English and History Teacher on Carbon Planet

-

 


Chelsea Burdick

---Beta Reader---

(English and History Teacher)

Chelsea is a 34-year old high school English and history teacher. She has spent more than fifteen years in the academic field both as a student and teacher. Chelsea holds a Bachelor in Science in History as well as a Masters of Arts in history. The fields of both English and history require excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills which has allowed Chelsea to hone her skills in these areas. Chelsea has experience proofreading and editing ebooks for self-published authors as well.

Available at Amazon.

I enjoyed your book. I wasn’t really sure what to expect based on just the title but it definitely kept me on my toes a bit. I really liked the prologue. It set the tone of your book and set the stage for the content really nicely. It was also thought-provoking which was helpful as well and got your audience involved in what was to come. I will say based on the prologue, I wasn’t quite expecting UFOs, the disappearance of the GM workers in basically an experiment, forced adaptation, etc. I expected it to be entirely climate-focused and sort of going the route of what will happen when the climate change issue reaches the point of no return and it did that with just some extra elements. While I wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did, it felt “right” and really worked.

The plot was well done and well-developed. It developed and progressed in a way that felt logical and natural. There were small things that felt slightly unnatural to me but I really think it was just me. For example, when they see what they think could be a UFO, they continue fishing immediately afterward. My mind would have been so stressed about what I saw that I don’t think I would have been able to continue with my plans. However, I can see how people would choose to do just that because what are else are you going to do about a UFO? Ha! So, it is definitely a “me” thing. I did feel like some of the beginning chapters were a little slow. There was a lot of character development and it took me a while to figure out what the conflict was going to be in this book. I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing. I think the background and character-building that you did was necessary but you may get some feedback about a slow start so I wanted you to be aware of my experience.

I liked your characters. They were well-developed and I didn’t have any issues with them. I can’t say, however, that I was particularly attached to any certain character. I liked them but I wasn’t so invested that I felt like I “really” cared about them. Wyatt and Junior were the two I was probably most invested in. Other than trying to show more emotions in your characters to elicit more emotions from your readers, I wouldn’t change anything. Even trying to make them more emotional is not a surefire way to build that connection with readers so I wouldn’t bend over backward to make it happen.

 Your book is written in the present tense. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. However, I will warn you that there are a lot of readers who hate reading stories in the present tense. The vast majority of fictional stories are written in the past tense. I have no issues with the present tense and have enjoyed lots of books written in the present tense. I did want you to have a warning that you might receive criticism from some readers about this. I actually have a friend who will refuse to read a book or even stop reading a book that is written in the present tense. It is purely an artistic choice on the author’s part but I wanted you to be aware that it is not a lot of readers’ cup of tea.

I liked your writing style, particularly your word usage. You have an excellent vocabulary and I feel like you did a great job using very mature, well-curated language. It gave your book a really logical vibe and I loved it. I’ve read a lot of books in this sort of fantasy/sci-fi genre that uses basic language on a low reading level and I find them to feel a little bit boring. I know this is probably a “me” thing, I like books that feel smart and yours definitely did. It was easy to get into and the pacing that came along with your writing was also fabulous. It felt like a quick read and it kept my attention the whole time. I never felt like my mind was wandering while I was reading.

While I don’t go out of my way to find grammatical mistakes when I am beta reading, I do try to note them for authors if I notice anything. I didn’t notice any errors in your book. I’m sure in a manuscript of this size it is possible I may have missed something but all in all, your manuscript was incredibly clean and seemed to be well-proofread. Whoever did your proofreading did a fantastic job.

Overall, I think your novel is great. Very well written and certainly left me with a lot to think about as a reader. I enjoyed the story and found it entertaining to read. You are clearly a talented writer and I think your next book will be fantastic as well. Thank you so much for sharing your book with me. I wish you the best of luck on your future book writing and publishing journey.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marijuana

-
Image
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant. Its main active compounds, cannabinoids like THC and CBD, interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, affecting mood, cognition, and physical sensations. Cannabis can be consumed in various forms, including smoking, vaping, or ingesting edibles. It's known for its recreational and medicinal uses, with effects ranging from relaxation and euphoria to pain relief and appetite stimulation. However, its legality and social acceptance vary widely across different regions and cultures. As of April 2024, recreational marijuana has been legalized in a significant number of states and territories in the United States. These include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. This w...
Read more

OUTSIDE - A Zombie Film

-
Image
  I was quite impressed with this zombie film when I came across it on Netflix, especially since it's a film from the Philippines featuring my favorite actor, Sid Lucero. I remember he was chosen by Lav Diaz, my favorite Filipino director, to play a psychopathic character in Norte, the End of History , a film based on my hometown in the Philippines. The story is very unique, with some memorable scenes, strong drama, dark humor, and a few disturbing sequences I’ll never forget. And here he is again, the same actor I recognize as an excellent psychopath, delivering an outstanding performance in this zombie apocalypse film, Outside , directed and written by Carlo Ledesma. This filmmaker is now officially one of my favorites as well. The story takes place in a secluded Spanish colonial-era home, a decaying estate in the countryside that was once the childhood home of Francis. As a deadly zombie outbreak spreads, Francis and his family seek refuge inside the house, but tensions quickly ...
Read more

What AI Says About My Books?

-
Image
  I asked AI what my books are about, who are the similar authors, and if the book is suitable for the big screen. And honestly, this is what AI says. From Gemini Carbon Planet: Our Destiny In The Stars by Vincent Casil throws you into a captivating blend of science fiction, mystery, and environmental themes. The story unfolds through two interwoven narratives. The first centers on a group of friends who inexplicably disappear during a seemingly ordinary fishing trip. As the FBI investigation stalls, leaving their loved ones with gnawing unanswered questions, the families take matters into their own hands. They enlist the help of Wyatt McCoy, a private investigator known for his unconventional methods and penchant for tackling bizarre cases. Wyatt's search delves into a world far stranger than anyone could have anticipated. He uncovers clues that hint at urban legends, mythical creatures, and even the paranormal, leading him down a rabbit hole that blurs the lines between realit...
Read more