First Reader Needed

[Guest]

I need a First Reader (not an editor) for a non-erotic lit fic story I just finished. I'm not looking for corrections or advice on revisions. The story runs under 5000 words (8 pages single spaced).

I'm looking for reader reaction. I don't care so much if you like or dislike it, as this is a first and a half draft, and I haven't started mucking with it.

I want to know if the story has an impact, what impact the reader gets, and if the story is balanced. I want a feel for what's working and what's not, if you can identify the characters, if the images are clear enough, and if the story moves in a way a reader can follow.

Again, I do not want editor level advice. The story isn't developed that much and can't take that kind of scrutiny, but I need a little broad feedback before I start tweaking it.

If you think you'd like a stab at it, send me a PM. Ideally, I'd like to get opinions from at least two people.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Um... I can't promise to turn the editor bug all the way off, but I can read it for you.

I'll give it a shot. What type of story is it? Besides non-erotic, that is?

Q_C

 

[Guest]

Um... I can't promise to turn the editor bug all the way off, but I can read it for you.

I'll give it a shot. What type of story is it? Besides non-erotic, that is?

Q_C

Literary Fiction -- just a story about common people having a life. If you are gonna succumb to editoritis, tho, you might want to accept my thanks for the offer and run away. I know what I can handle at this point, and a first read is all I'm ready for.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Literary Fiction -- just a story about common people having a life. If you are gonna succumb to editoritis, tho, you might want to accept my thanks for the offer and run away. I know what I can handle at this point, and a first read is all I'm ready for.

It's your call, and I PMed you when I skimmed the first post again, so it's in your box.

I'm not gonna try to cross your T's and dot your I's, but I also can't say I know exactly what you mean but non-editorial. Basically, I include things like a break in character or a lack of flow to the story in my version of editing. I can dodge the basics, grammar and spelling and all that, and focus on character development and story flow, I just can't exclude those last two, no matter what I do.

Q_C

 

[Guest]

It's your call, and I PMed you when I skimmed the first post again, so it's in your box.

I'm not gonna try to cross your T's and dot your I's, but I also can't say I know exactly what you mean but non-editorial. Basically, I include things like a break in character or a lack of flow to the story in my version of editing. I can dodge the basics, grammar and spelling and all that, and focus on character development and story flow, I just can't exclude those last two, no matter what I do.

Q_C

you've got a response.

Ok, lemme 'splain what First Reader does.

First Reader reads a story, knowing it is a first draft and that there are going to be errors and problems and not letting those stop the reading (as an editor would, since they have to stop to mark and correct. First reader looks for the things anyone reading a story looks for -- character, setting, continuity, impact, the rise and fall of the story, etc. -- but when they find a problem, they summarize it. Instead of saying, for example, "On page X you should change the passive voice" or "You could increase the impact of Character 2's crisis by doing...", a First Reader would say something like "The narration lost some energy in places, I can mark spots if you want" and "Character 2's crisis didn't really convince me."

See the difference? I'm trying to answer the question "Does this communicate to another?" without getting into questions of how well or how poorly it does that communication, or how that communication can be improved.

First Reader tends to concentrate on the positives of a story and answer the questions the author asks, without making suggestions. I use First Readers frequently, but none of my usual people are available right now and I don't want to wait a month for my next writing group meeting to work on this story. Editors are intrusive into a story because that's what editing is, and eventually this story will be strong enough to be edited. Editing too soon can kill a story (at least for me, and for other writers I know). I use First Readers to check myself, to see if what I see from the dark depths of the story, to see if there is communication going on.

 

[Guest]

 

[Alessia Brio]

This, I can do (if'n ya still needs eyes).

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I think we mean the same thing. I can cut out the details of editing, and focus on the story flow and characterization. If that's what you want, and it sounds like it, then i can read it, and do nothing other than answer your questions.

It's your call.

Q_C

 

[Guest]

Thank you, QC, Imp and Jammies. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[angelicminx]

Damn, too late again.

 

[kendo1]

PM me if you need a second view.
I'll be honest.