Paying for a Professional Critique - Some Thoughts

By Leslie Colin Tribble

It’s been a slow year of writing for me. I wasn’t able to attend any conferences in 2017 and didn’t get a chance to have an agent or editor critique any manuscripts. I have several manuscripts that need some final work, but I’m just not sure how to get them to that polished state and my critique group has helped about as much as they can. What to do? 

I’ve decided to pay for a few professional critiques.

Before jumping in, I asked writer friends and folks within Facebook groups what they thought. I've taken their responses and come up with some tips for deciding why to pay for a critique and how to find the best person to do one. 

Hunting for a critique service doesn't have to be hard.

 Why Pay for a Critique

1.       You’ve written a story. And rewritten. Your critique group has been through several rounds of revisions with you. The story is Just. About. There. But you know in your heart something’s Just. Not. Right. This is the perfect time to pay for a professional critique. This person will read your story with a completely fresh set of eyes and will see it in a way neither you, nor your critique group did. That clarity can be the focus needed to make your story sing.

Who needs a professional critique? Maybe you do.

2.       Maybe you’ve already had too many people look at a manuscript too many times and are receiving too much conflicting advice. Again, that fresh set of eyes might show you the right path forward.

Critiques help you get back on track.

3.       Author (and critiquer) Jill Esbaum feels that a professional critique can shorten a writer’s learning curve. She feels one of the differences between published and unpublished writers is published writers are willing to listen to criticism and do the revision work necessary to perfect a manuscript.

Can you bearly stand to hear criticism?

How to Chose A Critique Service

4.       When paying someone to critique your story, choose wisely. Jill Esbaum says book editors, as gate keepers of the kid-lit world, might be a good place to start. But published authors can talk to you on a writer-to-writer basis and possibly explain problems in a way that’s easier to understand. Everyone I asked said to definitely find someone who writes, or edits the type of book you’re writing. Is your book a non-fiction picture book biography? Then don’t pay for a critique from someone who writes YA fiction.

Critiques keep you afloat.

5.       Price isn’t everything when it comes to paying for a critique. You need to make sure you understand what you will receive from the professional. Will they do line edits? Are they simply critiquing the scope and tone of the story? Will they provide a detailed write up of the critique or simply a summary? Do they offer a phone consultation or possibly a second consultation? Do your research and compare services, not just cost.

  

I can’t wait have my manuscripts critiqued. I think it will be just the boost I need to get my stories off my computer and out into the land of submissions!

Have you paid for a critique outside of a conference? What are your thoughts?

Critiques help you see the big picture.

Sandwich Day! ~Suzy Leopold

May I serve you?

Today is Sandwich Day!

You may just want to grab a breakfast sandwich while you read this post. Or maybe it is lunchtime and you want to bite into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Suppertime? No problem. Sandwiches are good choices for a supper meal, too.

English history states that John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. Montagu spent many hours gambling in London, England. In 1792, Montagu created a way to remain at the gambling table for long periods of time without stepping away to eat a meal. John Montagu placed meat between two pieces of bread and enjoyed his sandwich while continuing to wager his bets.  

Are you hungry?

Why am I talking about the 4th Earl of Sandwich and making you hungry for a yummy sandwich? 

Perhaps you have heard of the sandwich approach. It is a common method and an excellent way to share feedback for many purposes. The sandwich method is an approach that states a negative statement in between two positive comments.  

Homemade bread

The two slices of bread represent a strength, something noted as positive. Cheese, lettuce and a slice of tomato, the ingredients inside the sandwich, depict an area for improvement.

Soup and Sandwich

Belonging to a critique group is a very important part of the writing process. Good critiques offer support to the a writer’s manuscript by giving and taking. 

Giving a Critique

The sandwich method is used by writers to share a critique by offering encouragement, constructive criticism, and suggestions for improvement with a manuscript. 

Begin by stating something positive about the manuscript. Always begin a critique by noting something that you like. Point out what is working in the manuscript. Next, offer two points for areas of improvement. Make suggestions, while being polite and respectful. Be specific. Keep the critique friendly. The writer accepts or rejects any criticism. Follow with another strength and a positive comment of what you like about the manuscript. Sandwich the feedback with praise.

