Over the weekend, I went back and edited one of my works of short fiction. I’ve submitted it to a couple of critique group sites for review: www.critiquecircle.com and www.writerscafe.org.
Critique Circle is a great online group for peer reviewing. The majority of the reviewers really take the time to read and critique your stories. The reviewers offer good suggestions and advice, and have helped me to improve the short stories I have submitted in the past. The site is based on a point system, so you get a certain amount of points for each work you critique, and it costs you a certain number of credits for each story you submit. When you submit a story, you are almost guaranteed to have several people review it; I usually get about five reviews — well structured reviews — for each story. There’s also a “tit-for-tat” system, so you can keep track of who has critiqued your stories and whose stories you have critiqued.
This is my first time to submit to Writer’s Cafe. There is no point system here, but it would probably help you to review others’ writings if you want to receive critiques on your own stories. So far, I haven’t received any reviews on Writer’s Cafe, but I also haven’t had the time to review other people’s stories. Once I get around to that, I’m sure I’ll start receiving reviews back. I do like the layout and usability of Writer’s Cafe. It’s very easy to get around.
So once I receive some critiques back on my short story, and I have edited it one or two more times, I should be able to post another story to my site … finally. Look for something new to be up by the end of the month.
I’m all for critique groups–I’ve been involved with Critters.org in the past–but the biggest problem I have with such groups is the time it takes from my own writing. It’s obviously a two-edged sword: you get feedback and get to give it in turn, but you’re also giving up time that could be spent actually writing.
Of course, the same can be said for social outlets like Twitter. At least with a critique group you’re getting something worthwhile out of it.
I’d like to get re-involved with a critique group, but it’s hard to fit it in on top of everything else.
Scott, I have the same problem: finding time to critique other’s writings. Just to critique one story and give meaningful feedback takes me at least an hour, and then I don’t have time to work on my own writing for that day. I really enjoy reading unknown authors’ works and giving feedback; I just wish I had more time in my schedule so I could stay consistently involved in a critique group.
I like your site by the way. It has a nice, clean look to it. I’m eager to read your novel as well, The Hall of the Wood. Have you had much success with it? Pitched it to agents? etc?
Also, I’m subscribing to your blog. If you’d like to trade links and cross-promote sites for each other, just let me know. I’ll post a link to your site on my blogroll and vice versa.
Good chatting,
Steven