By Kristen Crowley Held
You've finished your novel! Woohoo! Congratulations! Now what?
Maybe
you’ve already taken advantage of opportunities at workshops and
conferences to have an industry professional critique the first 5-25 pages of
your manuscript. You’ve polished
those first few pages until they shine, but you’re not sure
the rest of your novel is up to snuff.
Is there
such a thing as whole novel help?
Absolutely!
Let’s take a look at some options.
MANUSCRIPT SWAPPING
Find
another writer who's willing to do a manuscript swap. They critique your novel
and you critique theirs. Finding a good match isn’t easy, and may take some trial and error. Get to know the other writers in your area by attending local conferences and author events. Your regional SCBWI chapter can also be a great resource. You just might discover the
perfect crit partner in your own hometown, but if not, there are several websites
where you can find writers who are willing to do a manuscript swap. Here
are a few places to look for your perfect match (note that some of these sites require you to register in order to gain access to their boards, but registration is free):
Verla Kay’s
Blue Board: Queries and Critique Requests
Absolute
Write Water Cooler: Beta Readers, Mentors, and Writing Buddies
WriteOnCon: Critique Partner Match-up
Nathan
Bransford: Connect with a Critique Partner
In
addition, several writerly blogs have offered matchmaking services in the
past and may do so again. A few to watch:
Maggie
Stiefvater's Words on Words Critique Partner Love Connection
Mary Kole's Kidlit.com Critique Connection
Deana Barnhart's Critique and Beta Connections
Miss Snark's First Victim Authoress's Critique Partner Dating Service
Miss Snark's First Victim Authoress's Critique Partner Dating Service
AUCTIONS
Bid on a
whole novel critique and help out a worthy cause! Some annual opportunities to
check out:
Brenda Novak's Annual Auction for the Cure for Diabetes (scheduled to open on May 1, 2013)
Keep your
ears open for other auction opportunities that may be one-time events, but just
might offer that full manuscript critique you’ve been looking for.
WORKSHOPS
Want to
spend a few months working on your novel with an industry professional and have
the added bonus of meeting other writers who are doing the same? These programs
can be amazing opportunities to improve your craft.
(All the
fabulous things you’ve heard about this program are TRUE!)
Highlights
Foundation Whole Novel Workshops (Middle Grade and Young Adult)
Many SCBWI
regions also offer workshops on novel revision that include the opportunity for
feedback on your entire manuscript. Check the SCBWI website under Regional Events to see if there’s an upcoming event that will work for you.
INDEPENDENT EDITORS
You can find oodles of information online about what to look
for when choosing an independent editor to work with one-on-one. Here are a few our monkey tribe
has had the pleasure of working with:
Whatever
route you choose, keep in mind that what you are seeking is feedback, not a
“quick fix.” Be sure to communicate your aspirations and expectations and give
yourself time to process the input you receive. If you approach the experience of soliciting “whole novel
help” as an opportunity to learn, you really can’t lose.
And if you've already benefitted from some "whole novel help" I'd love to hear about your experiences!
