Willing Beta Readers Volume II

Beta reader for women's fiction

I'm pretty new here, but I have a degree in creative writing (so I've been a beta reader elsewhere). I am looking for women's fiction novels with erotic themes and/or romance. That is also what I write. I am looking to sharpen my copy editing skills, so I can do that for you, too, if you'd like.

I'd prefer a completed manuscript (since that is what I have), but I will read individual scenes if you are looking for a second opinion on something that you feel needs polishing. I need a beta reader who will be brutally honest and as thorough as possible in their critique. I am querying agents, so I need to know what works and what doesn't.

I'd REALLY like someone willing to spitball ideas with me so we can both improve our writing.

I DO NOT WANT pornography/erotica (as in the first scene is sex, and there is no plot, only minor dialogue tying together numerous sex scenes). I do write very descriptive love scenes, but they do not appear until halfway through the story and are not the main focus of the novel.

I'm open to beta read, but only if it's under 80,000 words (i.e., expecting to focus on young adult).

All booked up for the moment. I'll edit this when I finish some of what I'm reading.

What I'll Read

I'm interested in most young adult.

As for adult, I like soft sci-fi, fantasy (no high or epic, sorry), urban fantasy, magical realism, dystopian, apocalyptic, thriller, mystery, some historical. No pure romance. No pure literary (i.e., I'd love some of the genres with literary or romance elements).

What I'll Do

I can do some line edits (if they stand out), but I'll probably focus on larger plot elements and character development. I can be blunt if you want, but I'm a nice person so I won't be mean. I'd love to actually have a conversation about your work and work with you through reviewing, etc.

Credentials

Not many! I'm a huge reader. I've got a degree, but it's a lowly English one. I've been published by a very small press -- a personal essay in a fairly niche collection. I've written several manuscripts and I'm currently querying one (with a couple fulls out). Not that that's a credential, just letting y'all know where I am in the process.

(Looking to take on one or two completed novels for the beginning of summer. Not swapping, since my current WIP is only at the drafting stage.)

Available: EDIT: No. I've looking at 3 interesting novels, so I'm booked for the moment -- I'd rather get back to the authors quickly. I'll come back and edit this when a slot frees up.

Preference: Fantasy (any kind), YA Contemporary, LGBT-themed, YA Dystopian, Romance, and quirky, fun stuff that resists categorization. I'm not well read enough in other genres to consider them. Bonus points for anti-heroes, wit, a diverse cast, a compelling voice.
Completed drafts, ie, the ending is already penned.

Experience: My only experience betaing is with writer friends.

My Style: Line-by-line only for particularly awkward paragraphs. I'll mention if something really works or really doesn't work, but otherwise, I'll focus more on the flow of the story, the characters, the overall impression. I'm honest, but not harsh. I leave comments on the MS and more general notes in an email.

Contact: Send a PM with a short synopsis (more backcover blurb than synopsis), genre, and wordcount.

Availability: Accepting PMs until December 1st

Preference: Young Adult only please! I only have a few exceptions within the YA genre that I'm not big on reading (see below), everything else is perfect to send my way: Paranormal, Romance (paired with other genres listed), Dystopian, Thriller, Horror, Sci-fi, Fantasy, etc.

What I Won't Read: Anything that's not YA, YA Contemporary (sorry, I just can't read straight contemporary), anything erotica, Western, or high fantasy. Also, anything that is incomplete and/or hasn't been edited at all

Experience: I've been a critique partner for multiple people, I graduated college with a BA in Creative Writing, have been accepted into a MFA program for CW, been through various workshops, and used to review on Inkpop before they killed the site. I've also have previous beta experience, with favorable responses to my feedback.

How I Work: If you want to send it all at once then I'm going to take some time on it (don't expect it returned in 24 hours or even two weeks). I'm very thorough and will leave as many comments as I see fit and try and highlight issues that are repeated (hence why it takes so long). Also, if you only want me to look for certain areas, I can do that too. I'm not a grammar nazi, so I'm stronger if you are looking for things such as characterization, pacing, continuity, plot, etc.

I'd prefer if we just started with the first chapter to just read. Then, the first three, then, if I think we are a good fit, I'll ask you to send the entire manuscript.

Critique: I'm honest and blunt. If I have an issue with your character or plot, I'm going to say something. But, I will always give you ways in which I think you can fix the issue or suggestions. My motto is, if you don't agree, then ignore me. After all, it's your story, not mine. I'm never going to just point out all the flaws. I'll also look for whats working and point those areas out too. But, if you are easily offended, then I suggest you look somewhere else.

