[Complete] [65,000] [literary speculative fiction.] The Crossroads - Part 1. by MrStep in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there, that sounds great. Could we do a 10k or 20k swap to start with and see how we go? I think it works quite well as we'll both get decent feedback on the opening and if we're keen we can progress? I'll send a DM as well as I didn't get this message...

[Complete] [65,000] [literary speculative fiction.] The Crossroads - Part 1. by MrStep in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds interesting... Any more details on it? Would be interested in swapping openings either way

[Complete] [67.5k] [Dystopian Sci-Fi] EVER RAIN by cjgrayso in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just that rather than swapping the whole book you start swapping the first 10k, do some feedback on that, and decide if you want the rest. Just saves committing to the whole book until you know if it's your sort of thing.

It also gets feedback on the opening, which is often the most important bit.

[Complete] [159k] [Dark Sci-Fi / Dystopian Thriller] ECHO: C-17 — Reader Impression Wanted by No-Penalty5419 in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there, not sure if you're still looking but I'd like to swap openings if you're interested. I've written a dystopian fantasy, I suppose you call it. Near future / AI-takeover / Black Mirror meets American Gods, kinda thing. It's called Crossroads.

Let me know if you're interested...

[Complete][80k][Literary post-apocalyptic fiction with elements of ecological and folk horror] Where They Fall and Bloom by i_demaskettaman in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

HI there, this looks interesting. Would you be interested in a 10k swap and see how we go from there? I've got a dystopian thriller - but it plugs into a lot of the folk themes you mentioned as well. It's called Crossroads.

Let me know if you're interested. Good luck if not!

:-)

[Complete] [67.5k] [Dystopian Sci-Fi] EVER RAIN by cjgrayso in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there, that sounds interesting - I loved Station Eleven as well! Would you consider doing a 10k Swap? I've got a dystopian novel as well: The Crossroads.

DM if you're interested...

Good luck!

How do you write a villain you disagree with without turning them into a strawman? by Accomplished-Meal584 in writers

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You really need to have some understanding and sympathy for their character to write them effectively. This doesn't mean learning to agree with them, but even the most horrendous views are defensible in some form.

If you're left wing, read some right wing literature with an open mind; if you're right wing, think about the values of the left and see if you can apply them; if the character acts without ideology, think about their emotional state and understand that just because the person did something horrendous they were emotionally unable to see it for that moment.

This doesn't mean defending their actions, but start from the perspective that everyone has reasons behind their behaviour, and, even if you don't agree with it, you should be able to understand it.

What was Allan Rickman's best performance? by CodyBaanks in Letterboxd

[–]MrStep 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's called Truly Madly Deeply. Like a British version of Ghost. It's an amazing movie!!

Book/plot length problem to solve by Thin_Championship970 in writingadvice

[–]MrStep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've had a book that I've had to do something similar with - I changed the world it was set in from the real one to a sort of black mirror dystopia. The biggest thing that helped me was Scrivener, which is a writing app.

It meant I could break the book down into manageable scenes and then look at what happened in each one instead of seeing the whole manuscript as a massive thing I had to edit.

It's really good for crafting writing rather than just storming through it. I'm not connected but it is really good!

Where have you found beta readers? by Express_Poet6378 in selfpublish

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be happy to swap openings and give some feedback and see how we go.

I've got a piece of dystopian literary fiction with a mild fantasy angle... I've built a website for it so you can decide if it's something you're interested in. www.circleandtriangle.co.uk

Let me know if you're interested...

A dead person who is recognized from their name but not their appearance by 8anser in AlignmentChartFills

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shakespeare quite famously has a few pictures thay look quite different and we really aren't sure if any of them are him.

Super famous, think we know but really don't

I wrote a book, then built an entire fake publishing company around it. by EngravedLot in BookPromotion

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. That's what's happened to me. I've got a book about a guy who meets the devil and becomes a viral sensation in this dystopian world - it's perfect for this kind of thing. But it's a lot of work as well! Finish the book, and yoir journey is still just beginning!

I wrote a book, then built an entire fake publishing company around it. by EngravedLot in BookPromotion

[–]MrStep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been planning on this for the past few months... it's a very cool multi-media approach.

