Rose replied to the topic Beta Readers or Form Critique Group? in the forum Writers of Children's/Middle Grade Books 3 years, 10 months ago
Hi Kendra! I’m Rose, pleased to meet you!
What’s the premise of your novel? I’d like to know more about it!
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Hey Rose! Nice to meet you too!
My story is about a world without music. A boy named Remi has trouble fitting in with his family and avoiding trouble with the soldiers the patrol their bay. Then one stormy night, he meets a mysterious girl who is on a dangerous treasure hunt that will change their world.
It’s been a fun and challenging writing journey! I’m realizing that it will be a triology because I just can’t fit it all into one book haha.
What are you working on these days?
That’s a really cool premise! It sounds like a lot of fun to write too!
I was curious, does it have a magic/special abilities system, because I’m generally a bit uncertain of those, so I’d like to know more about it if there is one 🙂
Ooh, trilogies are the best! *High-fives fellow trilogy writer* I’m drafting the third book of mine, it’s been a wild ride!
Thanks for asking! I’m actually not a MG writer, though I want to give it a go later, I’m on the YA side of things. (I do read MG though, I just haven’t tried writing it yet)
I’m writing a Historical fantasy trilogy that is born out of the fact that I love deep symbolism, complicated plots, and complex themes, but my characters are chaotic stupid and have no sense of self-preservation and some of them are in it just for the heck of it. It’s brilliant fun to write XD
I finished the second draft of my first manuscript (90k), finished the first draft of the second manuscript, and
Here’s the pitch: The princess of a desert tribe has to save her older brother after he’s captured by an enemy tribe. She has to save him before a war breaks loose or risk losing everything she’s ever loved.
However, I’m not stuck on exchanging, I’m completely happy to just beta-read for you! I have beta-read/critiqued before, and I really enjoy it!
If my manuscript sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d love to exchange, but if it isn’t your thing, I’d still be happy to critique!
Hey Rose! Congrats on finishing your second draft! And that’s super cool you’ve already gotten a great start on your trilogy. So historical fantasy — tell me more about that. Is it based on our world in the past? Or are you using historical things in a totally different context? Would also be curious where the magic/fantasy part comes into your story.
Yeah, I do have some magic/special abilities in my story, but it’s through music. Music has its own special power, once you know how to listen and harness it.
That’s so generous of you to offer to read mine regardless! I am definitely interested to learn more about yours. I don’t know as much about YA, although I have read YA books. What kind of feedback are you hoping for?
Hey Kendra!
Thank you! Well, Historical fantasy is a term I like to use to describe what is essentially high-fantasy but rooted in historical events. So, it’s a fantasy world, but it’s based off real areas, cultures, and time periods, though it also has fantasy elements.
My project doesn’t have any kind of magic/special abilities system, or any fantasy races.
It’s loosely based off Medieval North Africa and Old Testament Israel.
I’d still be interested in reading your manuscript! It sounds really interesting, I’m looking forward to it!
Of course! I love beta-reading, it’s free reading material and people actually want me to give excited essays about it afterward XD
I mostly want big-picture feedback, on character arcs, plot points, themes, and big stuff like that. Nothing closer than scene-structure.
I completely rewrote from scratch for the second draft so I’m still open to fairly big revisions. (It was my first ever writing project and the first draft was a dumpster fire XD)
I’d say it’s readable, just not very polished yet. (very few typos, generally good grammar and no missing parts)
I’ll drop you an email to work out the details! Thank you so much for the opportunity, I’m really looking forward to it! 🙂