Swap: I'm always willing to swap if you'd like to develop a mutual relationship and partnership throughout the writing process. I keep in touch with many of my betas and writing partners, and have known some of them for years now. I don't have anything now, but may int he future.

Contact: PM me your query or summary, word count, what you are looking to get out of this (plot, characterization, voice, pacing), type of comments (in-line, chapter by chapter, overall), time frame (ASAP, take your time, 3 weeks, etc), and anything special you'd like from me!

Also, if you could tell me more about yourself and how you started writing, why you wrote this, etc. I like to establish relationships with the people I critique for!

I'm new here, but I'd love to beta read for someone. I've read slush for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Bloomsbury USA, and a few literary agencies as well. I can send you a sample report on request.

The reports I write for publishers tend to be big-picture-focused. Generally I do a what works/what doesn't breakdown for plot, character, and prose. If you'd like me to do line edits or go more in depth, I can do that, but I would need a little more time. At the moment I would expect to be able to turn a manuscript around in about a month.

I am most interested in middle-grade, YA, and women's fiction, both commercial and literary. I'd also be interested in (eventually) swapping manuscripts with someone—my current MS is a 60k word middle-grade fantasy novel. PM me if you're interested and tell me your word count, brief synopsis, and what kind of beta read you're looking for.

All booked up for the time being!

Genre Preference: Any type of fantasy - epic, low, YA, contemporary, urban, etc. I love it all. I'll also consider works that are in the YA category or works with light SF elements.

Feedback Type: I can give feedback on characters, pacing, worldbuilding, and other general story elements on a completed MS. I probably will not be able to do a line-by-line critique but will leave copious comments if that's what you're looking for.

Contact: Please PM me with a short synopsis, word count, time frame, and a list of questions/issues you'd like me to address with your MS. I'm happy to help!

I'm available.

I read YA, SF/F and anything with a good plotline. Just tell me what's it about. Word counts under 100K.

Feedback is given on a chapter-to-chapter basis, with notes on characters, scenes, descriptions, plotholes, what I'd like to read and where. I also focus on grammar and tightening up sentences.

I do most of my beta work on an exchange basis. I beta your work, you beta mine in return. (I write YA SF).

PM me if interested, with details about your WIP and how fast you need it done.

SO I'm new to AWC, and have not posted anything. I have a work near complete (first attempt) and want to know how I submit to you for Beta reading?
Thank you

Drewski said:

SO I'm new to AWC, and have not posted anything. I have a work near complete (first attempt) and want to know how I submit to you for Beta reading?
Thank you

Click to expand...

Hi Drewski, and welcome!

There are stickies on the forum, so before you make a post requesting a beta reader you should take a gander at those, especially
this one. People on this thread are offering their services as beta readers for people who would like to contact them, but you can also make your own thread asking for beta readers for your specific project.

However, you should be advised that most beta readers here are only going to be looking at completed works. You can also post a short excerpt of your work for critiquing in the Share Your Work (SYW) forum when you hit 50 posts.

Hope this helps!

Availability: *UPDATE* Still accepting requests, but I have a backlog of about three weeks. If you're interested in being in my queue, I welcome your PM.

Preferences: I read YA and NA. My favorite subgenres include contemporary, dystopian, and sci fi. I love reading romance in any subgenre. If your style is quirky/fun or poetic/romantic, we might be a good fit.

My style: I'll read chapter by chapter or give the whole MS a go at once. I'll give feedback regarding plot, characterization, pacing, style, etc. I have a good eye for catching snags in story logic. I like working with writers who ask questions and follow up on the feedback I give whether they agree with it or not.

I consider myself truthful and to-the-point but I don't believe in being overly blunt or negative. I will point out what I enjoy as well as what I think needs improving.

Experience: I'm very well read in modern YA. I've written three first drafts of YA novels, the most recent of which I will soon be revising. In the past I have given shorter critiques on various forums etc and now I'm looking to expand my experience by beta reading.

Swap: Currently I don't need to swap. I will be needing a beta starting at the beginning of August. If our partnership goes well and you are available, I may want to discuss the possibility swapping then. But for now, if you just need a reader, I'd be happy to help.

Contact: If you're interested, please send me a short synopsis of your work along with why you think we would be a good match. I always welcome questions.

Beta ISO YA novels

Update 10/19/14: Looking for one or two more betas, ideally with completed mss of your own. It would be great to swap with someone who could do a read in <3 weeks.

