tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post4039795920506639516..comments2024-03-27T12:41:31.596-06:00Comments on Book Dreaming: Fields of PaperShannon O'Donnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-68965647493107376662009-12-10T05:08:29.067-07:002009-12-10T05:08:29.067-07:00I found some crit partners initially over at the e...I found some crit partners initially over at the eHarlequin community. Then we found a yahoo group to join and there I found some writers I've really clicked with and we formed our own group. We've been together about 5 years.<br />The point is, you might have to kiss a lot of toads before you find your prince of crit parnters. :)<br />Good luck!<br /><br />PS. LOVE your blog layout, too!Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-72645859727259273652009-12-10T01:54:06.609-07:002009-12-10T01:54:06.609-07:00I haven't had much luck with locak crit partne...I haven't had much luck with locak crit partners - but I did find two on twitter. We didn't jump in to it - not until we knew we wrote similar types of stories (all fantasy based) and we knew that we were all nice people who didn't talk just to hear ourselves speak... if that makes any sense!<br /><br />I definitely recommend twitter - and other bloggers are also always really helpful!<br /><br />By the way - I've left an award for you on my blog! check it out when you have a moment :-)Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos}https://www.blogger.com/profile/09824996048264979275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-52886991139100737222009-12-09T23:27:01.012-07:002009-12-09T23:27:01.012-07:00I think you're doing exactly what you should b...I think you're doing exactly what you should be doing to get a critique group: Making it known that you need one. I found my critique group the same way, by connecting with people online. You're right when you say they are completely necessary. Because you're not alone in not seeing errors in your own work. No matter how good you are, it's impossible. You can't objectively view your own work....ever. Good luck. (And I still think you're positive. Everyone's allowed to feel blue.)Kasie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14169629001145903361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-37872126578878154922009-12-09T21:32:07.599-07:002009-12-09T21:32:07.599-07:00Hi Shannon, I'm so glad you found my Writing t...Hi Shannon, I'm so glad you found my Writing to Distraction blog again!<br /><br />Sorry you had a bad day. It's so hard to be objective, eh, impossible, with our own writing. Please don't be so hard on yourself. <br /><br />See you around . . .Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-87882779777126032962009-12-09T21:15:21.934-07:002009-12-09T21:15:21.934-07:00I hope your day has gotten better Shannon! We miss...I hope your day has gotten better Shannon! We miss really stupid errors in our own work all the time. It's frustrating, isn't it? A good critique group can make a HUGE difference, but they can be difficult to come by. I second Elana's suggestion to hang out at QueryTracker. That's where we've found some of our best beta readers!lisa and laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144863275895761642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-76963591023591921852009-12-09T20:15:36.543-07:002009-12-09T20:15:36.543-07:00Thanks for stopping by today! Look at all the fami...Thanks for stopping by today! Look at all the familiar faces in your followers list. I'm glad you found me too!<br /><br />I just joined a small critique group suggested through another blog. We haven't started critiquing yet though.<br /><br />Another way is just to get to know people through blogs. I just asked for beta readers and found a couple that were willing :) As long as you can find someone you trust with your work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283503033516504436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-80916402955644315742009-12-09T18:26:35.539-07:002009-12-09T18:26:35.539-07:00Mary - I must say I envy you. Roxane is one awesom...Mary - I must say I envy you. Roxane is one awesome lady! ;) Thank you again for all your kind comments.<br /><br />Laurel - I love that quote, too. It just makes me weepy. :) I will check out SCBWI. Thanks!<br /><br />Jemi - That seems to be a popular recommendation - I will definitely check them out. :-)<br /><br />JenE - Thanks. I'll be sure to let you know what happens. Thanks for the support. :)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-91246641758626306932009-12-09T16:53:03.433-07:002009-12-09T16:53:03.433-07:00Shannon, I've wondered the same thing too. I k...Shannon, I've wondered the same thing too. I know I will need a few good critique partners, but I'm not to that point yet. I'll be interested to see what you come up with. <br />I would be willing to critique for you, but considering that I haven't done that before for anyone else, I'm not really sure what is expected. I guess at some point I'll need to figure that out, too. :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09742510911858733787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-39817093192040873532009-12-09T16:23:38.794-07:002009-12-09T16:23:38.794-07:00I'd suggest trying Query Tracker and AgentQuer...I'd suggest trying Query Tracker and AgentQueryConnect. They're both great sites!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-73015810353363874862009-12-09T15:18:49.585-07:002009-12-09T15:18:49.585-07:00The in-person dynamic with critiques is unbeatable...The in-person dynamic with critiques is unbeatable if you can find a group--SCBWI is a good place to start. Advertising at a local library is a possibility too. Or attend a local night school class or conference and troll for like-minded people. <br /><br />Online groups are better than no critiques, but I find my opinions on pieces often shifts while we're discussing them as a group. So you need to take with a grain of salt critiques given when the critique-giver was reading and reacting in isolation. <br /><br />Perhaps we need to revive the chatroom idea from back in the day. That might approximate the give-and-take of IRL critique group dynamics.