Horrific isn't in abridged dictionaries, thus not so common, still "horrification" is, so its proper use is implied. Alpha type = first or top person, such as the president, or more locally, the mayor. In the home unit it is the leader or dominant person. Beta type = the next in line. For software, "beta test" is first user tests. Basically the same for books or products. Omega type = the last in line. This is not the bad position it's considered to be by the alpha types. There's 25 more people between them and the metaphorical bullet.
A beta reader is someone who will read your finished draft and give you detailed comments on it. It can be hard to find a good one -- you need someone who will tell you both the good and the bad.
When your manuscript is finished, usually, if possible, writers look for what we call "beta readers" - eg. these are readers who will read your draft in full and give you critique/feedback on it. As for at what stage do you hand out your MS to beta readers, I think it's whenever it's basically in the form that you are happy with that's been edited of fluff and SPAG errors etc. So I wouldn't give your rough draft to a beta reader, but first draft maybe, or maybe a draft that's been edited a few times?
Thank you for the advise and teaching me about this . I'm new to sharing writings with other people. I have a lot to learn so this forum makes me nervous.
... but that German chocolate cake. You promise you won't tell Colonel Klink? Nervous? When you're a dog living in Georgia, now THAT's nervous.
Generally, a horror story will improve if it has a romantic line, as for a romantic story - a horror can be a good background for a nice long term relations Besides, there is a horror and there is a drama. Romeo and Juliet. Twilight. Aliens: Resurrection (remember the line of a cute robotic girl? Romantic, isn't it?) Romantic story needs an action anyway, why not to use horror? And a horros story is flat ans stupid if it is not romantic... I mean, all these killer potatoes, zombies... they just do not work unless there is a couple-in-love running away from them.
I hope you haven't been discouraged. I don't write for a specific genre. I write the story, if people need to categorize it, fine. I don't think it matters, inevitably some readers will get you and love it and some just won't. Express yourself in words.
Don't classify it. Not until you have to decide where to submit it. Genre exists for market definition. Genre lives for those who can't color without lines to divide the hues.
If you classify it as horror though, be sure to make it evident that there is a romantic element, since it sounds like a large part of your story. There should be a genre called "Miscellaneous" for all those stories that don't quite fit into any particular genre.
By definition, a romance has to end happily, otherwise it's a love story. Nicolas Sparks does not write romances. Romeo and Juliet isn't a Romance either. It definitely sounds like a horror story to me. I love horror. Just because two people are in love doesn't make it a romance.
There's a series on Amazon called Shades of Vampire. It's about teen girl who gets kidnapped in order to be slave for the vampire king. She eventually falls for him, and it becomes a romance. However, it also has some horrific scenes, (such as her violation at the hands of the king's brother.) This author's posted it in Romance and Paranormal. Turns out there's even a category on Amazon called 'paranormal romance" You might want to stalk this book series awhile and watch how she markets it.
I appreciate everyone for their input. I never know how to classify what I write so I don't know what to say to people other than to decide for themselves. Romantic Horror sounds way better than horrific romance~ that was funny.
