Activity

(I don’t know if non-guild masters are supposed to post in this section but) I have an achievement! I finished the latest draft of my WIP!

Unfortunately, all of my family and friends have read my earlier draft, and I need a new set of eyes to beta-read it for me. Is anyone interested? It’s called The Key to Everywhere, and it’s YA fantasy with 50000 words. I could read something for you, or help with some other part of the writing process like brainstorming in return.

Here is the synopsis:

Aliyah Locke has never liked the stories where the main character is suddenly thrust into another universe. Seriously, those characters act like they’ve never read a book before. But when a gift a friend gave her leads her to a strange new world, Aliyah is the first to admit she is not equipped for an adventure. She’s not especially brave, talented, or bold, like all the heroes in books are. She just wants to go home without dooming the inhabitants of the world to destruction.

But when an unexpected betrayal leaves Aliyah stunned, and the only one who can save the kingdom, she has to decide just how much she is willing to fight, and how much she will sacrifice, for a world and a people that is not her own. Because the Short One wants what she has, and he is willing to do anything to get it.

Specifically, I need beta-readers to look for:

• World building. Is the world-building well integrated and spread evenly across the story?
• Description. (My Nemesis. *shakes fist*) Is there enough description and is it good description?
• The First Chapter. Is the first chapter exciting? Do the first few pages hold your interest?
• References. Are there too many references? Do they seem forced?
• Plot Twist. Are the plot twists surprising? Is there too much/not enough foreshadowing?
• Pacing. I think I did pacing well in my first draft, but I’ve gone and tinkered with more world building, and I don’t know if that messed it up. (Not like a “I think I messed it up but I need someone to confirm it I-don’t-know” but a “I’ve lost all of my objectivity at this point and just can’t tell I-don’t-know.”)

If you have read this far, thank you! Even if you don’t end up beta-reading, thanks for at least considering it. (Which I’m assuming you are if you got this far. If you aren’t, then you kept reading even though you knew you weren’t going to do it, which is also cool.)

@catwing @karthmin @hope-ann @sarah-narnathron @enu @sageinthemeadow @emgc @mlbolangerauthor @kelly-lundgren @devastate-lasting @Erekdale