What I'd like to read:

Fiction only. MG/YA/NA, but age group is not something I really care much about. Length <100k. No dystopian, horror, mindless violence, religious themes. My favorite types of stories are those which feature real consequences for characters, but ultimately end on a positive note with some sort of victory, even if it is pyrrhic. I can't stand gimmicky premises founded on "wouldn't it be neat if..." but then don't have the creativity to explore the realistic ramifications of the initial idea. Most comfortable areas are fantasy of all types, contemporary, magic realism. Would rather not read volumes in an existing series, but I'll start a new one from the beginning and can probably do multi-volume.

Feedback: I give holistic criticism, but it depends on where the problems are. Text should be at least draft+ 1 polish, ideally has been read aloud/corrected at least once. If you don't agree with me about the value of hearing the text, you might want to look elsewhere. I pay attention to the sound of the words (which is not an excuse for great-sounding but substanceless prose). I would best describe my feedback as honest, but always with an eye towards how to fix the particular problem. If I think text is a complete loss, though, I'll say so directly.

I read and type crazy fast (can complete 100k mss in 3-4 days) if I'm inspired, but will not read on a deadline. I usually make only one pass, prefer working in MSWord, but will fill those pages with comments where needed. I do line edits, sidebar comments, and summation docs all at once.

Credentials: I have a B.A. in Creative Writing, an M.A. and Ph.D in Humanities. I read everything my three kids (ages 9-15) read, good and bad. I usually read widely in fantasy (less so for sci-fi) of all types, and any MG/YA/NA that interests me. I've done 10 complete mss beta reads since July 2014 (ranging from 60k to 100k).

Availability: UNAVAILABLE (July 15, '14)

I have a manuscript that I need beta-readers for, so I am willing to beta-read for writers who can return the favor.

My Preferences: Young Adult or New Adult - Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Paranormal, Chick-Lit, Women's Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi.

Note: Violence is okay. I don't mind blood and gore if it is written well.


I will NOT read:

- Another paranormal romance. I don't mind manuscripts with romantic content, but I just don't want to read anything with romance as the focal point. Especially if it's a romance between a vampire boy and a human girl. Thanks.

- First Drafts and very rough manuscripts that are riddled with copious spelling errors (please clean up your manuscript before giving it to me.)

- Anything with graphic erotic content or profuse swearing. The occasional swear word is fine, but if there are F-bombs in every paragraph, then I won't read it.


Experience: I have a BA in English. I've Beta-Read for six writers already and they were all very pleased with my thorough and helpful feedback. I am also in Public Relations, so I have a solid background in communications and am equipped with strong grammar skills.


Style: I'm respectful and professional, but very honest. Therefore I will be gentle, but I won't sugarcoat anything.

I'm flexible with your requirements. I try not to do too much line-by-line critiquing and just focus on the story as a whole. But occasionally I will point out lines that stand out to me (whether for good or bad reasons.)

I prefer to beta-read Microsoft Word documents. But if you absolutely insist on sending it as a PDF, message me and we can work something out.



Turnaround Time: 2-3 weeks (or less)


PM me if interested. Thanks!

Availability: Potentially Booked.

My Preferences: Horror, Science Fiction, Bizarro, Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense/Mystery. Basically anything that isn't solely Romance/Erotica. I would also be willing to do Young Adult for any of the above. I have no content restrictions either, so anything extreme is fine as long as its warranted.


Experience: I read a lot and have done proofreading for a number of friends throughout college but no professional experience.


Style: I haven't done much of this before so my style is liable to change as I get some experience as a beta reader. I plan on doing mainly broad spectrum ideas and thoughts but also line-by-line if it seems like it'd help. I don't sugarcoat anything but will also not be too forceful with opinions as they are just that.


Turnaround Time: I can guarantee within a few weeks, but likely will be faster.

Amateur seeks manuscripts/willing victim to critique/beta read/experiment on

10/31/14 : Unavailable.

Availability: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here (Yes). Not swapping/looking for readers at this time.

Genres/Categories: Adult (no MG/YA/NA) other than romance/woman's fiction/erotica, ideally around/under 100k (aka the old "first novel" range).

I would like to think very little "throws" me in terms of subjects or language.

What I do: Read for story, pace and character from the viewpoint of a half attentive reader. Think of me as that person on the train glancing at your paperback between stops (face it, that's a cool thought) and you wouldn't be wrong.

What I don't: Line by line breakdowns, grammar/proofing, noting word use beyond glaring repetition or passive voice. I lack the skills/confidence to give someone's work that level of treatment.

