Wake up, beta readers!

[annathepiper]

Posting this outside the Writing filter, because some of y'all aren't on that filter, and I'm going to need all the help I can get for this, because Lament of the Dove is going to be a big monster book.

I'm trying something wacky here, since my muse has been balky lately: I've pre-emptively started edits for the second draft, which is mostly for two things: 1) reducing the word count, and 2) fixing the continuity errors I know about. So the commentary I'll be seeking will be for things that will go into the third draft. Right now I'm thinking that I will release chapters to beta readers in sets of three, just for giggles, to include a chapter for each of my viewpoint characters.

As always, if you're neck-deep in your own writing, you are under no circumstances obliged to beta mine. Nor do I ask any one beta reader to tackle the entire novel. Even if you only do a few chapters, that's totally cool. :) Comments both big and small are welcome, anything from nitpicky proofreads like "you left out a word in the third paragraph of page 189" to "you have a huge gaping plot hole in chapter 12"!

And for those of you who don't already know, I keep a private mailing list for my beta readers to send out occasional updates on what's open for reading. If you'd like to be on that list, and if you want in on the beta reading for Lament, give me a shout!

(crossposted to scuzzboppers)

Comments

[kieri.livejournal.com]

I'm interested! Send me story. :)

It will be weird seeing names I'm familiar with from Aether running about on their own. Hee.

[annathepiper]

You're on my beta reader mailing list already, yes?

[janne.livejournal.com]

I'm not that much of an Aether geek, but perhaps that's all for the good in this case. Wouldn't mind having a go :)

[annathepiper]

Familiarity with Aether is NOT required, given that this book has absolutely nothing to do with the MUSH past having two very heavily altered versions of two of my former Aether characters. :)

You're already on my beta reader list, so watch that space for details!

[kieri.livejournal.com]

No? :)

[annathepiper]

Email me to confirm an email address? My addy is visible to my Friends list.

Just a small slice.

[melei.livejournal.com]

I rarely if ever dare to read friends' novels, but I miss Aether, so I'll sample a chapter. =) My email addy's in my userinfo ifya need it.

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Hi, I see you on my friends of friends list at times.

Id be happy to try to help, if that is OK. If so, Ill send along my email addie later today.

[lethendy.livejournal.com]

I'm not a writer by any stretch of the imagination (unless you want a dry monotonous text), but as a translator, I spend a lot of time being nitpicky. If I can be of any use, let me know......

[cow.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to (and interested in) help(ing) out. :D

(argh my sentences get too complex this early in the morning)

Re: Just a small slice.

[annathepiper]

Well, I need to stress that this novel has nothing, repeat, NOTHING to do with Aether. I already had the universe in my head before I was ever on Aether--and I adapted two of my characters, Faanshi and Julian, to fit into it. So you'll recognize their names, and their general character traits, but other than that there's nothing of AetherMUSH in it. :)

Would you like to be on my beta reader mailing list? That's the most effective way I have to send out data to my readers. It is entirely private; no one sees email addresses on it but me, and no one but me posts to it either.

[annathepiper]

Hello there. :) New beta readers are definitely welcome, and I see you've got mikekn on your list! I'll look forward to your email.

Would you like to be on my beta readers mailing list? That's the most effective way I have to communicate with my readers, and it's entirely private; nobody sees the email addresses on it but me, and nobody but me posts to it.

[annathepiper]

Ability to write is not at all necessary to be a beta reader--just ability to read and give good feedback on what you're reading. :)

Would you like to be on my beta readers mailing list? It's totally private. Nobody sees the email addresses on it but me and no one posts to it but me; it's low traffic, and I just send around updates on it every so often. It's the best way I've got to talk to my readers.

[annathepiper]

*giggle* I see you have a love of parentheses. ;)

More beta readers are always welcome to my pool. Would you like to be on my beta readers mailing list? It's private--I am the only one who posts to it and I'm the only one that sees the subscribed addresses. It's how I send out updates to my readers on what's ready to read and how to get it.

[angelina-zooma.livejournal.com]

I'm horrible at writing, but I love reading. You can count me in if you'd like :)

[annathepiper]

New readers are definitely welcome. See my comments further up the thread about my beta reader mailing list--it's how I send out updates to all my readers. Let me know if you want on it. :)

[angelina-zooma.livejournal.com]

sure! ag1138 at hotmail :)

Oh.. and an fyi: I just got an email from the Carbon Leaf store mailing list thingy and 5 Alive is on sale in their online store for $15. This one's great to start with because it's a 2 cd live set. That's the one I started with... and it includes an interesting version of Mary Mac at the very end :D

[annathepiper]

I've added you to the list. Watch that space for further details. :)

Cool, thanks for the heads up about 5 Alive! I certainly like the tracks I downloaded off their site as samples, so I'll definitely want to be picking that album up next time I have spare buckage.

[cow.livejournal.com]

Parenthetical notations are best ever. :)

Feel free to add me. Do you have my e-mail address?

[annathepiper]

I do not! Wing it to me in email. Mine is on my userinfo, visible to my Friends list. :)

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

*belatedly waves hand*

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

I'd be delighted =)

Email is forthcoming.

[annathepiper]

Fabulous! Do you want on my beta reader list? See my comments above on the thread about that. :)

[annathepiper]

And received!

[lethendy.livejournal.com]

I just sent you an e-mail so you can add me to you mailing list.

Looking forward to helping :)

[annathepiper]

Got it! And I'll look forward to getting you and the other folks something to read. :) Thanks in advance and I hope you'll find it fun!

[bloody-keri.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be on your beta list if you'll have me.

[annathepiper]

Certainly. :) If you'll wing me an appropriate email address, I'll add you! My email address is in my userinfo, visible to my Friends list.

Re: Just a small slice.

[melei.livejournal.com]

Really? No Aetherness? Snargle. Oh, well. =D I'm intrigued enough at this point to look at it anyway. Mailing-list away!

Re: Just a small slice.

[annathepiper]

It can't be an Aether novel--that universe isn't my invention, and I do not have permission to write about it. So I can just use only my characters. :)

Hit me with an email as to where I can subscribe you to the beta list. My email address is in my userinfo, visible to my Friends list.