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I want some feedback on the story i've written?

I'd like some feedback from professionals about my story, my friend read it and though she connected with characters and the storyline, there were two major chapters she did not understand and I don't know what to do about it, I want to send my work to an agent or publisher, not ask for it to be published, just for some help editing. Do you think they'd read it? Who could I send it to? What do I say in the e-mail?

Update:

The confusing part; my story is fantasy, but starts off in our world, in one chapter a lot of 'other worldy' things are revealed, I understand these perfectly because I've been developing this for a long time, but this would obviously be new to readers, I don't want to dumb it down to much, readers don't like that, but they also don't like when they can't follow a story, I don't know how to make it clear to someone new to this.

3 Answers

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  • Joe J
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Sounds like what you're looking for is a substantive edit, and that unfortunately can cost you big bucks. You can send it to an agent to see if you can get him to represent you or if he/she comes back with the same concerns as your friend, but that's about the only way to get the work done for free. It'll just take a bit of time and effort on your part.

    Was your friend any more specific about what she didn't understand? Was it just the way they were written, or was it the actual content?

    Edit: Do NOT post it to the internet if you ever want to see it actually published.

    Second Edit: Ok, I'll just suggest that you re-read the other-worldly stuff and examine whether you're telling the reader about it, or showing them. "Weird stuff" in a book can be confusing (my own fantasy is on an alien world, lots of races and whatnot to introduce), but if you're gently guiding the reader into it, there's a grand sense of wonder in it. Sorry if that sounds vague, but the "show don't tell" response is a pretty common one. Make sure you're not just telling the reader what happened, but describing it piece by piece so that they're digesting it rather than getting hit in the face. Good luck.

  • 1 decade ago

    Hmm, that's cost you some money most likely.

    Here's a suggestion,

    get some people you don't know and let them read it, give you feedback, ideas, and help you edit.

    They're not afraid to tell you the truth.

    Then you can give them some ideas and edit theirs.

    I did this with someone, and it was excellent. We emailed each other chapter by chapter, and did that.

    I would love to help you with yours. Feel free to email me!

  • 1 decade ago

    Publishers don't edit people's stories, they just publish them....

    You need to hire a proper editor...

    Or if you don't want to pay, you can just post it on a website like WorthyOfPublishing where other writers give you feedback on your stories...

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