Beta Reader Group discussion

Hi Esther,

I have a 90k period romance, set in 1800's England, that I would love to get another set of eyes on before I give it a thorough line edit. I'm just looking for overall feedback on the story, character development, if any parts are under/over developed, plot holes, and what you liked/didn't like.

If this interests you, or if you'd like to know more beforehand, let me know.

Hi E.W,

Currently, I received five feedbacks so I’m currently swamped with them.

But after these ones I’m taking care of, I can come back to you and take care of yours.

Esther is a great beta-reader.
I received in-line comments and a report for my first 36k words in only 3 days. Her feedback was so thorough and she gave me such important insight. Not only did she give really good technical feedback on punctuation etc but also on storytelling, flow, prose and how my characters where perceived.

She adapted really well to my genre and age category, she appreciated the humour in the narration and understood exactly the vibe I was going for. She puts skill and personality into her feedback which was really useful to see how readers would react to my manuscript.

I would definitely recommend her!

Hi Esther, I would love for you to read the first two chapters of my novel, the working title is Secrets of Aging. It's about a woman who is rebuilding her life in a 55+ Senior Living Community. She finds purpose and romance. Thanks for considering it:-)

Esther! I hope this is the best place to post this for you to use on your new beta-ing!

My review:
Esther read through my current WIP in the late stages of writing, and I asked for feedback on tension, plot, characters, and other higher-level feedback. She gave excellent inline reader reactions that were helpful for me to gauge how the book was flowing, as well as an excellent and lengthy overview of her thoughts after finishing my novel. She gave thoughtful feedback, reactions, and thoughts, and not only that but offered some very helpful suggestions of her own on things she'd like to see or expectations she had for the plot or characters that will help me as I get my book ready for publication. Not many betas go that extra mile to offer suggestions as well as feedback, and it was greatly appreciated. Esther was friendly, had a very quick turnaround, and was more than happy to chat back and forth a bit about the book after she had read and reviewed it as I worked out some thoughts with her.
I highly recommend her!

Esther, I sent my workbook manuscript "Offshore Riches in Exporting" under separate cover after you expressed interest on Goodreads.  This book is non-fiction in the field of international business supporting entrepreneurs interested in taking their successful domestic operations offshore.  135 pages; 30,000 words prox available in PDF or MS Word format.

I request your review, an honest opinion, and an assessment. Thanks in advance for your reply comments.

Respectfully yours,

Raymond Hopkins
rahopkinsaz@gmail.com

Hi Esther, thank you for your post!

I was wondering if you'd be interested in reading the 2nd draft of my first novel?

It is a Fantasy novel titled The Dream Catcher. It follows a family through their life until their sudden struggles with their daughter, who starts suffering from night terrors. They will soon find out that these night terrors are a part of something much bigger and more sinister.

I'd appreciate your constructive feedback and opinion before I move on to my next draft. Please let me know if you'd be interested.

Thanks
Matthew

I've got a 90k-word book set in modern times, a gender-swapped Cinderella story called "Clay." It's written in a romantic YA style. Before I publish or send it for final editing, I need someone to give it a read. Could you please help? Email me at pranta24@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Hi Esther, I have a 62k word YA thriller I am aiming to publish in June and am searching for Beta readers. Here is the blurb:

"The Bennetts are the picture-perfect family: at least, that’s what they want the subscribers to their famous vlogging channel to think. Between Mom’s obsession with their impeccable reputation and Dad hardly in the picture, seventeen-year-old Alyssa’s life is anything but normal when the cameras are off. Her parents’ divorce was a lot messier than it was portrayed online, and Alyssa wants nothing more than for Mom to put an end to their channel so they can finally get the privacy they deserve.

But when a video exposing the truth goes viral, Dad is out for revenge.

The last thing Alyssa ever expected was to be kidnapped by her own father, but as the days take a darker turn and the threats become increasingly violent, she must fight for survival. But what do you do when the person who was supposed to keep you safe becomes your biggest nightmare?"

Thank you for your consideration! I can be contacted at brianna.n.north@gmail.com :)

Hi Esther!

I have a 93k-word contemporary story with wholesome MxM romantic elements (no smut). It deals with generational trauma and its effects on a family, dealt with through a series of letters the main character's deceased mother left him. On the way there's a bunch of secrets that need to come out, and several (hopefully) huge twists.

Could you please let me know if you'd be at all interested in such a story? I'm not too bothered about a long timeline, if I could just get a vague idea of when you'd have availability?

Thanks!
CJ

Hi Esther, Are you still doing beta reading?

Hi Esther,

I have a contemporary novel at 158k words.

Blurb:
One morning in a coffee shop, Alex is beside himself to meet Pete Shehann, whom it seems has some experience in the very subject of which he is a self-proclaimed enthusiast. Reluctant yet prompted, Pete shares his story, beginning with how his father abandoned him as a child in rural 1930s Oklahoma, leaving him embittered and believing himself a failure, proven time and again. And marrying May couldn’t be luck at all but a fluke, even if she has her own problems. After losing all of her family in a tragic accident, a terrible void remains, and she wants children more than anything.

An unexpected inheritance raises suspicions yet sends Pete and May to a new life in Oregon, where they meet Stevens, the attorney handling the inheritance and proving himself a faithful friend in the years to come. But a tragedy that happened on their journey haunts Pete, eventually conforming to an eerie parallel with May after her health fails following the negative results of an infertility test. It greatly disturbs Pete to discover he isn’t even enough for his own wife to want to live, but he determines to do whatever it takes to save her. And what of himself? Is he destined a lifetime of failure?

If interested, contact me here or at lostintwilight@netzero.net

Looking forward to hearing from you!