Critiques. The short answer is: Yes! If my own books aren't eating me alive.

I have been doing critiques for writers' conferences for years.  Because I couldn't attend SCBWI LA this year to do them at the conference, I decided to make amends to the 18 people I had let down by doing their sessions by phone and Skype, expanding from 20 minutes to at least an hour, and doing only 1 a day so that I could focus on each writer's work. This arrangement gives me enough time and emotional bandwidth to do my own writing, too, which is ever and always my priority.

The sessions have been amazing.  Each writer provided ten pages and a synopsis.  I read each ms carefully and marked up the pages with comments and suggestions.  Then we scheduled a phone or Skype appointment. 


At conferences, even the ones I love best, there is always a hurried feeling. This time, I could focus on the work, not the clock. We began by talking about the author's intent. Then we did a line by line examination of the 10 pages/synopsis. Once I understand what a writer is trying to create, I can focus on character voice, how to gracefully salt in backstory, build a seamless movie in the reader's mind, make sure the plot works, etc, etc...tailored for each writer. I always give concrete examples to support concepts and try to make sure everything is useful and tied to each writers' current work.  With a longer session, I could do all of that MUCH better. I can't describe how lovely it has been. I have never done crits like this, without a conference as the backdrop.  Each one was targeted and long enough to teach, instead of explain, writing skills.

So thanks to everyone who has been in touch. Yes, I am doing longer format critiques when I can fit them in. As much as I love to teach, I love writing far more, so I am sometimes unavailable. For rates, choices and all other details, you can contact me at kathleen duey at earthlink dot net 


*I feel compelled to add--I will send you the info and never bother you again. I only do 3-5 critiques a month--and sending out the info to those who request it is NOT a way to build a mailing list. You will never hear from me again. I promise. I don't want a lot of critiques. I want to work with a few serious writers and save them all a couple of years. 


*******  Inserting this 10 08 2011:  I have two HUGE projects coming up.  I will have to cut back on doing consults in November 2011. 


**adding this later. It can take a few days for me to write back...I really have to chase this deadline, but will respond with all the info ASAP. 


****adding this even later: Almost every critique so far begins with a discussion of voice. One writer I helped just sent me a redone/re-imagined first page. The voice is **astonishing.**   ((yay!))


*** Yes, I can evaluate a manuscript written for adults. I am an adult. The writing skills needed for YA storytelling are the same as those needed to produce stories for adults.   In fact, the YA market won't tolerate a lot of the sloppy writing that often dominates commercial adult books. If you are going to be a writer, be a good one!


*** Long session yesterday and it was like watching a flower bloom. Lovely! 


***Two more long sessions...it is so much fun to watch people light up when I point out the places where the text fails the story and they begin to see how a word, two words, can make all the difference.  

Photo by Roxyanne Young, author and friend...taken in San Louis Obispo 2.2012.  I got to teach two three hour sessions with published and prepublished authors. It was fun!


***Someone has asked if I am a harsh critiquer. NO. I'm a writer. I have friends who beta read my work before my editors see it. I know how it feels to hold your breath while someone reacts to your manuscript. I tell the truth, yes. Always. And I try to make it so that you can apply whatever skill we are addressing to everything you write from then on. ::::::: I have never made anyone cry. ((Actually, I did, once, sort of. She was crying because there was so much to fix and because I told her the story might not merit fixing, that maybe she should take all the great skills she had learned and move on. She had already spent two years on the story and hated to let it go. I held her hand and we talked about another idea she had--a much better one, stronger in every way. We walked through the story arc, and talked about the characters for the rest of her session.  After almost a year of starting over, rewriting, and hard work, she sold the new book.))