Showing posts with label Cascade Writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cascade Writers. Show all posts
Monday, August 14, 2017
Social Media for Writers (Patreon Article for Cascade Writers)
You'll need to become a patron of Cascade Writers at Patreon in order to read this article! Support our local writer's organization today! https://www.patreon.com/posts/social-media-for-13794978
Monday, July 3, 2017
Critique Partners
What is a critique partner?
A CP reads your manuscript and critiques, offering feedback on what works and what doesn't, some suggestions for changes, or places to expand, and may ask questions to help clarify what you are trying to write. As someone who worldbuilds in her head (and has since an early age when I had four imaginary friends in kindergarten) it's easy to think that the reader sees what I'm seeing, when I may not have conveyed that as clearly. A CP can also do line edits (correcting grammar/punctuation).
The way my CP and I work is that we often trade off a chapter or two. I read and critique hers, she reads and critiques mine. We use Microsoft Word and track changes.
I did not have a CP for my first manuscript, but I did hire an editor. The editor helped me to see my common grammatical errors and overused metaphors, along with tightening my sentence structure and working on passive voice. Nonetheless, that manuscript is on a shelf right now, but it was a good learning experience.
Currently, I have three CP's reading through my latest manuscript, but I entered the first chapter into the critique portion of Cascade Writers, where I had six others looking at my manuscript. It was incredibly helpful to have that may eyes on my first pages, to make sure I was starting in the right place, and using the right voice for that age group and genre. The problem with my first manuscript (among many, but this was the chief one) is that I didn't start in the right place, and I didn't have a critique partner helping me to understand that.
So if you don't have a critique partner, find one! The Twitter community #ontheporch is a great place to find other readers and critique partners for your age group and genre. It is also a supportive community who offer tips and encouragement, and sometimes have had agents or authors host tweetchats for you to ask your questions and seek advice.
A CP reads your manuscript and critiques, offering feedback on what works and what doesn't, some suggestions for changes, or places to expand, and may ask questions to help clarify what you are trying to write. As someone who worldbuilds in her head (and has since an early age when I had four imaginary friends in kindergarten) it's easy to think that the reader sees what I'm seeing, when I may not have conveyed that as clearly. A CP can also do line edits (correcting grammar/punctuation).
The way my CP and I work is that we often trade off a chapter or two. I read and critique hers, she reads and critiques mine. We use Microsoft Word and track changes.
I did not have a CP for my first manuscript, but I did hire an editor. The editor helped me to see my common grammatical errors and overused metaphors, along with tightening my sentence structure and working on passive voice. Nonetheless, that manuscript is on a shelf right now, but it was a good learning experience.
Currently, I have three CP's reading through my latest manuscript, but I entered the first chapter into the critique portion of Cascade Writers, where I had six others looking at my manuscript. It was incredibly helpful to have that may eyes on my first pages, to make sure I was starting in the right place, and using the right voice for that age group and genre. The problem with my first manuscript (among many, but this was the chief one) is that I didn't start in the right place, and I didn't have a critique partner helping me to understand that.
So if you don't have a critique partner, find one! The Twitter community #ontheporch is a great place to find other readers and critique partners for your age group and genre. It is also a supportive community who offer tips and encouragement, and sometimes have had agents or authors host tweetchats for you to ask your questions and seek advice.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Cascade Writers
Last weekend, I attended the Cascade Writers Conference in Tacoma. I went to the conference last year and attended two of their day-long workshops.
I love this conference because they are small, and they make an effort for us to get to know each other. We often try to have meals together, not just as writers, but with agents and editors. At larger conferences, agents and editors are often separated out, available only for pitch sessions and panels. At Cascade Writers, they hang out with us during meals and at the bar.
I met both of my current critique partners through Cascade Writers, and found a great new group of beta readers in this year's critique session. Some of our class teachers are new authors themselves who were once like us a few years ago as attendees. There is a lot of encouragement and support, and recognition that we are all human beings who love writing and books.
I enjoyed my time at Cascade Writers very much and have made new friendships through them. I encourage other writers to attend writing conferences, but be on the lookout for smaller conferences, where you might have the opportunity to find critique partners and beta readers, and have smaller sessions with authors and agents and editors. For me, Cascade Writers has provided the support, encouragement, and critical feedback that I have needed as an author. Visit www.cascadewriters.com for more information.
I love this conference because they are small, and they make an effort for us to get to know each other. We often try to have meals together, not just as writers, but with agents and editors. At larger conferences, agents and editors are often separated out, available only for pitch sessions and panels. At Cascade Writers, they hang out with us during meals and at the bar.
I met both of my current critique partners through Cascade Writers, and found a great new group of beta readers in this year's critique session. Some of our class teachers are new authors themselves who were once like us a few years ago as attendees. There is a lot of encouragement and support, and recognition that we are all human beings who love writing and books.
I enjoyed my time at Cascade Writers very much and have made new friendships through them. I encourage other writers to attend writing conferences, but be on the lookout for smaller conferences, where you might have the opportunity to find critique partners and beta readers, and have smaller sessions with authors and agents and editors. For me, Cascade Writers has provided the support, encouragement, and critical feedback that I have needed as an author. Visit www.cascadewriters.com for more information.
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