It's that time again, the time every writer dreads: Self editing. In case you missed my last update here, I've been busy revising my finally completed manuscript. In my quest for writing improvement, I have joined Figment and Critique Circle in hopes of getting more feedback. In addition, I have purchased the Writer's Digest Agent Plot Critique service.
FIGMENT--it's a writing site aimed towards teens/young adults, very similar to Wattpad except that there is a lot more critiquing going on. In addition, many writing contests are held on Figment. Author Chats are available on scheduled dates and times; basically it's an open chat in which pre-chosen authors (ie. James Dashner) answer questions readers/writers may have. The population of active Figment users seems to be of moderate levels; there seems to be the "hard core" group (writers with like, 20 published stories) and the "check on my account a few times a month" group. However, I haven't joined for long, so it's hard to tell. Figment probably isn't the best site for gleaning beta feedback.
CRITIQUE CIRCLE--this website is solely dedicated to providing authors with critiques. The site is based on a "point system." In order to submit a piece of work to be critiqued by other members, you have to pay 3 points. In order to earn points, you have to critique other works (minimum 150 words per critique; the longer the critique, the more points you earn.) I think this system is quite effective as it encourages writers to help each other out. However, one thing that does irk me is that once you submit your work to be critiqued, it takes 2 weeks for it to be processed and made available in the queue line to be critiqued by others. Nevertheless, I have seen many in depth critiques on the site and am looking forward to getting my own worked reviewed by a fresh pair of eyes!
AGENT PLOT CRITIQUE--this is a 2nd Draft service offered by Writer's Digest. I am subscribed to this magazine, but have never purchased any of their services, tutorials, guide books, etc. Their charge is a bit on the pricey side ($50 for a plot critique--maximum 1000 words; other editing service clock in around $3-4 per page, double spaced), however because this is an established writers' resource with a good reputation, I decided to cough up some money this time and see how it goes :) Basically the Agent Plot Critique service reviews the outline of your plot, providing feedback as to where potential problems may arise. I've just submitted by plot overview yesterday and am expecting a review within a few weeks. In the mean time, I guess I will just have to sit tight; you can count on me reviewing this service later on though!
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