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Writing

Squinch

(53,587 posts) Tue Dec 17, 2013, 07:32 PM Dec 2013

How do you all go about getting a good critical reader for a completed novel? [View all]

An agent suggested some changes in the first 100 pages, and told me to send it back to her if I chose to follow her suggestions. They were great suggestions, so I did, but I don't want to send it back until I have had someone with some experience really rip the rest of the manuscript apart.

Family and friends are no help. I am grateful that they are positive, but right now, what it needs is some real criticism.

Where do you find such a person?

26 replies

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Highlight:

How do you all go about getting a good critical reader for a completed novel? [View all] Squinch Dec 2013 OP

Short of paying for the help.... CherokeeDem Dec 2013 #1

I tried the only local fiction Squinch Dec 2013 #2

So true!!! CherokeeDem Dec 2013 #3

I did everything I could to take the emotion out of the agent submissions. Squinch Dec 2013 #6

I always advise people to study flap copy mainer Dec 2013 #5

I have a friend who edits books on a freelance Sanity Claws Jun 2015 #26

So I have found two local writers groups (YAY!) only to learn that they are both Squinch Jan 2014 #8

Good luck... hope you stay warm tonight! CherokeeDem Jan 2014 #10

This is a huge problem. SheilaT Dec 2013 #4

Thank you for your wishes. And the same back to you! Squinch Dec 2013 #7

Send it back to her right away! DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #9

Really? This is what I need to know! Squinch Jan 2014 #11

Hmm. I had assumed she saw the whole thing. DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #12

Thank you! Squinch Jan 2014 #13

You're welcome DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #14

I'll post back if there are any developments. Squinch Jan 2014 #15

I once tried reading someone else's manuscript novel because he could not find a publisher Fortinbras Armstrong Apr 2014 #16

And the scary thing is that people like him SheilaT Apr 2014 #17

Aargh. Not that anti-self-publishing nonsense again. DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #18

David, SheilaT Apr 2014 #19

I'll point to my own last few books DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #20

I should add DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #21

The point is, you know enough to get professional editing. SheilaT Apr 2014 #22

Sure, but many do DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #23

You are probably not the only ones. SheilaT Apr 2014 #24

I've done this for pay and helped others get published, Liberty Belle Jun 2015 #25