WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Critiques 4 U

by

7346134332_d316cbd358_o
Courtesy: Denise Krebs at CC

I don’t know about you all, but I love to critique. Maybe it’s being able to help others with their trouble spots. Possibly, it’s my mutant writing gene that makes the revision stage my most favoritest part of the process. Maybe it’s my inner four-year-old reveling in the knowledge that I’m not the only one who needs help. Whatever the motivation, I do love to critique, but because of all the stuff I’ve got going on, I don’t get to do a lot of it these days.

But there’s this old saying: necessity is the mother of invention. What does this mean? It means that I’m creating my own opportunity to critique. And you guys are the guinea pigs beneficiaries.

Every month or so, I’ll post a call for first pages. If you’re working on something (no erotica, please) that needs fresh eyes, leave a comment. I’ll randomly draw 3 commenters from the 24-hour period that follows and post the winners in the comment section. If you win, you can email me your first page and I’ll give you my feedback.

So when, as Disney likes to say, does the magic begin? Well, there’s this other saying: There’s no time like the present. What does this mean? I think that’s fairly obvious. Anyone who’d like a first-page critique, please leave a comment including your name, the working title of your WIP, its genre, and the intended audience. On Wednesday, I’ll announce the winners and we can let the games begin!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kinza Sheikh says

    Hehehe…. Found this website in the right time 😀
    I am writing a fantasy, its working title is *drumroll please* “Asdhaa Chronicles”
    (Asdhaa is Persian word for dragons)
    My intended audience is YA, even teen will do.

    • BECCA PUGLISI says

      Hi, Julieta! I’m sorry, but this contest ended on Wednesday, September 10th. I’m going to be running one of these contests each month, though, so hopefully you can submit your first page another time.

    • BECCA PUGLISI says

      Hi, Laura! For now, I’m focusing on manuscript critiques, but if I want to switch things up down the road, a blog critique may be just the ticket. I’ll keep this in mind.

  6. BECCA PUGLISI says

    Thanks for entering, everyone! The contest is now closed, and the winners are…

    1) Kelly Miller
    2) Karen Walters
    3) Terry Gene

    Yay! Congrats, you three! Please email me your double-spaced first page at becca.puglisi@yahoo.com :).

    Everyone else, thanks again for entering. I hope to do this on a regular basis (monthly, maybe?), so please try again next time.

  8. Janet Smart says

    I’d love to win a critique – if I’m not too late to enter. Thanks!
    Title: Duck and Cover
    Genre: historical middle grade
    audience: middle grade kids

  11. Addy Rae says

    This is lovely of you! I’ll have a try. 🙂

    WIP: Working title just ‘Fear’. I don’t actually title until complete.
    Genre: YA Apocalyptic (NOT dystopian)
    Audience: Young Adults and Adults (since a lot of adult women read YA)

  17. Amy Mills says

    Thanks, Becca, for your time! What an awesome thing to do!
    Title: The Cure
    Genre: Soft Sci-fi
    Audience: Young/new adults

  18. Janet Hartman says

    Title: American Gold
    Genre: Mainstream Historical (may end up Women’s Fiction)
    Audience: Adults, particularly those interested in their ancestors coming to the US in the early 20th century.

    Even if I’m not chosen, thank you for offering your time to us.

  19. Liz Masterson Searle says

    What a nice offer, Becca! Thanks!
    WIP: You’ll Forget Me When I’m Gone
    Genre: Magical Realism
    Audience: Adult

  23. Tamara Meyers says

    Thank you for your generosity! Of course, I hope I’m one of the blessed few, but even if I’m not, I know how precious time is and really appreciate your offer –
    I’m terrible at titles, just calling it “Golden Dreams” (set in 1849 gold rush)
    Genre: Historical Fiction
    Audience: Adult

  26. Janet Evans says

    Thank you!
    WIP doesn’t have a title but I refer to it as the Pheala book.
    Genre – fantasy.
    Intended audience – YA

  30. Aften Brook Szymanski says

    Struggling with this very issue right now. I feel that my first pages are too wordy and I’ve lost the magic of character by over expounding. I really hope the character sounds her age and not eleven years old…

    Aften Brook Szymanski
    Title: Break Up Protocol
    Genre: Mystery *clean with humor
    Audience: college students

  32. Kristen says

    What fun!

    …and by that, I mean I have a (slightly) masochistic love of getting my word critiqued/shredded 🙂

    Name: Kristen
    Title: Scarlight
    Genre: YA Magical Realism

  33. Jeannie Hagy says

    I really love the help you give to writers. Thanks so much! And I’m another of those strange people who love the revision process.

    My novel is a YA called Damaged Goods.

  35. Sherry Bessette says

    Thank you! This is great.

    Name: Sherry Bessette
    Title: The Raven Wizard
    Genre: Fantasy
    Intended: Kids from 8 to 108

  36. Ben Stoddard says

    As if this website wasn’t good enough already, you just had to do something this generous.
    Name: Ben Stoddard
    Working title: The Great Unholy War
    Genre: Supernatural thriller
    Intended Audience: Adult (although it’s probably not too intense for teenagers)

  37. Marilyn says

    Thank you for making this opportunity for all of us to learn and improve.
    Sydney’s Medallion
    Genre: Adult fiction/historical references
    Audience: Adult

  40. Karla says

    Sweeeeeeeeet!

    I’d totally appreciate eyes >:) heheh. – not in the creepy way of course, lol.
    Thank you!

  41. Becca Borawski says

    Great opportunity! Thanks!

    Name: Becca Borawski Jenkins
    Working Title: South Central
    Genre: Drama
    Intended Audience: Adults

  42. Michelle Barker says

    Thank you so much for doing this. I have been reading and benefiting from your site for some time now.

