ALL who add a comment will get a pdf copy of my FREE "Fairdinkum Aussie Recipe Book."
Recipes for the food I loved to eat while growing up Down Under.
YUM!
*********************
DISCLAIMER:
These Dreamatime Man copies arrived with a small pale gray mark at the bottom of some verse pages.
The problem has now been fixed, and I decided to give away the originals. My lyrically rhyming tale, based on Aboriginal history, and the glorious illustrations, are not affected in any way.
Seven Guardian Angel Publishing Authors ( affectionately known as GAP ) Are individually Blogging ALL 7 days of Children's Book Week Beginning May 7th - 13th, 2012 (See list of other GAP bloggers below).
We are BLOGGING about our passion:
READING, WRITING, PUBLISHING or PROMOTINGetc
Books for Children
GAP authors also offer 2x FREE GIFTS
you can WIN ( entry form at the end of this post )
A cool tote bag of books by GAP authors + a FREE Picture Book Critique - by me!
Don't forget to sign up to WIN!
.
*************** .
So. . . let's get to it, mates. My Topic for Today, Tuesday, May 8th
A Professional Critique – What to Expect
(On loan from my Musings Column)
This is a Video of me chatting about my Manuscript Critique Service and what I offer
Your critique group has given your
story a big thumbs-up. You have rewritten, tweaked and reworked every chapter.
Your writing is as tight as a miser’s money clip, your plot is fast paced, and
your characters are richly written. Yet you suspect the time has come for your
"baby" (manuscript) to receive a Professional Critique. Why so?
Because you have just received your fourth rejection letter, and you begin to
wonder: is the darn thing really as good as you thought? Your confidence as a
writer is now lower than President Bush’s current ratings. A professional is
indicated. But how do you go about it? Who do you choose? Where do you go to
find reliable professional help at a fee you can afford? .
Where
to Find a Good Critiquer:Go where children’s writers hang out
– writing conferences, colleges, on-line writing lists and chat rooms. Ask
fellow writers if they can recommend someone. Professional Critique persons
often include their editing or critique services in their e-mail signature.
If you're an SCBW-I member, you can
find critiquers in the list of books doctors and manuscript coaches that the
organization publishes. Everyone listed is reputable and experienced in the
children's book field. .
Are
They Reputable?No one wants to pay good money for
less than the best. If a person is recommended to you, by someone you know and
trust, then they are probably honest and skilled critiquers. On the other hand,
if you Google "Manuscript Critique Services" and find several names
that fit the bill, you had better check them out FAST. Read their websites
carefully. Ask for references from satisfied clients. What are their
qualifications? Are their fees up in the stratosphere? How long will your critique
take? Do they promise more than is reasonable? Find out exactly what a critique
from them entails. Snippy, or less than forthcoming replies to any of these
questions means you RUN! .
Choose
the Right Critique Person for You:
A person skilled in advising YA
writers on how to strengthen their plots, and create great tension, might not
necessarily be good at helping a writer of picture books pare down their pages.
There are basic skills that all critiquers need, but the differences between
what it takes to help craft a great YA, or an appealing PB, are vast. If you
want a professional opinion on your midgrade novel, find someone who
specializes in critiquing mid-grades. The same goes for PBs, YA’s, and anything
in-between. It is true that certain critiquers work with various age groups:
just make sure they are knowledgeable about the age you write for.
Rhyming picture books need expert
help. Editors LOVE rhyming stories: they just hate the 99 out of 100 really
terrible ones that land on their desks.
That meter must be smooth and repeated in every verse. The rhyming words need to fit the story and
move it along. Oh, and don’t forget a
terrific story as well. Not easy, I
know. So make sure the person you choose
to help you knows a thing or two about the BIG 3 of rhyming stories.
