Are you a fiction aficionado?
Then get ready to embark on a magical journey and be among the first to experience the enchanting world of "The Marvel of the Christmas Wizard"! As we prepare to unveil this captivating novel, we are seeking dedicated Beta Readers to join us in refining the story before its official release.
Beta Readers play a crucial role in shaping the final version of the book. Your responsibilities include immersing yourself in the narrative, providing constructive feedback, and sharing your thoughts on plot development, character dynamics, pacing, and overall engagement. Your insights will contribute to enhancing the story and ensuring a more fulfilling reading experience for future audiences.
How this story came about
In 2022 Duncan Seton approached me with a magical, mystical, marvelous story idea. This is not the first time we have collaborated on a book. In 2006 we published a chapter book call The Eye of the Storm where I crafted the story and Duncan sketched the illustrations. But this was bigger, a full-length novel, the first in a series of…well, we’re not sure how many books will spawn from this magical, mystical, marvelous idea.
For over a year we met, talked about main plot points, brainstormed, and I went off to do my thing; flesh out the story. Now we are ready for first readers to provide feedback.
Why we’re asking for Beta Readers
For over 30 years I’ve been trying to find myself through philosophy, psychology, spirituality (I know I’m here somewhere…I think) and storytelling offers me a vehicle to express those abstract ideas in action. What can happen (I was informed by my writing group many years ago), is that those elements can override narrative. A cardinal virtue of storytelling instructs the writer to ‘show don’t tell’. The story is primary, any philosophical, psychological, and spiritual elements are okay, but must be subordinate to the narrative.
Because Duncan and I are so close to the story, we are looking for Beta Reader to provide honest feedback.
Here's what being a Beta Reader entails:
1. Reading with a Critical Eye: Dive into the story, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, and share your honest opinions. Your feedback is invaluable in identifying areas for improvement.
2. Constructive Feedback: Provide specific and actionable feedback on plot coherence, character development, dialogue, and any elements that stand out – both positively and areas that may need refinement.
3. Timely Communication: Beta Readers play a pivotal role in the final stages of the editing process. Timely communication of your thoughts and observations is essential to meet publication deadlines. We will set up a Facebook page so you can interact with other Beta Readers. Or you can email me if that feels better.
The "Marvel of the Christmas Wizard" is a 90,000+ word manuscript.
A 90,000-word novel would take approximately 5 to 7.5 hours to read for someone with a reading speed of 200 to 300 words per minute. To meet our publishing goals, we would appreciate a 30-day turn around, to read the story and provide feedback.
4. Enjoy the Perks: As a Beta Reader, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to be credited in the book 'Acknowledgments' and receive a complimentary copy of the final published work as a token of our gratitude.
If you are ready to embark on a magical adventure and contribute to the shaping of "The Marvel of the Christmas Wizard," sign up now by contacting us below. Join us in making this literary journey extraordinary! 🌟📖
With gratitude,
Brad Hutchinson
If interested, email Brad at: brad@stepintothecreative.com
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