First the housekeeping!

1) I'm please to announce that we have a new member -- Jesse Sprague, also known as Kismetwinters -- who has already jumped in with her first critique. Jesse is currently shopping a novel (not posted on Wattpad) to agents/publishers, and has participated in critique groups previously. Feel free to read her intro and the intro of a few other potential members who have said hi in the first chapter of this workgroup book.

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Stories up for Critique from October 3-15

sdfrost61 - The Rock, chapters 4.1 - 6.3

Total word count chapter 4-6: 10,100. Subgenre: Otherworlds/adventure. Highest rank: under #100 in sci-fi. No graphic sex or violence. Target audience: adults.

Stephen is redeeming some of the many points he's earned by being such a helpful critic, and asking the group to continue on with the next three chapters of his story. For those who have not critiqued the first 3 chapters (total 8700 words), then you can do all of chapters 1-6 for 50 points!

He would like feedback on prose, pacing and character development. I know from my own conversations with Stephen that he is contemplating starting the novel on the foreign alien world in the second draft.

ShalonSims - The Dreaming: Old Shalon's Story, Letter & chapters 1-3

Total word count: 10,100. Subgenre: young adult. Highest rank: #430 in sci-fi. No graphic sex or violence. Target audience: 16 year olds.

Some of you have read the Letter, but I have made significant changes to it, so I'd appreciate if you could review it a second time.

My feedback request for all three chapters:

Do you think the older character will appeal to a younger audience? Do you have any ideas about how to make this portion of the story more appealing to a younger audience?

What do you think of the fact that I've named my character Old Shalon? Does it make you uncomfortable -- do you find it interesting or annoying?

Old Shalon's Story is one of three stories that will be 'woven' together when I get to the second draft. For the first draft, I'm trying to write each story individually, to ensure the plot holds strong. Do you think there is enough of a plot direction for this story to stand on its own?

Any other feedback is greatly appreciated!

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IMPORTANT NOTE - point system has changed!

To earn your points, you must report back here after you've finished your critique. All critiques are now worth 25 points. Observation/reader reports are mandatory. They can be long or short (minimum 200 characters). People who participate by commenting on other reports by other critters will be awarded additional points.

Critiquing Reminder

No judgements, only observations. We are all here to help each other succeed in our writing. What isn't your cup of tea will be somebody's feast!

Describe: What's going on? What are you experiencing as you read?

Interpret: What do you think the author was intending? Where do you think it's headed?

Evaluate: Is it working? WHY? (don't forget the 'because' in your criticism. "It's not working because dada-dada-dada." YOU MUST SAY WHY something is or is not working.

Consider: Setting, Plot, Characterisation, Pace, Writing Quality, Dialogue, Theme, etc.

Accepting Criticism Reminder

Be quiet and listen.

Don't defend your writing! Don't respond to negative criticism if you feel upset about it. Take a break and come back to it later. We all have bad days. Don't look at criticism when you're having a bad day.

Appreciate and be grateful to your critics -- they have taken their time to read your writing and give you their thoughts! Remember, they aren't trying to hurt you or take you down. We are all here to help each other succeed in our writing.

IF you feel capable of responding to criticism, then focus on what you've learned from the critique. If you feel comfortable you may try to explain why you did something, and ask for ideas on how you might do it better in the next draft, from their perspective. But again, don't get defensive and start explaining why it's great the way it is. Accept the person didn't see or understand what you were trying to do.

Take what works for you and leave the rest behind.

Have fun!