Beta Readers/Crit Requests

Glad to be all good with my short peeps.

dgaughran said:

alex - sent you a PM

I have a 2,000 word short that got no nibbles on a round of submissions. I thought it was solid but perhaps I need a fresh pair of eyes on it, maybe the ending is a little rushed. It's offbeat-ish with an ambiguous twist that could be interpreted as having sci-fi undertones.

Dave

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Thanks a lot Dave. I just sent a story your way, and please feel free to send me yours.

Also, it's never too late to sign up for W1S1 and join in the fun! But even if you don't, you are welcome to hang out here with the rest of us, anyway.

Cool.

I did think about joining W1S1, but I just don't have the time at the moment - too many other things on - maybe later in the year

I posted "A Better Tomorrow," a 3000 SF short I'd solicited crits for a few days ago, into the SYW forum. If you'd like to take a look, it's here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210126

alexshvartsman said:

I posted "A Better Tomorrow," a 3000 SF short I'd solicited crits for a few days ago, into the SYW forum. If you'd like to take a look, it's here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210126

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Looked. Commented. (Just my two cents, there. YMMV.)

Thanks, Aggy! About to go look

OK, I need a beta for two things. One is a 700 word speculative fiction story.


The other is sorta like a poem...but not really. Maybe 100 words? Literary, I think

You can help with one or both.

I especially need help targeting a market for both, after fixing whatever needs to be fixed

I will pm them to anyone who is interested. And I will return the favor too, if needed.

Please feel free to e-mail me both at kingsgames at gmail dot com and I will be happy to crit them. Not sure how useful I might be on a 100-word thing, but I will give you my honest opinion.

Thanks, Alex. I will send them shortly.

Hi Soapdish,

I will take a look at the spec-fic piece if you want more than one crit, but I will be absolutely no help on the poetry (david dot gaughran at gmail)

Dave

Hi,

I have another one.

It's 5,200 words, SF-ish, real-world, set in what seems to be the present day, in an unknown city. Story revolves around genetically-modified food, a researcher who loses his mind, and a man who talks to vegetables.

It's by far the longest short I've ever written (I'm usually pretty close to 2,000 words), so I need to check for pacing, and anything else a second pair of eyes might spot.

I wrote it out over the last few days, but I have been thinking about it for a while. On my second draft, I was only fixing typos, so it's probably a good time for a crit.

Any takers?

Dave

Dave,

Shoot it my way. Not sure I can do it tonight, but I'll be happy to take a look.

dgaughran said:

Hi Soapdish,

I will take a look at the spec-fic piece if you want more than one crit, but I will be absolutely no help on the poetry (david dot gaughran at gmail)

Dave

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I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine

I've posted a 2,200 word light fantasy short story in the SYW area if anyone wants to take a look at it. It was an attempted flash I wrote a year ago that ended up way too long, and with a weak ending. I finally took a stab at a new ending tonight that is, hopefully, a bit better. Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6011262#post6011262

I can give it a look tomorrow, GreenRoom. I'm not useful for much past 8pm

soapdish said:

OK, I need a beta for two things. One is a 700 word speculative fiction story.


The other is sorta like a poem...but not really. Maybe 100 words? Literary, I think

You can help with one or both.

I especially need help targeting a market for both, after fixing whatever needs to be fixed

I will pm them to anyone who is interested. And I will return the favor too, if needed.

Click to expand...

I'll take a look at the spec fic story.

I'll pass on the 100 word literary poem/thing though. I fear I'd write 300 words trying to explain what I thought of the 100, and have it all be nonsensical, and as I don't normal read/write anything that short, I'd be useless at suggesting a target market.

I'll read the poem. PM me?

PM sent. Thanks, Gray Rose!

soapdish said:

OK, I need a beta for two things. One is a 700 word speculative fiction story.


The other is sorta like a poem...but not really. Maybe 100 words? Literary, I think

Click to expand...

You've already had some takers, but if you'd like any more you can PM me or just send them to shelleyo at gtec dot com.

Shelley

I'm not going to turn down more critters

I'll email you in a bit, Shelley. Thanks.

I posted a 1,000 word story in the Suddenly Fiction section here (password: flashed). Any and all comments, sweet or sour, are more than welcome. My major concern is whether it seems like a full story. I'm worried it doesn't...

And Soapdish, if you still need a crit, I'd be happy to look at the story and/or the poem.

Smish

I'll check yours out, Smish. But might have to wait until tomorrow...

I may hit you up for a crit too If not for these, I'll come knocking again here pretty soon, I'm sure.

Okay. I repped you my email address.

I had a look and left my comments. Like it, had a few suggestions (I always do, it's a curse) and yes, felt like a full story to me.

Smish said:

I posted a 1,000 word story in the Suddenly Fiction section here (password: flashed). Any and all comments, sweet or sour, are more than welcome.

Click to expand...

Shelley

Thanks, Shelleyo! Your suggestions are great, especially regarding the dialogue. Much appreciated.