[Wanted] Proofreader / Sounding Board

Discussion in 'Writers' Corner' started by Kephras, Jul 26, 2015.

?

Sound like something you'd read?

Not a fan of science fiction 3 vote(s) 7.7%
Might pick it up, if the cover art's good 7 vote(s) 17.9%
I love sci-fi stories, so yes. 20 vote(s) 51.3%
This is a Kephras book? Of course I'll read it! 14 vote(s) 35.9%
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! 21 vote(s) 53.8%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Ladies & gents of EMC, it's finally come to this: your resident striped scholar is finally attempting his own full-length novel, with intent to publish. And he requests your aid.

    EDIT 10-24-2015
    The "seeking help" part is more or less done with, so you can regard this thread more as an announcement of "Hey, Keph is writing a sci-fi novel." I'll leave the original OP here under the spoiler though.

    EDIT: 11-22-2015
    See this post for more news!

    I'm not looking for just anyone to preview my work, however - I have some specific needs & requirements. I'm also not looking for an Editor (yet) - this isn't about nitpicking grammar and spelling, but examining the flow and progression of ideas, and having someone I can talk things over and bounce thoughts around with.


    If you are interested: Send me a PM
    What you will need:
    • Skype or Steam.
      • You don't have to voicechat with me (in fact, I prefer typing), but I have to be able to discuss stuff with you in realtime - bouncing a forum PM back and forth just won't cut it.
      • Do not bother asking me about Mumble, Teamspeak, etc. Skype or Steam only.
    • Timezone you're available. I'm at work from 2pm to 11:30pm EST five nights a week, and generally only on the computer after that.
    • A healthy interest in scifi / fantasy stories. If the subject matter doesn't interest you, then my book probably won't either.
    • Email or G+ account, so that I can share the doc (if I decide I can work with you)
    How it'll work:
    -If you're interested, send me a PM. I'll toss some ideas around with you (worldbuilding elements most likely, but nothing story-specific). If you have the time and opportunity, skype or steam discussion would be preferable, but forum PM will suffice for this bit.
    -If it seems like we're on the same wavelength, I'll share the doc with you via your email or G+, give you a chance to read through it, and we'll go from there. :)

    What's in it for you?
    -A credit in the book's forward/thank you (under whichever alias you prefer), and a copy of the book (e-book or paperback) provided it gets to that stage.

    (Disclaimer: A little fairy-muse brings me the chapters piecemeal while I'm at work. As long as she keeps doing that, I hope to have it completed in about a month or so. My track-record with finishing projects of any significant scope is abysmal, however, which is part of why I'm asking for this help - it keeps my motivation going.)


    The Rah'li

    (back cover text)
    I’m no one’s master...

    David Keating is a nobody - one more insignificant twenty-something in the smallest state in the country, struggling through a part-time job and his final year of college.

    Zee is an Anomaly - a genetic accident her creators would like nothing more than to see erased, and who owes her very survival to another of her kind - with plans of his own.

    Together, they're thrust from the tiny state of Rhode Island into a galaxy of intrigue, deception, and betrayal, where a conspiracy of interstellar enslavement has Zee's race living in mindless servitude - and the Anomaly is their key to freedom.

    With the fate of her entire race in the balance, David and Zee are faced with the most difficult choice of their lives - their love for each other, or the salvation of her people?
    607, Tuqueque, ObscureGolem and 9 others like this.
  2. Additional Requirement - Do not tell Keph to write faster because you've been sucked into the story ;)
    Equinox_Boss and Kephras like this.
  3. luv sci-fi! :)
    Equinox_Boss and Kephras like this.
  4. Can I be put on the waiting list for this?! I don't mind waiting ^_^ spent 5 years in anticipation to the sequel of one book. I can be patient. ^_^
    607, Equinox_Boss and Kephras like this.
  5. Hmm, skype is a no go for me and I also don't have steam. Any of you youngsters know about IRC though? ;)

    I'm not just saying "irc and lets hop onto a weird server", I'm saying "irc and when people are familiar with this & like the suggestion I can probably provide a safe location". (safe = your host mask gets hidden by default, so no one other than the server admins will know it).

    Those admins would be people I fully trust including myself.

    Having this out of the way: Keph, contacted Ultimamaxx yet? He'd be my first choice by far.
    607, Equinox_Boss and Kephras like this.
  6. I am watching this thread. :) Contacting Kephras to apply is too much work.
    607, Equinox_Boss, ShelLuser and 2 others like this.
  7. Yay! I love to make fun of grammar mistakes!

    Keph. Is. Writing. An actual book! *Explodes*
    Why'd you have to tell us before it gets published!? Now I have to wait in agony for days, even months, waiting for this...
    It doesn't help that Sci-Fi is the majority of what I read.

    I'm horrible at making commitments so count me out, and anyways, I don't want to spoil an amazing story. :)
  8. I've used IRC before plenty of times, but it's not something I use often and as far as I'm aware it's not really a common platform for most people. Skype and Steam are the most prevalent chat programs I use, so that's what I prefer people contact me through.

    Actually I was waiting to bug you because I think you'd make an excellent editor, what with your penchant for grammar and spelling. ;) But that comes once the book is more or less finished and in need of cleaning up. This is so I can talk ideas through and keep my motivation going. Khixan and Palmsugar have already been a big help in that regard, but they both get busy at times and I can't harass them all day and night.
    607, Tuqueque, Equinox_Boss and 4 others like this.
  9. I feel kinda old now :) (naaah)
    Equinox_Boss likes this.
  10. If your "computers in my day" thread didn't do that, this certainly shouldn't ;)
  11. You can harass me any time
  12. I can try. ;p You're a busy sugar.
  13. Gotten a few promising responses, but nothing set in stone yet. :) If you like sci-fi and you're willing to bounce ideas around with me, I'd love to hear from you!
    607, Tuqueque and Equinox_Boss like this.
  14. So here's a query for all you writers out there: How would you distinguish two or more languages being spoken in the same scene?

    Case study for tonight:
    Character A can only speak Language 1
    Character B can speak Language 1 and 2
    Character C can only speak Language 2
    607, Tuqueque and Equinox_Boss like this.
  15. For the curious, current status of book:


    Pages 92
    Words 44662
    Characters 253181
    Characters excluding spaces 209495

    By my own estimates, factoring in plot points that have happened / have yet to happen, it's just under halfway done. :)
  16. I voted 'Not a fan of science fiction' and 'I love sci-fi stories, so yes.' :p

    I would love to help but my time would not work with yours.
    Equinox_Boss likes this.
  17. I'm not really looking for help anymore, I just thought it'd be fun to update everyone on how the book is coming along :)
    tuqueque and Equinox_Boss like this.
  18. I would love to take a peek at your book, the thing is I didn't know how to start the conversation....
    Equinox_Boss likes this.
  19. I just realized this thread is months old...
    Equinox_Boss and Kephras like this.
  20. Been considering reopening this. I am nearing the point where I would start strangling people if I thought I could choke useful and/or constructive feedback out of them. Only real condition in this regard is, you'd have to be able to read something and then tell me what you liked / didn't like, and why.

    Anyone think they're up for that?