Does your story need a critique?

Okay,
You've written a story/ a book/ a tale that you love.
What's the next step?  Slip it into an envelope and sent it out to publishers?
perhaps.

Or, you might ask a professional in the field to take a look at it and critique it.
You don't want an unpublished writer who will try to turn Your writing into His/Her style of writing.
You don't want someone who looooves your writing and will only give you praise.
You want to find someone who can help you make your work better.  (more publishable, even)

Local writing conferences often offer critiques of your writing by published authors and even by the visiting editor/speakers. Take advantage of them, the cost is low, and they might help solve plot problems.

Or -- There's a guest post over at Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog by the author, C.S. Laken, that asks the question, "Does it Really Pay to Get YOur Manuscript Critiqued?"
Go thou now and read and ponder her words.

Blog -- Cockeyed Caravan

Over at the Cockeyed Caravan, Betsy Byrd's husband is taking apart and putting back together the Harry Potter books. He thinks the first three are just about perfect, but then shines his light on the flaws of the last four. He's up to book 5. Stay tuned for the rest of the books. I know I will.

(You remember that Betsy Byrd also writes a delightful blog about books, mostly new books, at her blog, A Fuse #8 Production. And now she has a baby bookworm to try the new picture books out on.)

-wo

Get a free Critique of your writing

Today is EARTH DAY
Today is also the celebration of the first Blogiversary of TeachingAuthors.com! This blog is run by a group six children's book authors who also teach writing. Once you get to their site, you'll recognize that they are some of your favorite authors.
* April Halprin Wayland
* Carmela Martino
* Esther Hershenhorn
* Jeanne Marie Grunwell Ford
* JoAnn Early Macken
* Mary Ann Rodman

As a thank-you gift to their readers, they're offering a special "choose your own critique" giveaway.
Yea!

Readers can enter to win a critique of one of the following:
a picture book manuscript,
nonfiction piece,
synopsis,
novel opening (about 10 pages or your first chapter,
short story,
or poetry.

For details, click on Teaching Authors.
-wendieO