Monday, December 10, 2012

It's Time!




Since I've been working on another manuscript, I decided it was time to find a critique group or partner and/or beta readers. I didn’t have one before, but it wasn't for lack of trying. A blog friend, Jeri Walker-Bickett recently talked about her online critique partners, and I figured it was time to collaborate with many or a few to get my manuscript in order.

I posted a thread on Goodreads to get some information on reliable online critique groups along with joining Scribophile. The site looks interesting. I haven’t done anything yet to know if it will work, but I thought I’d try it out. 

Do you have a critique group or partner or regular beta readers? Are they close friends or people you've never met? 

Cheers to a great writing week!

Critiques and Writing,
Bea

8 comments:

  1. I have thought along similar lines. But then I am currently still in the planning stage so it hasn't been a priority.

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    1. Hey Jon, Well I'll let you know how it goes for if and when you do decide. Good luck with your planning stage.

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  2. It's probably no surprise that we are each other's critique group, and I think it works really well. We're past that "Oh yeah, this is great!" kind of thing just because we're friends. We give each other completely honesty feedback, and sometimes that feedback is "this needs a lot of work," but I'd rather hear that than the generic "this is great!" any day. I don't want back scratching, I want real feedback. I don't want to release a crappy book.

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  3. I hear ya and you two are lucky to have each other. It would be great to have someone you can count on for an honest response. I'm not looking for back scratching either, but I do find some writers have a tendency to change others' voices. I'm looking for someone to suggest, point out holes, tell me to scratch certain things, etc. so I can learn from the process of critiquing too.

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  4. Hey Denise - great minds think alike. Have just handed off my 3rd draft to beta readers. They are people I know - two of them in a critique group I have been part of for over two years. essential to have people read your work, but finding people who's opinions you trust if you don't know them in person is hard. I mentioned http://www.ladieswhocritique.com/ to Jeri, so she may have info as to how that has worked for her.
    Came across another writing site http://studio30plus.com/the other day which may also have that as a possibility. Let me know how you get on with Scribophile.
    Finding other writing who actually have time is the other problem. Good luck . I'd be really interested in hearing how you found people.

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    1. You are so right about having people you trust read your work. It's hard to find if you don't physically have someone in your life.

      Thank you so much for the link. I'm going to check it out. So far, Scribophile is pretty good. The people on there are fair with critiques and FRIENDLY. I haven't come across anyone who is uppity.

      Again, thanks and I'll let you know if I actually get critique partners.

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  5. I'm on my second exchange with my partner from Ladies Who Critique. A.K. pointed me in that direction, but from the time I've been on the site, it seemed many of the writers were VERY new to the craft. I found my second partner by posting a query on my FB author page. She had approached me months ago about possibly reviewing my book (that is taking forever to write!)My first partner contacted me after I made a random post on a blog I don't even remember. That relationship has worked out so well.

    I like in-person groups a bit more, and do have one I attend once a month, but it's difficult to share much of your work that way since everyone always wants a turn.

    Good luck.

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    1. Sounds like your luck came from FB and blog. Good for you. I wouldn't mind a face-to-face group, but it's a little difficult where I'm living now. Maybe I'll get someone willing to do Skype sessions. :D

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