PLEASE HELP

ctwriter · Aug 7, 2009

Hi All,

First, I would like to say I love this site! I thought my manuscript was ready for me to pursue publishing a couple months ago. After spending hours upon hours on AW, I realized it was nowhere near publishing standards. Thanks for the helpful and invaluable information you all offer so openly.

Since then, I have revised and edited the manuscript a few times. Now I feel it needs to be read by someone else (as I can no longer see the mistakes and need an objetive opinion). Being my first attempt at writing a novel, I am open to criticism, but nervous the writing is too weak. Hence I'm scared to post online. <---That's me being honest.

I don't belong to any local writing groups. I've been asking around amongst family and friends to find someone with the time, interest and eye to read/critique my ms.

I live in Norwalk, CT. Any suggestions, feedback, information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

escritora · Aug 7, 2009

You can post a beta request here on AW. In addition, you can try meetup.com to find a writing crit group near you.

LorelieBrown · Aug 7, 2009

I second what escritora said, plus you can put any chunk you particularly want input on (like 1K or so) over in the Share Your Work board.

Also, stay away from friends and family. The likely hood is they know nothing about publishing, or they'll be too scared of hurting your feelings to answer honestly. Or too in love with your work to pick out the flaws.

JanDarby · Aug 7, 2009

Connecticut has TWO chapters of RWA. I don't have the details, but if you go to rwanational.org, there's a link to the chapters.

I'm not a member, but I've heard good things about them. Generally, chapters allow a prospective member to attend a couple meetings (subject to a fairly nominal door fee) before deciding whether to join, and then they have to join the national organization as a prerequisite to joining the chapter. You can check them out first, and decide whether it's a good value for the money, although I generally think anyone who's writing primarily for a female market, whether it's romance, women's fiction or space opera, can benefit from RWA membership.

Oh, and one of the chapters is sponsoring a workshop by Michael Hauge in November (the 7th, I believe).

JD

job · Aug 8, 2009

I will second Jan's advice. If you write Romance or Women's Fiction and you have a completed ms, joining RWA is a good move.
Join for a year.
They have on-line critique exchanges. You may find the folks you need there.

Use the SYW section of this Forum.

Try Books and Writers Forum. here. They have two crit circles.

Other folks can probably direct you to more on-line possibilities.

What you are looking for is a perceptive, experienced writer who is good at critting and is willing to take you on as a partner. You EARN the right to exchange crits with this person by becoming a good critter yourself. You become a good critter by using your time and energy to help others. There is no free lunch.

All of that said --
in the end . . . it's just you and the manuscript.

HelloKiddo · Aug 8, 2009

job said:
What you are looking for is a perceptive, experienced writer who is good at critting and is willing to take you on as a partner. You EARN the right to exchange crits with this person by becoming a good critter yourself. You become a good critter by using your time and energy to help others. There is no free lunch.

What she said. I recommend you go on SYW and start critting others. Likely you will find that they are making the same mistakes you are. It's ofter easier to see them in others' work and you'll be helped immensely by helping them.

If you want to post for a beta reader you should probably offer a swap--I'll crit you if you crit me. That's your best bet. Otherwise meh--you'll likely get what you pay for.

PLEASE HELP

ctwriter

Grateful for AW

escritora

.

LorelieBrown

Got the hang of it, here

JanDarby

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

HelloKiddo

bemused observer