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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Surfing

Due to a heavy week at work, Thanksgiving and other obligations, the list is a bit shorter today.  Still, there may be something of use to someone.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Why Non-Writers Give the Best Critiques

Write On! (Dissecting advice for writers)

The Write lawyer

How Good Writers Make You "Feel"

Clarion Blog (Lots of great articles on the craft of writing.)


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11 comments:

  1. Alex J. CavanaughNovember 25, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    I have two test readers who aren't writers and they've helped a lot with all three of my manuscripts.

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    1. Jeff HargettNovember 25, 2012 at 8:07 PM

      That had to be valuable feedback, having someone follow each step in the series. They'd have a perspective that spans the entire story arc, not just a single book.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 25, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    I plan on coercing...er...enlisting the advice of two non-writers, in addition to one or two CPs, for my MS. Looking forward to cruising these articles. Thanks Jeff

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    1. Jeff HargettNovember 25, 2012 at 8:08 PM

      No "er" needed, Julie. For writers seeking feedback, coercing and enlisting are synonyms. :)

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  3. ShaunaKelleyWritesNovember 25, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    My non-writer friends have actually made my work about 10,000 times better. They definitely can give you more of a "target market" take on your work.

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    1. Jeff HargettNovember 25, 2012 at 8:10 PM

      The perspectives are definitely different. And while non-writers may not be able to single out the technical whys and hows, they still know if something works for them or not.

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  4. Al DiazNovember 25, 2012 at 10:45 AM

    I know non-writers are the best beta readers. I am just in the phase where I can't get those non-writer I know to read English stuff and those who have read the Spanish stuff are my family who said "I love you, you're a genius, you should send this to Hollywood." They can even say it without having read it. I could call that "blind confidence".

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    1. Jeff HargettNovember 25, 2012 at 8:36 PM

      Hollywood? I'll have my people call your people. We'll do lunch. :-) Actually, I imagine it must be much more difficult finding English readers in a Spanish speaking nation. Oddly enough, finding real live bodies to beta read epic fantasy isn't all that easy either. Most of my reading buddies prefer romance or non-fiction.

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    2. Al DiazNovember 27, 2012 at 8:04 AM

      When I am done with Agnipath, maybe you could lend this dragon those beta readers for a bit? *batting eyelashes*

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  5. MorganNovember 25, 2012 at 9:06 PM

    Ooooo... I love links... this is my kind of post! Thanks for this, Jeff!

    And I don't have any non-writer betas who aren't family... I need to get on that. What a great idea.

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    1. Jeff HargettNovember 25, 2012 at 9:44 PM

      My pleasure, Morgan. Enjoy the surf! And good luck on the beta reader hunt!

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