Looking for help

Hi all,
I am getting ready, almost (maybe close), to start working on a query and possibly finding some guts to actually send them out. Some of the agent sites I visited request the first ten to twenty pages to be sent with the query. I was curious if anyone would be interested in reading the first couple of chapters of my ms. I am looking for clarity, punctuation, grammar, and of course interest.

Suggestions are welcomed, of course. I am always looking to improve. Just keep in mind that I am also interested in how it reads if you were an ordinary person who picked up the book off the shelf. Is it interesting? Does it create questions to keep you wanting to read? Etc.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, and if you do not mind exchanging email addresses, I promise not to spam you or send dirty notes, you can pm me your address and I will send it to you.

Also, if anyone ever needs any help, I am more than willing to offer you anything I can. I am not the best, but I am an avid reader. I can usually catch mistakes on other's writing. And I can definately tell you if something is confusing, interesting, etc.

Thanks,
Eb

I can't speak for anyone else, but as a writer, I have difficulty turning off the "nit-machine". I was recently re-reading a Hemingway story and I didn't enjoy it, partly because of all the "nits" and partly because it sucked! LOL

My point is, the best test-readers for general story impression are genre specific enthusiasts, rather than naturally nit-picking writers. The enthusiasts' reaction to the story is based purely on the story's creativity and delivery. This is exactly the reaction you need to measure the story's likely acceptance by the public. I had a total of six sci-fi enthusiasts read my book before going "public".

As far as your query letter and synopsis, I'd be happy to help, but I'm working 12 hours days until the end of May, so I won't be able to offer much until then. You could also post your query letter under the Help Desk and get feedback.

Thanks Nacl.

I am working on it now. When I clean it up, I will post it for the nits to get picked.

I would love to help you with that! I love reading. I've helped a couple writer friends edit their ms and found that in searching for mistakes that are not mine--I learn to pick up my own. I often find mistakes and remember a place in my ms where I've done the same thing.

willow wrote: I often find mistakes and remember a place in my ms where I've done the same thing.

Therein lies the greatest benefit of "reviewing". While reviewing appears to be a benevolent act, in reality, it's really selfish! LOL

Absolutely!