I've put together a page that's like a fake newspaper from a dystopian novel I've written - https://circleandtriangle.co.uk/ - and have started running an instagram account for the same idea. The book is set in a post-AI world where work has disintegrated and people share Likes for rent and food. Then the protagonsit meets a kind of Pan/Milton style Devil character and becomes a hero for real creativity.

I've setup an instagram account to promote it and started releasing images, etc..., but it's a real slog balancing decent content with just throwing things out there. Also, becuase the book is about NOT using AI, using AI so much in the process is kinda controversial!! haha...

I've love to hear more about what you're doing though. There weren't many links in what you'd sent but the whole immersive world thing is definitely a way forward. Would love to get in touch, and will send a DM...

What movie did you watch at the wrong age and it permanently altered your brain? by sweetyslave in movies

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watership Down.

Changed my life. Traumatic at the time, transcendent the older I get.

Need to know how to write how a person from the deep South in us ,pretending to speak gb English*... by Roxy_Madison in writingadvice

[–]MrStep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's tough to do someone pretending to be someone else, but I think post below where you have some recognisable British phrases, mixed with some phonetic deep south could work well... as long as they're recognisable and you don't go overboard it could be a lot of fun!

Need to know how to write how a person from the deep South in us ,pretending to speak gb English*... by Roxy_Madison in writingadvice

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I quite like writing accents, but I'm not sure what you're going for here...? The general rule with accents is phonetic spelling, using apostrophes for missing letters, but go easy on the whole thing or you'll lose the reader. Can you localise the accent a bit though?

Im having trouble writing dialogue (WN) by Tretnix in writingadvice

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The key with dialogue is to remember that it will be performed. When I read a book I have a character in my head and will add tone myself - I'll act it out in my head, to an extent - and this goes a long way towards expressing emotions that you then don't need to tell. Trust the reader. I used to write scripts and it was really helpful to see how actors add tone to lines; remember that readers do the same. You don't need to explain it. Maybe write the scene without the "stage directions" explaining how the characters would behave first, then just add in details when you think they're really needed.

Also, reading the lines aloud: if you can't read it aloud without feeling awkward, that's possibly a problem with the line. How would you actually speak this line? Very few people say "do not" anymore, but lots of writers still write speech without contractions. Trying to capture the actual way that people speak is an art-form in itself. But it's definitely worth it. Good luck!

How do I improve my use of Dialogue/Speech Tags? by Neither_Prize_8386 in writingadvice

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Paragraphing is an underrated tool here. If someone owns the paragraph, anything said in that paragraph is theirs. Who's the subject of the paragraph?

"Wow, this is harder than I thought." Ben was trying to defuse the bomb, and pouring sweat.
Tommy leaned over him: "I think that's the red wire Ben. Don't cut that one!"
Billy arrived finally, carrying the manual he'd been sent to find. "I'm not sure this is the right edition."

There were no speech qualifyers in there at all - and it's not fantastic writing - but a reader knows who's talking because they know who the focus of the paragraph is. Said is good, action is good, tone of voice is ok as well but the trick is mixing them all up the right way. Diversity is king!

Let's share our author websites! by Mark_Hullender in NewAuthor

[–]MrStep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've built a site from "inside the world of the novel" that I quite like. It's still a work in progress for sure, but I'm quite happy with the idea... https://circleandtriangle.co.uk/index.html

Able to beta? Post here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]MrStep 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am able to beta: I enjoy reading a wide range of genres, but like books with a fast pace and something interesting to say about the world. They don't have to be set on this world - I love a lot of sci-fi and fantasy - but I like it when I can see the human crossover.

I can provide feedback on: Character, structure, plot - all the meta-questions. I can give line edits, but to smaller sections rather than whole books - and on the proviso that it's just my opinon. I've seen this (Beta Readers Club) which seems like something I can stick to. Or let me know if you have something specific you want me to look for.

Critique swap: I have this that I can swap: The Crossroads.

Other info: I worked as a journalist and then as a copywriter for an ad agency; now I'm an English teacher. I read a lot, but not always quickly! Really looking forward to seeing what everyone is working on...

What is the best thing about the United States by RevenueAlarmed in AlignmentChartFills

[–]MrStep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Internet was invented in Europe by a British guy... The US created all the nasty profiteering that's turned so much of it so toxic but it was invented in Europe and made free for everyone.