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So I'm also working on this story that smashes Silent Hill with some gay drama. I have a general inkling of how it will go but I need people to proofread it just in case because I want to give that sense of dread. I know horror's hard to pull off but I hope you guys can help me out. I was hoping to complete this before October, quite honestly. I hope the turn around can be at most a week. An ASAP turn around is very welcome. Never worked with a beta before, so I'm forced to check grammar myself most of the time. You can at least feel safe that I'll have generally good grammar. ) I generally need someone to help me analyze plot and scenes. I've yet to write some of the other scenes but the outline is there: the beginning and the endgame. Help and suggestions with scenes and dialogue would be welcome. As of now, I'm on Chapter 7 (around 2000-4000 words per chapter), but that's without an editor/beta-reader so I'm not to keen on posting all of it yet. I use LibreOffice and Notepad++ most of the time, file type DOC and TXT. Inline edits and comments are welcome. Just let me know what was edited. My story's first chapter and prologue are already up. Let me know if you'd rather have a spoiler snippet here. I'll edit it in. Click here for a look at the story.

Would like feedback on a story I'm working on. The length of it is not certain. Pantsing here. There is no deadline on this. Turn around is lax. Don't expect anything profound, just someone to read, and give brief impressions of their thoughts. I have worked with an editor in the past, but never worked with a beta reader though. The focus is on storytelling. So far there are two scenes (3rd draft) written using Scrivener. Do use OpenOffice's processor sometimes when needed to import/export word docs. I leave to the reader how she/he communicate their thoughts either by in the document itself or by email. I do not expect reader commit beyond reading the two completed scenes. The following is the complete first scene, word count 381: For an instance a flash of bluish light lit a cold night sky. A second later a loud boom rattled the window of Nec the Good’s high tower window. “Yes, I’m aware that this is unusual.” Nec said from his workbench. “I’ve been alone too long. What else am I to do?” Lightning crackled again but further away. “I thought so.” Nec said to the storm in retreat. He returned his focus back to the magical equation as it glowed in the air above his neatly organized work area. In his long years of life what was before him was his most personal of spells. He formulated it carefully through several seasons. He took what he planned with such seriousness he did something he had not done in a very long, He sent an invitation by messenger raven to his dear friend from years ago St. Gid of the Golden Brotherhood for advice. “Enter.” Nec said to faint scratches at his study door. In creped a creature commoners called the dead ones. They were known for their stiff slow gait, ruined flesh, and white glazed eyes. In a halted voice the dead man said, “Master, Golden St. Gid has arrived.” “Good.” Nec said as he got up from his seat and took one last look at his equation before bringing his attention to the man. “Did one of your number show the Elder to the library?” “Yes. He is there now.” The man said after a glance off into the distance. Nec placed a hand on the his shoulder. “Does your clan still wish to continue after so many years here?” “We wish to serve as long as you allow. We never forget the freedom you gave us from your dark brethren. Master, you woke us from nothingness.” “That was years ago. Do you never tire? Do you ever wish not to exist?” Nec said with his hand still on the dead man’s shoulder. “No. This is all we know. The past before this is unknown to us. Our numbers were linked together when you woke us, and remained so now.” Nec gave the man’s should a quick squeeze. "I envy you that.” The man’s milky eyes looked off into the distance again. “We see that you are not happy.” “I’m working on that.” Nec’s said as he removed his hand, took another look at his spell equation before it faded away. “Let’s go greet my guest.”

Looking for a beta and/or editor for a summer anthology piece, which is due on 26 May 2016. It covers a gay man who makes a game out of dating straight men or convincing them to one-night stands, but one of them ends up being more open to a homosexual relationship and pursues him. They are, coincidentally, working for the same office in the same building. The new guy pursues the player. So yes, I need help writing this and would appreciate suggestions on how to go about it and judge what I have right now. Like many artists, I have a good idea and don't know how to press it further. Also, I want to bring out my characters' personalities more. For editing, I feel working with a Google docs file would be as much a possibility as passing an attachment back and forth would. The former might be more ideal. Comments are more ideal but in-line edits are welcome. Snippet:

Looking for an editor to help with a semi-autobiographical story about a man who comes out at age 46 after a decades-long relationship with his married best friend ends badly. I'm looking for general advice, structural edits. I've outlined the story at 10 chapters - the first two have been published at https://www.gayauthors.org/story/diogenes/aboutcarl. I'm fairly new at creative writing after doing years of technical writing - could use some editorial advice. PM me if you're interested.