* NOTE:If you write MG or YA books, asking for a
complete critique might mean taking out a second mortgage. Don’t laugh! A
huge amount of time and effort is involved in thoroughly working through one of
these books. This is especially true if the writer needs help in many areas. I
suggest asking for a critique of your first few chapters. Most professionals
want their money up-front. This can be done for a reasonable fee, and if you
are smart, you can use what you learned from the critique of those early
chapters throughout the rest of your book. And if money is tight (or not there
at all), join one of the many critique groups around. Your writing will benefit
from the feedback of more advanced or published writers. A good critique group
mentors its members. .
What
to Expect from a Critique:
Expect the unexpected! A good
critique looks under the surface, scanning your manuscript with a fresh eye,
and without any preconceived notions. Like anyone else, be it an editor or a
prospective book purchaser, most critiquers are hoping for a good read. The
first impression a critiquer has of your chapters is often the same first
impression that forced those editors to send you a rejection. Unlike publishing
editors, who waste no time on writing that is sloppy, unfocused or weak, you
have paid your critique person to tell you the error of your writing ways.
However, telling you a paragraph needs tightening is not enough. .
Examples
of What to Expect from a Good Critique:
Paragraph or chapter needs tightening - an example of what this means.
Verbs are weak—shows
a way of using more powerful and active verbs.
Plot lacks focus—presents
a focused alternative for the writer to consider.
Picture book is too wordy—Gives examples of how and where to prune.
Dialogue is not age appropriate—shows example that is right for the age.
Where paragraphs, pages or chapters are great—praise for good writing.
If the overall concept and writing is weak—suggestions re writing classes, reading books, and
joining a critique group. Encourages the client to master the craft of
writing.
A summary that pinpoints areas that need strengthening
etc, and mentions what they feel works just fine as is—Encourages you to think out of the box: to turn your
chapters or paragraphs upside-down, or inside out, until you get them
exactly right. Reinforces the notion that re-writing is not a dirty word!
Comments, suggestions and examples that help you identify problem areas
more clearly, write tighter, and focus on what is important to the plot.
Support, honesty and helpful examples are the cornerstones of a good
critique.
What NOT to Expect:
Lots of lavish praise, or pussyfooting around, trying
to avoid your tender ego—an
honest evaluation might upset you for a day or two, but think about it
before you blow a gasket. RE-EVALUATE! Those rejection slips could mean
the critiquer was right.
The Critique from Hell—many put-downs, no helpful examples, not one word of
praise, and no summary – next time, you’ll do deep research on a critique
person before you pay your money – right?
What
You Shouldn't Do:
Take it personally—A
critique is simply an educated opinion. Consider and evaluate. Put your MS
aside for a while, and then reread it with the critiquer’s comments in
mind. Some of those suggestions might work better than you thought.
Bug your Critique Person about it before the due-back
date—A ticked-off critiquer is not
a person you want looking at your manuscript!
Send an e-mail while you’re still upset—Trust me, you will regret it! No matter that the
advice was the last thing you wanted to read: acknowledge receipt of your
critique ASAP. Then, take the time to evaluate carefully, before you
e-mail her with a barrage of questions.
Summary:
Never allow yourself to become
discouraged—being bummed out by a critique that shatters your writing illusions
is natural. Have a good cry, take a bubble bath, beat up the punching bag: but
whatever you do, don’t stop writing.
Tweak, rework, rewrite! Make that
book, stronger, more dynamic, a real winner. Do it for yourself. Do it just to
SHOW that !@#$% critiquer. But - DO IT!
========================
NOW .
Surf on over to some of
the other Guardian Angel Bloggers and enjoy their Children's Book Week
posts.
Entry during the Children's Book
Week celebration by Guardian Angel Publishing does not guarantee winning the
FREE tote bag of Guardian Angel Publishing books, or the FREE picture book
manuscript critique by Margot Finke. Winner of the FREE picture book manuscript
critique by Margot Finke shall not hold Ms. Finke liable in publication success
of submitted picture book manuscript.
