I see other authors blogging about critique partners on a regular basis. How the heck does one go about getting critique partners if one is an introverted, solitary, shy sort of person? Are there groups (not including RWA:-) one can join or what?
Ellen, I belong to an excellent critque group. The link is http://www.romancecritters.com/ There are all sorts of subgroups for all sorts of genres. I belong to Roses, the historical subgroup & love it. The girls in the group are great. Critters is a very active group & requires that you do one upload/one critque per month. There are a few girls that I've really connected with on the group & consider to be my friends as well as my critque partners.
Thanks, Marguerite! But I think I want something where I can fling large chunks of manuscript at people at once, and that doesn't necessarily require that I send something once a month, since I write kind of erratically (ie, not until I have a deadline zooming toward me:-). Anyone have any other suggestions?
Hi Ellen, Check out Charlotte Dillion's writing site. (I've changed computers so don't have the web address but you should be able to google it) She has an online critique group, which probably isn't what you're looking for, but she also used to post names of people looking for critique partners once a week to her writing list. I found a wonderful critique partner this way, but I'm currently working without one. My critique partner found a full time job! Also on the eHarlequin site they have an area where people can post for critique partners. Might be worth checking out. Also, what about EPIC? Could you post there somewhere?
I found mine through various means--one through my blog and the other two contacted me and asked if I would crit with them. I think this approach is best. Look at the writers you know whose work you admire and approach them. Start out with a chapter. You send one, they send one. Critique it honestly, you're setting the tone here for future communication. Once the crit comes back look it over and see if you find the suggestions helpful and if the input is valuable. See if you have something of value to offer them. (This is hard sometimes. The two writers who approached me sent me work so good I was awed.)
I think most writers would be happy to consider taking on a new cp. Various inputs are so important.
Building that trust to where you both feel comfortable saying brutal things to make the work better takes a little bit of time, but it's so worth it. I can't tell you how many times my cps have literally changed a story that was going nowhere into something that blew me away or how many times I despaired that my writing was crap and their encouraging comments gave me the strength to push through.
Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI belong to an excellent critque group. The link is http://www.romancecritters.com/ There are all sorts of subgroups for all sorts of genres. I belong to Roses, the historical subgroup & love it. The girls in the group are great. Critters is a very active group & requires that you do one upload/one critque per month. There are a few girls that I've really connected with on the group & consider to be my friends as well as my critque partners.
Thanks, Marguerite! But I think I want something where I can fling large chunks of manuscript at people at once, and that doesn't necessarily require that I send something once a month, since I write kind of erratically (ie, not until I have a deadline zooming toward me:-). Anyone have any other suggestions?
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteCheck out Charlotte Dillion's writing site. (I've changed computers so don't have the web address but you should be able to google it) She has an online critique group, which probably isn't what you're looking for, but she also used to post names of people looking for critique partners once a week to her writing list. I found a wonderful critique partner this way, but I'm currently working without one. My critique partner found a full time job! Also on the eHarlequin site they have an area where people can post for critique partners. Might be worth checking out. Also, what about EPIC? Could you post there somewhere?
I found mine through various means--one through my blog and the other two contacted me and asked if I would crit with them. I think this approach is best. Look at the writers you know whose work you admire and approach them. Start out with a chapter. You send one, they send one. Critique it honestly, you're setting the tone here for future communication. Once the crit comes back look it over and see if you find the suggestions helpful and if the input is valuable. See if you have something of value to offer them. (This is hard sometimes. The two writers who approached me sent me work so good I was awed.)
ReplyDeleteI think most writers would be happy to consider taking on a new cp. Various inputs are so important.
Building that trust to where you both feel comfortable saying brutal things to make the work better takes a little bit of time, but it's so worth it. I can't tell you how many times my cps have literally changed a story that was going nowhere into something that blew me away or how many times I despaired that my writing was crap and their encouraging comments gave me the strength to push through.