<br /><br />And BTW, I'm a huge Levertov fan. Thanks for sharing that quote.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-49677148189386945742009-12-09T14:27:07.578-07:002009-12-09T14:27:07.578-07:00I think my "Peace Garden Mama" friend wo...I think my "Peace Garden Mama" friend would say that our word friends give us the sunshine and rain for our seedling stories. Keep growing your stories. You'll find a way to share them!Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-57422061620532342702009-12-09T14:12:15.445-07:002009-12-09T14:12:15.445-07:00Tamika - our online blogging support never ceases ...Tamika - our online blogging support never ceases to amaze me. It's where I started! :)<br /><br />Stephanie - thanks for the offer - I may! I think you are right about us being too close to our own work. <br /><br />Mary - Thanks for the positive comments. It gives me hope.:)<br /><br />Roxane - You are always so sweet. Family is the main reason I haven't sought a group before now (but like you, I have managed to squeeze in my church ladies!) ;)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-63795860971753343672009-12-09T13:45:58.574-07:002009-12-09T13:45:58.574-07:00Raising a bustling brood, I haven't yet been a...Raising a bustling brood, I haven't yet been able to justify an offline critique group. I have a faith-sharing group that guides me in that journey, but my writing group comes to me through beautiful writer friends, mostly through online means. Mary, who just commented, is one of the first people I go to when I need something read. I am so thankful for people like her. Someday, perhaps, I will enter into the group realm, but for now, I find my mentors and helpers in other ways. Good luck and I'll look forward to seeing what happens from here.Roxane B. Salonenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01459456545891720716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-66117018439880206262009-12-09T11:52:47.365-07:002009-12-09T11:52:47.365-07:00I'm in a "remote" are of MN, so it t...I'm in a "remote" are of MN, so it took a little effort to find writing soul mates. I also joined SCBWI, which linked me to writer's in my area. We then started inviting people we know with a passion for writing. Our group is up to about 8. I highly recommend it! We encourage one another and build each other up!Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-26253652741784650452009-12-09T11:52:36.240-07:002009-12-09T11:52:36.240-07:00Let me know if you ever want me to take a look at ...Let me know if you ever want me to take a look at your work- I'd be happy to!<br /><br />And I know what you mean about not seeing glaring errors in your own work. It takes someone pointing it to me before I see my mistakes, even though I spot them in my students' work or other novels. We're just too close to our own work. <br /><br />Love the quote!Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-54576083045354567882009-12-09T11:13:38.562-07:002009-12-09T11:13:38.562-07:00I'm swimming in the same shores. My work still...I'm swimming in the same shores. My work still needs more polish before I solicit too much feedback. <br /><br />I think I'll start with some people I've made connections with through blogging.Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-85727052192642873032009-12-09T11:11:30.634-07:002009-12-09T11:11:30.634-07:00Wow - you guys rock! Thanks for all the positive f...Wow - you guys rock! Thanks for all the positive feedback. I'm writing this stuff down. :)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-4851641562072611992009-12-09T11:05:11.909-07:002009-12-09T11:05:11.909-07:00I'm glad the critique was helpful to you, Shan...I'm glad the critique was helpful to you, Shannon. :-) It's a great story and deserves to find a home down the road, absolutely.<br /><br />I moderate a free online Critique Site called The Critique Circle. It works on a credit system--you get credits for writing critiques, which you them spend to submit your work for critique. I also often go to Verla Kays when I want to do a full MS swap with another writer who specifically writes the same kidlit I do, be it YA or MG. <br /><br />I'm running out to pick son #1 from school so I can't rustle up the links, but they are listed in my sidebar if you want to take a look. :-)Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-62212943349919044282009-12-09T10:59:08.488-07:002009-12-09T10:59:08.488-07:00I think the best thing to do is hang out where wri...I think the best thing to do is hang out where writers hang out. Online. QueryTracker has a great forum. AgentQuery has a great forum. Absolute Write has a great forum. Participate there. Get to know other writers. Find those you think are great, who write in your genre, etc. Try exchanging some stuff. See how it goes from there...Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-75491638634435251402009-12-09T10:46:25.353-07:002009-12-09T10:46:25.353-07:00Maybe join a writer's group in your area. I j...Maybe join a writer's group in your area. I joined my local SCBWI, made friends, and sprouted a critique group from that.Catherine Dentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771249741266703689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-6567618535257373382009-12-09T10:30:17.883-07:002009-12-09T10:30:17.883-07:00I don't really know how to get a critique grou...I don't really know how to get a critique group either. I have two people who read my stuff but I'd really like a couple more. I'll be one of your critique partners if you'll be mine! :)<br /><br />I always miss stuff in my own work, too. Commas are really a problem for me. I think sometimes I skip over things in my own writing because I know what I meant to write, so I just think it's right.BK Mattinglyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13758638245846622284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945626570622121439.post-31024878742319901052009-12-09T09:47:26.847-07:002009-12-09T09:47:26.847-07:00I have a random idea... email me for more info: va...I have a random idea... email me for more info: valgeary@gmail.com ;)Valerie Gearyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165554338889917253noreply@blogger.com