Finding Folks To Read Your Work

Proofreading is the author's job. You should not expect anyone else to do it better than you.

Someday, when you have an extended contract for multiple books, you may find it useful to seek out a paid editor. When you do, expect a painstaking search to find one who will do nearly as good a job as you yourself could, and will not make changes you would not make. Expect to pay plenty for this perfect professional marriage.

Until then, get feedback on pieces of writing you don't plan to publish. Have people rip apart that piece of writing you could never quite pull together, but you don't know why. Put up some experimental pieces designed to try out new techniques. You aren't trying to get someone to tidy up after you, you are looking for ways to improve your overall writing ability. and to build up your confidence.

When you can put together a story, and know it is ready to start submitting, then do exactly that. Pay attention to the rehection letters. Some will be, "No effing way." Others will be, "You have good writing instincts, but we can't use this story." Still others will be, "Ths has some problems, but make a few changes and maybe we can go ahead with this."

And just maybe, it won't be a rejection at all.

Here's the problem I see with what you're asking. First, you say you want people to proofread your work, and that you want them to read drafts that still need a ton of work. Well, I think that's asking too much of someone. It's very frustrating to read something that is riddled in spelling/punctuation/grammar (SPaG) errors, and it can feel almost disrespectful to the reader that the writer didn't take the time to get the SPaG corrected to the very best of their ability before asking me to read their story.

Proofreading and reading a draft for story content are two different tasks. If you lack proofreading skills, you should work on that (or pay someone to do it for you), but don't ask someone to do that work for you. It's a thankless, tiring task. I will only do it for close friends. As far as reading a draft of your story, that's something you could have done by putting a small piece of it up in the review room (after you've met all of the rules to do so, of course).

Also, the fact that you have worked your butt off and want to get some sort of reward for it by getting others to read it is just not realistic. Good luck finding a stranger in an online writing community willing to give the kind of time/effort required to do an adequate job--or to do it at all. If you have any friends/family who'd be willing to look at your early drafts of a story that have a lot of SPaG errors, then that's what I'd do. We're all pretty much in the same boat as you--amateur writers (well, most of us, anyway) who would love to get some positive feedback on our stories to keep us motivated to continue on. But, then, reality kicks in and we know that we can't expect others to do that for us--or at least in the way that you are seeking.

Good luck, though. And a book I'd highly recommend you read is called Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. She gives really good encouragement and advice to new writers.

Maybe I'm just naive, but I can definitely sympathize with just wanting someone to read through the work that you've slaved over. I see what Mo's talking about - just wanting someone to check out what you've written, let you know what they liked, what they felt could use some work.

Anyway, if you ever want a test audience in the future, it appears that most people are kind of opposed to the idea, but feel free to send it over - I'd love to take a look, let you know what I think. We could trade the favor.

~ Micah

No, I don't. I don't even let my spouse read my stories.

When the time comes, the only persons that matter to me are my agent and publisher.

Do you not think, though, that a fresh set of eyes to look over the plot and pacing could pick out some imperfections that you've missed? I haven't done a lot of writing, but in the world of film, I always try to get as much critique on a piece as I can.

~ Micah