Thus you have a sandwich. Two pieces of yummy bread depicting what is positive in the manuscript. The sandwich fixins’ will need just a little bit more; some more work and more revisions.

Receiving a Critique

Listen without interrupting or defending your writing. Don’t just hear; listen carefully. Listening to the positive comments or the two pieces of bread is always encouraging. You may feel that your manuscript is polished and ready for submission because you have put forth so much time and effort revising it and then revising some more. However, it likely needs some improvement. Receiving criticism can be tough. You may have thought the luncheon meat, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes of the sandwich were already tasty. After the critique is complete, the writer can now ask questions. Perhaps a clarification is needed or even additional information.

After listening to the critique, let your manuscript sit for a day or even a week before thinking about making some changes. Time for the real work to begin. Remember the suggestions for improvement are to support your writing and to make it the best it can be. The critique is not about criticizing you as a person. Listen and learn. The more you listen, rewrite, and see improvements in your writing, the easier it is to accept criticism from critique partners. 

A critique group or partner should be someone you trust and someone who can support you in preparing a manuscript that is ready to submit. 

A Critiqued Manuscript

Soon you will have a sandwich. Your hard work will come together into a delicious sandwich. Not just any sandwich. It will be a scrumptious manuscript made with fresh bread and sandwich fixins’ of your choice. It will be the best sandwich ever and you will know it is time to submit. It will be so tasty!

A Veggie Sandwich

My sandwich of choice is two pieces of crusty sourdough bread cheese, garden lettuce and arugula, homegrown tomatoes and dill pickles. Oh, and just a squirt of mustard, please.

What is your favorite sandwich?

Writing Conference Critiques ~ by Patricia Toht

I'm a writing conference junkie, and I try to attend a few each year. Conferences offer a chance to see old writing friends, meet new ones, and learn from brilliant faculty. Often they also include an option for a manuscript critique. 

Photo by Jeffrey James Pacres, Creative Commons license

I've signed up for a critique at the Illinois-SCBWI conference next month, so now I'm faced with a decision -- which manuscript do I send? Well, I can tell you one thing.  I'm not sending my best work.

Photo by Tim Simpson, Creative Commons license

"WHAT?!" you may think. "Are you crazy?" 


Hold on. 
Let me explain.



The choice of which manuscript to send was easy for the first conference I attended. I only had one story in the stable. 

But soon I had several. For the next conference, I sent my very best. The story my critique group felt was "ready to go". The one I had polished to a fine shine. I imagined an editor seeking me out in the crowd, throwing arms around me, declaring "I WANT YOUR BOOK!"

Photo by Matt Herzberger, Creative Commons license

Yep. Delusional.

The written critique I received was kind, yet not very helpful. I loved my story and I hoped the editor would love it, too. It was well written, but I already knew in my heart that the manuscript was too quiet for the market, and that's exactly the feedback I received. 

Nothing was gained. I had wasted an opportunity because I had mistakenly viewed my critique as a sales vehicle rather than the chance to get feedback from a professional. 

Now, I'm not recommending that you send a first draft. But perhaps you have something that your stuck on? A piece that your critique group can't seem to connect with? A story that could use a fresh set of eyes? Send that! Use this opportunity to learn. Unlike a submission, you are guaranteed to get feedback.

You'll still have your sales opportunity. You can submit to this same editor, as well as the others on faculty, after the conference. But you'll be submitting the new and improved version of your work.

Here are a few more tips on conference critiques from two Illinois-SCBWI reps, Lisa Bierman and Sara Shacter:

• Bring a copy of your manuscript with you to a face-to-face critique. And come with questions.

• When talking with the editor/agent, communicate that you are wide open to advice (even if it's hard to hear!). It's all about having an open dialogue.

• A written critique is often inserted into your conference folder. Resist the temptation to look at it immediately! Instead, focus on learning as much as you can from the day's sessions.

• Tuck a written critique away for a few days and come back to it. Looking at it later, it won't sting as much and it will be easier to observe it objectively.

• Keep a copy of your pre-conference manuscript. After you've made suggested changes, look at both versions to see what works.

• If you receive a helpful critique, let the person know! Thank you cards are good.

Do you have any other conference critique advice to share, GROG readers?