Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Melanie Conklin on March 29, 2012 at 6:37pm

I checked out meetup for my area (NJ outside of NYC) and there were some meetings in Montclair, but more of a writing jam-session type of meeting. I'm looking to find two or three other writers of YA/MG to work with as serious crit partners!

Permalink Reply by Shannon Alexander on March 29, 2012 at 12:28pm

If you are a children's or YA author, join Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). It's a national group, with local chapters. Once you join you can get on the listserv and then just ask if there are any groups looking for a new member. That is how I was lucky enough to find mine. They truly are the best help and support for me.

Permalink Reply by Shannon Alexander on March 29, 2012 at 12:29pm

Also, check your local library. If there isn't one already, you can always ask a librarian to help you organize one.

Permalink Reply by Melanie Conklin on March 29, 2012 at 6:39pm

Tx Shannon!

I have considered joining SCBWI - also considered going to the conference in NJ in June. I didn't know that the listserv exists, I thought there were only online forums. Sounds like a really good option, and definitely makes the $80 membership fee seem more reasonable!

And yes, I'm MG/YA and am looking for 2-3 serious crit partners in the Maplewood/Montclair NJ area . . .

Permalink Reply by Shannon Alexander on March 29, 2012 at 7:36pm

Join! I dragged my feet for two years before joining. Now, I can't imagine not being a member. Once you  join, you'll see there are many perks to being a part of such a diverse and supportive writing community (like She Writes!).

Permalink Reply by Darlene on March 30, 2012 at 4:47am

First, I searched for a writers association or guild in the area where I live.  In that association, they had a directory of writing groups by genre.  The groups tend to be small so you need to find a group that is looking/open to new members. 

In my experience, people come and go based on where they are in their writing journey. 

 

Permalink Reply by Ravven on April 16, 2012 at 3:56am

I think you need to self-edit first, just to have something a bit more "presentable" to show people. Beta readers (if you're lucky enough to have them and they're able to offer an honest critique) can be the next step. This will give you an indication of confusing areas, parts where it gets slow/unbelievable, and so on. At that point, I think you need a proper editor. If you can find someone to offer an exchange, then wonderful. If you have the money to have a professional editor work on the novel, then great. What you can't do, however, is hope that your book will be taken seriously without editing, and that a publisher will have it edited for you. They may, but some don't.

I was astonished at the things I missed after quite a few self-editing and revision passes...including whole sections where I'd used two characters' names interchangeably! So embarrassing. :)

Permalink Reply by Anjali Enjeti on May 9, 2012 at 11:35am

I self edited for quite some time. Then I used a critique group. But now I've hired a professional editor because I realized my biggest problem was in pacing and structure. In a post I wrote today, I explained why a critique group didn't work for me for my novel.

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on May 9, 2012 at 11:52am

I check the pacing and structure for myself. The critique groups I've used have been extremely helpful to me and I've been with them several years now. Over all flow is one of my strongest parts of writing and critiquing. I guess it's different for every author. I've run across some fabulous posts about structure by a writer/editor and have taken his advice to heart.

http://storyfix.com/category/story-structure-series

He also has a book out that focuses on just story structure.

http://storyfix.com/six-core-competencies-of-successful-storytelling

I hope this helps. :)

Permalink Reply by T. S. Johnson on May 9, 2012 at 9:46pm

Critique groups sounds like a great idea.  Can you inform me of some good ones?

Permalink Reply by Jerilyn Ring on July 23, 2012 at 1:42pm

I just pitch my first novel to agents at a writer's conference and I was asked by a few of them if I had had my novel edited by an editor which I had.  First I did a revision and then I sent it to the editor. The evaluation I received was tremendously helpful. 

Permalink Reply by Liz Gelb-O'Connor on August 4, 2012 at 9:40am

Hi Jerilyn,

I've been accepted to a pitch conference in November, and would also like a final pass done by a professional editor. I potentially have someone, but I was curious how you found yours and if it was someone who specializes in your genre (mine is adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance).

Best,

Liz 

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