What I would like: Full manuscripts in standard format, in any PC compatible file type (DOCX,PDF, ODT,etc). I'll read the first twenty pages (IE the agent chunk) and get back to you. Barring a total mismatch between reader/writer I'll then read the full.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm doing and am using this as a personal exercise to develop my own critiquing skills. That means (IMHO) reading and considering unfinished works in as many genres as possible.

Message me for email address and with any other questions you might have. My current schedule allows for about one read per week and the procrastination monkey demands I find something other than my own writing to finish.

Status: UNAVAILABLE

Genre Pref: I can deal with mid-teens to early thirties since it's all in my comfort zone. I’ll read sci-fi, fantasy (not that fond of high fantasy, i.e. elven doth shire blah blah blah), or horror. Any other genre, as long as it’s a subgenre, is fine.

Not interested in: Incomplete works, historical, lots of grammatical errors, your erotica with the douche alpha aggressive ass rich guy, anything over 90,000 (and that’s pushing it)

Disclaimer: I want a beginning, middle and end. I want to be able to read it aloud, and not constantly trip up. It’s much easier to critique and assess that way. If I can't concentrate on your actual story I will email you and tell you either I can't do it, or if you want me to continue, I will force myself and it will be a harsh critique. I also expect responses, since if you don’t respond to me I figure you don’t want any more of what I’m selling.

Contact: PM me with what you want me to call you, the length of the MS, the genre and a query/summaryish thing for the story. If the query hooks me, I'll probably read. If I don’t want to, don’t feel bad since I’ve got the attention span of a fish, and literally judge books by their covers and their tropes.

I'd also like any additional notes, like what you want me to focus on in particular. Keep in mind, I'd rather not do line edits/grammar and mechanics. If possible, I’d like a small excerpt as well (at LEAST 1,000 words). If you have any of your work in SYW, that is extremely helpful (sometimes, the writing style of the author isn't my cup of tea and 500 words isn't long enough to warn me).

Mostly, I just want to have some fun since I’ve got some time, and want to read a bit more.Please note that it takes me a minute to accept, but a month to reject. My reading tastes are fickle, so I don't know what I'll be in the mood for in a couple of weeks.

10char

Availability: Currently full--sorry! Currently available, but pleasePM me your blurb first, just to make sure your MS and I are a good fit.

Preference: YA, especially with speculative elements of any kind, but preferably rooted in this world. I've also selectively beta-ed some non-romance NA, so that's cool too. And horror is generally welcome (YA especially, but some adult may be a good fit)!

What I Won't Read: High fantasy, hard sci-fi or romance (but elements of any of these are fine and most welcome! ). Also, no YA contemporary, please (sorry, just not my bag), nothing longer than 90,000 words, and absolutely no first drafts. Please, proof your work for grammar, spelling and major plot inconsistencies before sharing it with anyone.

Experience: I have a BFA in Creative Writing, and as part of that program, I got to critique a lot of different people's work. I also worked in corporate communications for a while, so I'm pretty decent at spotting well-crafted writing and helping folks fine-tune/tighten their craft. The folks I've beta-ed for over the past year or so have all replied with positive comments about my feedback.

How I Work: I'm very thorough (and life is very busy), so if you're looking for super quick turn-around, I'm not your gal. But if you're not in a hurry, for sure drop me a note! I'm also really good at keeping you in the loop when and if I'm going to need to take a little longer than anticipated.

I will give you a document with general comments on what works and what needs work. This can be anywhere from 2 to 15 pages long, and it will include overall impressions, thoughts on characterization and plot, plot twists, subplots, minor inconsistencies etc., plus chapter-by-chapter identification of issues (or of good things! I love pointing out good stuff too!)

I do not do line-edits, but will point out glaring typos, awkward constructions and general writing issues (whether things are wordy or need tightening, for example), especially if I find they're detracting from the story.

I'm open to follow-up questions, too. Meaning, if you have any concerns with your MS that I don't happen to bring up in my crit, I'm always happy to discuss further.

Critique: I'm very honest, but also try to balance the not-so-good with the good. Also, if something's not working, I'll do my best to tell you why, and if I'm able, I'll offer suggestions.

Swap: Eventually, for sure! I believe in developing good CP partnerships, especially if we find our personalities and styles mesh together nicely. I don't have a beta-ready MS at this point, but I will in maybe a couple of weeks or a month, and at that time I might be asking for a swap.

Contact: Sorry, my plate is currently full. PM me your query/blurb, word count, anything specific you'd like me to pay attention to (i.e., general comments only, or character development, plot holes, "jump the shark" moments, etc.), and what kind of turn-around you're hoping for.

