Has anyway ever considered having another writer critique their work, in exchange for you doing the same with theirs? Just a brainstorm idea I just had. Might be something I'd consider doing further down the road. And, yes, I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this.
I think it's good to have another writer review another's work and it can always be helpful when suggesting different things with their piece. I would happily review someone's work for exchange of them reviewing my own.
That's kind what this site is all about. Chances are, if you give a thoughtful review of someones work, they'll do the same for you. Though I admit I don't know from experience, cause I haven't posted any of my own writing yet.
I'm talking about a whole novel though. 80,000 words, off-site, so it isn't viewable by the public, so it can still be published. That's the sort of exchange I'm referring to. I should have made that clear in my original post.
I'm gonna step into dream world for a second here, and imagine both editor's works were successful, and published. Now that would be one hell of a camaraderie, wouldn't you say?
Yes, getting a friend (online or RL, as long as they're a writer) and reviewing each other's stuff works great, I do it all the time.
I have beta read a couple of manuscripts that have now been accepted by publishers for epublication. They have been pleased enough with my beta reading to keep me on the list. I have learned over the past year that unless it is going for a publishing deadline I will only do it chapter by chapter and exchange them as I can spend hours on someone else only to have it not returned. Its all good though I learn while I am doing it, but I don't give all my work on the manuscript back until I see evidence mine is being done as well. I need a new one though as have to get five chapters ready quickly next week. They need to go from only existing in first draft form to final edit.
the problem with that is it can too easily be a case of 'the blind leading the blind'... having another beginner edit your work might not be a good thing... same goes for you, as a beginner, editing anyone else's work... the results could do more harm than good...
Well, I've got one good eye, at least. Sure, you don't want to exchange your work with a buffoon, I understand. I'm only half-buffoon, so that's who I'd be looking for.
I think that the most important thing is that the person beta reading you likes the genre you're writing and is the closer to the audience you want to reach as possible. If the beta reading person is also a writer, great. For me, any constructive criticism is valuable. How did you get someone to read your novels, Mallory and Elgaisma? Was it a friend or was it through some sort of beta-readers social network?
