Writing

CherokeeDem

(3,722 posts)

1. Short of paying for the help....

Tue Dec 17, 2013, 09:03 PM

Dec 2013

it's hard to find someone qualified. I've been very lucky; one of my friends is a linguist, and she has been a wonderful help with grammar and structure. Two other friends were both in the Navy and did PR work, one actually wrote for a Naval publication. And fortunately, they are honest with me if they feel I need to make changes in how I structured something or if something doesn't make sense.

I also joined a local fiction writers group with several published authors, poets, and playwrights as members. I haven't been attending meetings for long, but they were a real help in getting my query letter in better shape. The letter still needs work but their suggestions really helped me focus.

Perhaps checking with a local college or bookstore might yield someone who would be willing to either review your manuscript for free or charge a nominal fee.

I'm not as far along as you are, but I'm as much in the dark as you are about where to turn. However, congratulations on getting an agent interested in your work. Good luck!!!

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Highlight:

How do you all go about getting a good critical reader for a completed novel? [View all] Squinch Dec 2013 OP

Short of paying for the help.... CherokeeDem Dec 2013 #1

I tried the only local fiction Squinch Dec 2013 #2

So true!!! CherokeeDem Dec 2013 #3

I did everything I could to take the emotion out of the agent submissions. Squinch Dec 2013 #6

I always advise people to study flap copy mainer Dec 2013 #5

I have a friend who edits books on a freelance Sanity Claws Jun 2015 #26

So I have found two local writers groups (YAY!) only to learn that they are both Squinch Jan 2014 #8

Good luck... hope you stay warm tonight! CherokeeDem Jan 2014 #10

This is a huge problem. SheilaT Dec 2013 #4

Thank you for your wishes. And the same back to you! Squinch Dec 2013 #7

Send it back to her right away! DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #9

Really? This is what I need to know! Squinch Jan 2014 #11

Hmm. I had assumed she saw the whole thing. DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #12

Thank you! Squinch Jan 2014 #13

You're welcome DavidDvorkin Jan 2014 #14

I'll post back if there are any developments. Squinch Jan 2014 #15

I once tried reading someone else's manuscript novel because he could not find a publisher Fortinbras Armstrong Apr 2014 #16

And the scary thing is that people like him SheilaT Apr 2014 #17

Aargh. Not that anti-self-publishing nonsense again. DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #18

David, SheilaT Apr 2014 #19

I'll point to my own last few books DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #20

I should add DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #21

The point is, you know enough to get professional editing. SheilaT Apr 2014 #22

Sure, but many do DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #23

You are probably not the only ones. SheilaT Apr 2014 #24

I've done this for pay and helped others get published, Liberty Belle Jun 2015 #25