    My WIP is a fantasy novel for young adults called, Way. Intended audience: teens, though I’m hoping for a crossover with adult readers.

  44. Jill says

    What a nice offer, Becca.
    Jill Weatherholt
    Working title: Par for the Course
    Genre: New Adult / Romance
    Intended audience: Adult

  46. Sandy says

    I am a new writer and need all the help I can get!! Thank you so much for doing this. It would be an amazing opportunity to have someone non biased to look at my work to let me know if I have what it takes. My WIP is women’s lit/ romance. As for a title I don’t have a clue. Hoping it will come to me by the time I finish.

  48. Shari Brady says

    I just read (and used) your Negative Trait Thesaurus and cannot thank you enough for all your books! And thanks for the opportunity to be critiqued. My name is Shari Brady, my WIP title is All the World’s a Stage, a young adult contemporary novel intended for anyone fourteen and up.

  49. Robin Olson says

    You ladies are fabulous. What an incredible offer you are doing. Whether my name is selected or not, keep doing what you’re doing!!! Thanks!

    Robin Olson
    Working title: Abandoned
    Genre: Women’s Fiction
    Intended audience: adult women between the ages of 20-40, give or take.

  51. Robyn Campbell says

    You are so cool. Not sure if I’ll take part. I just wanted you to know you’re so cool and very thoughtful. Paying it back. I’m going to do this too. (If I ever get published.) Hugs Becca.

    • Leanne Ross says

      I got carried away. Sorry for not completing the requirements as requested, but here goes:

      Leanne Ross
      Title- Slip Knot
      Genre- fantasy adventure
      Audience- YA

  53. Crystal Wells says

    Ooo me!
    Contemporary romance
    Working title: A SEALs Sanctuary
    Thanks for the opportunity!
    Crystal Wells

  57. Sheryl Dunn says

    Would love a critique…even though I edit the work of authors, I miss things in my own work that make me want to scream in the works of others.

    Keeping my fingers crossed.

    Sheryl

  58. Diana Beebe says

    I have that crazy revision gene, too. I love the revision process!

    My newest WIP, code name HF, is a fantasy in the New Adult age group. I’d love to have a fresh pair of eyes look at the beginning. 🙂

  61. Heidi says

    Hey, I’m always up for critique!

    Megan Ryder
    Granite Junction 1: Finding Home
    Genre: Contemporary Single Title
    Audience: adult women

    Can’t wait for the setting book!!!

  62. Roland Clarke says

    Thanks so much for the offer Becca. Not sure if this applies to a short story collection but I have sidelined my Novel in Progress for a collection of shorts linked by an apocalypse.

    Title: Gossamer Flames
    Genre: Apocalypse/Post-apocalypse Sci-Fi
    Audience: Young Adult/Adult readers – but not just SF readers… also those concerned about green & social issues.
    Opening tale: Ghost Lights – a young abused Indian woman attempts to gather support against a mega solar energy project in North India. [Sets the apocalypse up]

    Many thanks

    Roland Clarke

  63. Grace Campbell says

    Thanks so much for this opportunity!!!

    My name is Grace Campbell
    Working title: Devil’s Dagger
    Genre: fantasy
    Intended Audience: adults

  64. Sandy Quandt says

    Hi Becca,

    Thanks for the opportunity for the first-page critique.

    I’ve written a middle-grade historical novel, “No Easy Choice”, I would love your feed-back on.

    Thanks again,

    Sandy Quandt

  65. Paula Cappa says

    Interesting concept. I find as a writer, anchoring the first pages with character, tension, setting, and a hook to pull the reader in is not easy at all. I struggled with my openings all the time. And as a reader, I’m surprised at how many best selling books fail the test of well-structured first pages. I put down many books after 4 or 5 pages because the writing is dull or unclear and I just can’t get into it.

  67. Tonja Drecker says

    To critique is the best part 😉 And heaven knows we seem to need a lot of it. Great that you’re doing this!

    My WIP: A Jar Full of Fireflies, Middle Grade Magical Realism (more contemporary with a tiny hint of magic)

  68. Renee Yancy says

    I’d love a first page critique. My WIP is “The Dollar Princess.” It’s historical fiction for a predominantly Christian audience of women. Thank you.

  69. Diane Spigonardo says

    Hello, I write Regency (Historical) romance and when someone critiques my work, I feel you can always learn something from both a positive or negative critiques. It helps you grow as a writer.

  70. Heather Raglin says

    I’d love to win a critique! What a great idea. Thanks!
    Heather Raglin
    THE CARDINAL SIGN
    YA-Contemporary Fantasy

  72. Kelly Miller says

    My name is Kelly Miller and I would love a critique of the first pages of my third novel. Ive been trying to attract an agent but have had no luck, so another set of eyes would be greatly appreciated. My adult suspense novel is called “Waiting to Live.”

  73. Kathryn Daugherty says

    I use your Negative, Positive and Emotion Thesaurus often to help build my characters. Thank you for your work. My WIP is titled “She Promised Her Heart” It is a woman’s contemporary, my name is Kathryn Daugherty

  74. Tom Threadgill says

    I’m right there with you. I love doing critiques! That being said, I’d love you to take a look at my WIP, “Grinder”. It’s Christian fiction (suspense/thriller) intended for adults. Thanks Becca!

  77. Dee Chilton says

    That’s a great opportunity. I’m watching from the wings. I have a novel to write one day, but for now I’m a screenwriter, so I doubt you’d be interested in reading that, although a first page is a first page, it still has to hook the reader in and compel them to want to read on more. Hope you and the chosen writers enjoy the process.