Critiquing Buddies?

by Emma Taylor
16th April 2013

Hi,

Are there any groups on here for critiquing? I have now finished my novel, so I am now looking for just a small group of people who could help me be giving me honest feedback to push my book to submission level, while hopefully helping them with their work too. My book is a YA fantasy book. x

Replies

I would love to help Emma, but as I believe I've told you, I can only get internet access via my local library, so any feedback from me may be slow. But all the best anyway. I hope you succeed.

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Astor Edwyn
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Astor Edwyn Teller
16/04/2013

Hi Sonya, thank you for your reply.

My book is a YA fantasy story, approx 114,000 words and I have been editing it quite some time, as I had a lot to learn.

I would probably say chapter by chapter is the best way to give it to people and then within the small group the others could do the same with their own books etc. I have written a couple of synopsis of various lengths, but i have not yet done a cover letter.

All feedback would be useful, but I am mainly looking at story impact, characters, basically if it is a good story. If there are glaring problems with punctuation and grammar of course they would be free to point these out.

I am a working Mum and I appreciate that everyone has very busy lives,so I wouldn't want them to spend to much time on each chapter, just read it hopefully enjoy it and say why if they don't, what could be improved etc.

Hope this is a little clearer :)

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Emma Taylor
16/04/2013

Emma, can you tell us more about what you expect as help? How long is your manuscript? How 'ready' is it? How many chapters? Do you want to split chapters between individuals? Do you want feedback on overall impact, punctuation and grammar or something else? Do you have your synopsis and cover letter ready? How much time do you expect it will take a reader to help you?

I think once it is clearer how much time and what kind of feedback you want it would be easier to commit. Ofcourse you can just post chapter after chapter on the shared works pages. Comparing your book to other ones on the market might help you get volunteers, say readers of Harry Potter might be happy to have a go at a book in the same genre.

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16/04/2013