This isn't a big hurry type deal, I have a new story in the works and I just wanted some opinions on it so far. You don't need to read it all for me, if you want to just read the beginning that's fine. I'd just like to get some outside opinions. I've worked with editors in the past but not Beta Readers. What I'm looking for is your opinion, what you think is good, what's bad. Where you think the plot is going, and where you'd like the plot to go. What I expect, I expect to hear your opinion of the story, the things listed previously. I only have three chapters written and have a planned total of 15. I use Openoffice usually but can change the file type to .txt. I'd like your comments outside in a different format, but please feel free to use references from the story. As for the snipbit of my story. Here are the first couple of paragraphs. They are entirely character explanation. It's told through the eyes of Phoenix Russell, he tells you about his closest friends. Enough of me though, here is the first part of The Life I Dream Of. Growing up in the neighbourhood I live in was great! I lived minutes away from a park and my best friends. It was no trouble getting anywhere, the place is really trusting and my mom and dad know everyone in the area. Because of that if I don't know someone I knew to stay away. Oh, my name is Phoenix Russell and I'm 16 years old. I live really close to a beach, so I spend almost all of my spare time there. As a result, if you ever saw me naked, everywhere but my crotch is tanned. It kinda makes my blonde hair and blue eyes stand out even more. Stuff to know about me, I'm an avid swimmer and boarder. Not surfboard, skateboard. We don't get waves big enough here for that. I'm really an outdoorsy kid but I don't mind settling down and playing a video game or two at night. Skyrim and Far Cry man! Probably the most important thing to know about me, I'm gay. I've known since I was about 12 but I'll get into that in a moment. My parents found out because of naively leaving the browsing history on my computer alone... Bad idea. Mom and dad are okay with it though, which is awesome! My little sister Ursula always talks about boys with me too so that's kinda awesome. I'm also out at school, so I'm out of the closet essentially. My best friend Lyric was scared for me but it's been great. I can go to tanning beds in the winter and not have to care who sees me anymore! It's really nice to know people generally don't care if you're gay. Lyric, as I just said, is my best friend. She was the first person I talked to about my feelings towards other guys. That was an interesting conversation between two twelve year olds. She's awesome! Her brunette hair goes down to her chest and curls just at the ends. Her hazel eyes give me all kinds of looks like a best friend would give. Now, like I said earlier, I knew I was into guys at 12. In fact I knew I was into a very specific guy at age 12, my best guy friend(at the time) Max Harper. We were so close we would sleep in each others beds in just our underwear. You would often find us almost snuggling as we slept. Max was always one to make sure he looked sharp. His black hair would always be just perfectly around his grey eyes. He's also kinda short for his age, making us the same height. We used to share cloths all the time. When Max entered high school though I was kinda left in the dark. He found newer older friends and the time we spent together gradually grew smaller and smaller. Until eventually it just stopped all together. At that point I was busy all the time anyways. Lyric was either dragging me to some movie or my parents, mostly my dad, had something they needed me to do around the house. Then a family friend asked if I could start babysitting their kid, Braxton Stone, every other night. He was a single dad who worked nights sometimes. He wouldn't get home until like 11 on school nights. Braxton is a cute kid, he's three years younger than me. I still babysit him to this day. Now a days though it's when his dad goes out of town. The kid's bushy dirty blonde hair always seemed to be perfectly set to the sides with his bangs going right down between his green eyes. Needless to say, this kid had a most definite crush on me from the beginning. He would snuggle up to me and always want to go swimming with me. From the corner of my eyes I could see his full on peaks at my junk. I found it entertaining to see him be 'sneaky' so I took him swimming every week or so. Lastly, my current best guy friend is actually Lyric's little brother Lakota. The kid, two years younger than me, had straight dirty blonde hair just a little longer than mine. His eyes were exactly like his sister's, hazel and always judging me. He's a healthy boy that's for sure. Lakota isn't like fat or chubby but he's not skinny either. He's got a tiny bit to him. Now that you know about me, my friends, and my family I guess I should really explain more about my life in general. I'm in the middle of my first semester of grade 11 and doing great. And I just so happened to have just been called to the office for something.

