Monday, May 21, 2012

Betas and Crit Groups

Hi folks,

Aspiring writers and published authors out there--quick question: how did you find your beta readers and/or crit groups? I know a new author who is looking for some feedback for a YA PNR.

In fact, let's make that a thing. If *you* are looking for a crit partner or beta reader, please send me a message through the Ganzfield contact form: http://www.site.ganzfield.com/Contact.html

Include your genre, your contact info (just an email is fine), and where you are in your writing career, e.g. "unpublished with completed YA paranormal manuscript." If I have someone who is in a similar position, I'll send you each other's contact info and you can trade sample chapters or something, just to see if you are a good match.

And that's how I became the Writing Matchmaker!


Disclaimer: I'm making no promises here, just trying to help writers find other writers who can help them improve their craft. Don't exchange home addresses or other personal info up front--writers are crazy, or at least weird, and you might not know how weird/crazy at first, but then they show up at your house dressed like the character in your book, and...well, that probably wouldn't end well. I'll also eventually stop doing this, but this specific offer is good through June 30, 2012.

5 comments:

Kim said...

Matchmaking - love it! I found my real life crit group through my local SCBWI chapter. They have a list online, so I contacted a few people and that was that! I met my cyber critters/beta readers through QueryTracker.net - the forums have a tab for those seeking partners in any genre. Good luck to your seeker!

Unknown said...

What a great offer. I don't know if I would fit in - I have self-published what you call MG books and one YA, (done it all myself except print the things - not vanity - with a fairly large print run), and about to struggle with the editing of my fifth book.

Eliza Tilton said...

I found mine through the Querytracker forum, the SCBWI region list and the backspace Forum. Hope that helps!

Kelly Hashway said...

I found one of my CPs at my local SCBWI conference. The others I found in an online writing group. CPs and betas are amazing. :)

Trisha said...

I so need to get more involved in QueryTracker!