaq on the way to and from work and reading yours critically will help me as much as it does you.

I'm still working on novel #2 while waiting to hear back from the GE on #1, so this will be a good way to do it. Besides, I enjoy your prose style.