Availability: Currently Available

Preference: I'm willing to beta-read fantasy, literary and creepy horror.

In terms of taste, I like things that are lead by complex, flawed female characters, and that do interesting things with language and structure. Think N. K. Jemisin, Shirley Jackson, Angela Carter and Kate Griffin.

I won't read: Anything with sexual assault or sexual violence in it, hard sci-fi, or tech thrillers. I'm also not really a fan of romance.

No line edits. Instead, I specialise in pointing out plot holes, awkward sentence structures and characterisations/decisions that make me go 'huh'? Please note I am british, so I use British English spelling and grammar constructions.

I can't promise it'll be fast, but I will do it.

Experience: A level (grade A) in English Literature, currently studying for an OU english degree. Have been reading widely for years.

Critique: Honest, and passionate, but I hope not cruel.

Size: No full novels, not to start with. At the moment my limit is probably around 10,000 words. If I want to beta the full novel after this 10k, I'll let you know.

Swap: When I'm done with my current WIP I'd be happy if you read it.

Please PM me your blurb and info. Also, link to any examples of your writing that currently exist in the wild. We'll communicate from there.

Willing to beta

Availability: Limited availability, but message me if interested

What I Read: I'll read pretty much anything YA (fantasy, sci-fi [not super complicated, please], contemporary, romance, historical, etc.). I would consider reading something NA/ MG, as well. I won't look at first drafts-- must be at least a completed second draft.

What I Don't Read: Erotica, epic fantasy, horror, poetry, non-fiction of any kind (memoirs, biographies, etc.).

Style: I consider my feedback to be pretty honest- I'll tell you if something's not working for me, but I try to be more encouraging. We all know how it feels to be in love with a story you write and then have it bashed

Length: Nothing much more than 100K, please.

Timeline: It depends on the length of the manuscript, of course, but I read pretty fast. My schedule is not always set in stone, and beta reading is not a priority, so it could be anywhere from one week to three weeks (usually). I might be able to read something by a deadline, but don't count on it. UPDATE: I'm super busy right now, so it might take awhile if it's anything over 50k.

Experience: I've beta read for several writers and enjoy helping others with the writing process I also read A TON of YA and know what's typical for a published YA story.

Swap: Nothing is ready at the immediate moment, but I would love to pass mine along once it is ready for fresh eyes.

Contact: PM me with a brief description of your novel, and we can talk from there and see if we could be good partners

UNAVAILABLE for a bit.

I became an English major in college because I am a book-a-day reader my wole life and it was the easiest major. I've also taught English and Creative Writing for 23 years. I prefer mysteries. I don't like YA, romance, horror. Please, as someone above said, no variations on "Fifty Shades of Idiocy," no erotica, no fantasy/sci fi. Not my thing, I'd ne grumpy and do a terrible job for you. I like quirky works, also, like The Department of Speculation, works that defy pigeonholing. If you think I can help, run it by me.

Length - under 100k please

Timeline - I'm pretty fast and in e tween my own post-Masters classes and starting the school year, so I have three weeks.

Swap - just started my first edit of one of my two mysteries I'm working on, so eventually...



Thanks!
Nancy

Hi. I'm really interested in YA: dysatopian novels,adventure, romance, futuristic or somewhat similar. I'm not particularly interested in editing, but in the book itself. Themes, plot, narrative momentum and character analysis. Please give a small synopsis of your novel with your email and we'll go from there. I generally get back to Authors in less then two weeks depending on length. Looking forward to responses.

Oh, your post made me feel awesome as I'm for the first time looking for beta readers. If you could PM me the link, I'd be grateful. Thank you for posting this!

Ok, I'm in.

Availability: Not at the moment. Sorry!

Preference: I'll read just about anything with an element of tragedy in it. Outside that, I tend to enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, and mysteries.

Style: Blunt, honest, and brief.

Timeline: I won't have a lot of time until September 1st. From that point, any work under 100k words should see a turnaround of <1 week. Longer works will require longer turnarounds.

Swap: I have nothing ready at the present. If I beta your MS, I may ask you to beta one of my own in the future.

I'm available !

I'd like to read YA, under 100k please.

I'd like to swap with someone, as I have a 70k YA crime novel at the beta stage too, so I'd love to make some friends who are at the same stage, and we can hopefully help each other out and cheer each other on. No live in the UK and I'm always keen to meet fellow UK-ers but if you're from anywhere else that is fine too.

I'd like to give my honest opinions, like I'd read a published book, and tell you where my interest wanes or what things aren't working for me etc etc and I'd like someone equally candid in return.