I'm new to GA - looking for a beta reader and/or editor for a semi-autobiographical story about a man who comes out at age 46 after a decades-long relationship with his married best friend ends badly. I'm looking for general advice, structural edits. I've never worked with a beta/editor before. I've outlined the story at 10 chapters & written 3 (each around 1500 words) - would like some constructive criticism before publishing on GA - no urgency. I use Microsoft Word and Open Office. Here's a sample: The next morning we awoke, hung over, went for a swim and cooked breakfast over the campfire. I waited for him to say something but he carried on as if nothing had happened. We lapsed back into the familiar pattern of our friendship, laughing and joking with each other. At one point, though, I caught him looking at me and our eyes met, and he gave me a look that seemed painfully, shockingly intimate, as if to say "I remember what you did, and I wanted it, but I'm afraid." Then we looked away, embarrassed. We finished the trip and went home, completed the last week at our summer jobs, and then got ready to go back to our separate schools. We never mentioned the incident in the tent. On the final day of the summer vacation we agreed to go out for one last trip to the Chestnut Inn. We laughed and talked like we usually did, but the evening was tinged with sadness that the summer was over and we wouldn't see each other again for a while. When I dropped him off at his house late that night, we just sat in the front seat of the car, not saying anything. Suddenly he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I reached up and caressed his face with my hand. I turned towards him, not sure what to do. He looked me in the eyes and whispered "goodbye", got out of the car and walked off into the night.

Hi everyone. I'm looking for an editor for my first story, "Sean and Dex". It's a gay fiction story with very little sex (saved towards the end but it probably won't be too graphic). It's a humorous friendship story about two best friends who are modern day Robin Hoods with a bit of supernatural elements. http://www.gayauthor...zbon/seananddex 1. Turn around expectations: I would like the turnaround within one week, but I'm okay with two weeks. 2. Worked with an Editor/Beta before: No. This is my first story. 3. Service needed: Someone to read my story and tell me where it sounds awkward or confusing. 4. Service expected: I'd like someone to proof-read my story for grammar, spelling mistakes, make suggestions on how things could be worded better if it sounds awkward. I don't need plot suggestions, story changes or anything creative, just editing. 5. How much is done: I have six chapters written (19,400 words). I don't know how long the story is going to be. 6. Software: I use Google Docs - I would provide the link to the doc on my Google shared drive. 7. Comments or inline edits: Inline edits, I'm really not that picky. 8. Snippet of story: I was feeling pretty lost. I was sad and angry at the world. It was such an unfair place sometimes. There was gang activity everywhere. Important funding were being cut from homeless shelters, orphanages and schools. Donations to these organizations were decreasing every year. Who was there to help those people? I thought about how Dex and I used to make all these plans to help people in need. What happened to those dreams? When did I forget about helping others? I needed to make a change. I needed my life to have meaning. I looked to my warrior who always guarded me. I saw so much potential in him. Life robbed him of an amazing life. Even more so, life robbed the world of the amazing Dex Ramirez these past years. He was smart enough to be anything he wanted to be. With him by my side, I knew we could make a difference. “I want to activate ‘Operation Black Smoke’,” I said. I knew he’d remember and I wouldn't have to explain. He didn't disappoint. He met my gaze and smiled his first genuine smile of the day, "Maybe without the swords." Thanks, Lizbon