I recently critiqued several chapters for a writer I met on Twitter. She knew it would be beneficial to join a critique group. But how, she asked, was she supposed to find one? Lots of writers have blogged about the value of critique groups. (If you’re still not convinced you should join one, read these […]
As I inch closer to finishing a draft of my travel memoir, I’ve been thinking about whether I should eventually hire an editor. Some first-time authors do so to make their work its very best before submitting to a literary agent. A few published authors have suggested I hire someone because sometimes literary agents and […]
I was pretty annoyed at Amtrak this week for canceling my train home from New York City. But while I waited a few hours for the next available train to Albany, I wrote some quality pages. It amazes me that I can produce some of my best copy while kids scream behind me and a […]
For the first time yesterday, someone other than me read Chapter Seven of my travel memoir. Well, I guess it wasn’t really the first time. Before I sent the chapter to my critique group, I had a slight panic attack, realizing I was about to make myself vulnerable by throwing my work out into the […]
If I can’t get into a writers’ colony, I figured, I’ll join a critique group. I found one pretty quickly in my area, through the Hudson Valley Writers Guild. And they met at my local library! How convenient. But when I showed up at a meeting for the first time, I felt slightly out of […]