Topic: getting critiques

OK I have an important question. I've noticed this critique site goes very slow. I'm on a few others but it usually takes roughly 2 or 3 days to get your work critiqued. Here, my latest chapter I put up about 3 months ago finally got one critique. You might say back, "well your work sucks!" But that's why we're here, isn't it? So we stop sucking.
    The issue is this costs me 20.00 a month. I'm considering leaving because of the low amount of crits. I critiqued many stories myself but no one really read mine. Is there a way to increase the critiques? Otherwise I don't feel it's worth it for the twenty dollars a month. I paid my latest fee for August but if it doesn't get livelier I will have to leave the site. Thoughts?
    Or we could create a side group, and make sure we all get read. I'm willing to read whatever you got.
         Thanks-Treewoman61

Quote Post 1

Re: getting critiques

Hi Treewoman61. We did indeed experience a major slowdown in critiques due to a loss of members, especially after the server crash. Sol has just made some policy changes that should bring in new users (easier to gather points, more points for new users, and a longer up front trial), including more contests. Strange thing is, I haven't seen your user name on my home page in a long time. Are you posting to Premium? If so, I must be blind.

Check out a post (thread) In the Premium forum with tips on maximizing the number of reviews you receive (it's posted near the top of the forum).

Also, what's the name of your posted work?

We don't want to lose anyone, so hopefully you can give us a little more time once we find it. Posting here and asking for reviews is exactly the right thing to do.

Why are you paying $20 per month? Is that the cost of the monthly plan? I'm on the yearly plan, which costs way less per month. Perhaps someone else on the site can weigh in with the actual yearly cost.

Quote Post 2

Re: getting critiques

Found it. I am blind. I don't normally read romance, but now is a good time to read one again. smile. I'm just wrapping up a kitchen upgrade today, but will read chapter 1 by the end of the week, if not sooner.

Quote Post 3

Re: getting critiques

Found it. I am blind (not for the first time). I don't regularly read romance, but now is a good time to read one again. smile. I'm just wrapping up a kitchen upgrade today, but will read chapter 1 by the end of the week, if not sooner.

Quote Post 4

Re: getting critiques

Folks I know who always recip: Jack, Marilyn, and Terry (tdp). Randy usually does, although he just moved to the US from overseas.

Quote Post 5

Re: getting critiques

Thank you, Treewoman61, for bringing this up. One problem may be that unless a reviewer pulls up your profile, Chapter 2 looks like a stand-alone chapter. I'm not eager to start reviewing a book on chapters 2 or 3 or any other chapter besides 1. If you go to your original chapter 1, there's a place for "add a chapter." That way, when a person sees Chapter 2, there's a pull-down tab showing the reviewer they can start on Chapter 1 and then go to 2. Does that make sense?  LOL!  It makes sense in my head, but maybe not to everyone. I'm just saying keep them all in one book and do "add a chapter" rather than making it look like two separate books.

Another reason you may not receive reviews is that we lost several members in the site Crash of '23. Some regulars have not found their way back yet, and confusion ran rampant. The site was repaired, and we're trying to rebuild it stronger and better.

I will be happy to start on Chapter 1 and review your writing, then go to Chapter 2. I've been "under the weather" for a few months, but I'm back up and running, so I'll give your chapters a whirl and see if I can offer you any suggestions for improvement. As for reciprocation, I have nothing going on at the moment.

I hope others will also review this. We certainly don't want you to feel the need to leave because this is a wonderful site for learning. When I came here in 2008, I jumped in and posted an entire book, thinking I knew everything there was to know about writing. Boy, was I ever wrong!  I had some talented writers politely point out my mistakes, which I appreciated. So this is a site for helping each other.

Happy trails,
MJ

Quote Post 6

Re: getting critiques

Hey,
Where is the story located at? I'll jump on it today if I can locate it.
Terry :}

Quote Post 7

Re: getting critiques

Found it. :}

Quote Post 8

Re: getting critiques

Thanks Dirk.

Quote Post 9

Re: getting critiques

Treewoman61, below is a link to a site page of what you should be paying. If you think you're being charged $20/month, please contact SolN.

https://www.thenextbigwriter.com/guide/about-us

Thanks
Dirk

Quote Post 10

Re: getting critiques

One reason second chapters don't get reviewed is the reviewer doesn't receive an acknowledgment that the writer has seen their review. Unless i’m confident it’s just an oversight on the writer’s part, I don't review another chapter until I know that my kind of reviewing is what you are looking for. I don't know about others on here, but after I spend an hour of my time reading and commenting, if the writer expects me to read their next chapter, I need to know you are seeking my line by line edits, or you need something different. I noticed several of your chapter 1 reviews went unacknowledged by you, so maybe they also wanted to know you at least saw their work.

Also, when I receive a review and a reviewer points out several glaring mistakes (we all make them), I immediately change the copy on this site first so the next reviewer doesn't have to spend their time making the same suggestions. 

Food for thought.  Also, if you are paying $20 a month here, you are overpaying. Check again because it's not that much.  If you are, let Sol know so he can correct your monthly amount.
Happy trails,
MJ

MJ

Quote Post 11

Re: getting critiques

Marilyn Johnson wrote:

One reason second chapters don't get reviewed is the reviewer doesn't receive an acknowledgment that the writer has seen their review. Unless i’m confident it’s just an oversight on the writer’s part, I don't review another chapter until I know that my kind of reviewing is what you are looking for. I don't know about others on here, but after I spend an hour of my time reading and commenting, if the writer expects me to read their next chapter, I need to know you are seeking my line by line edits, or you need something different. I noticed several of your chapter 1 reviews went unacknowledged by you, so maybe they also wanted to know you at least saw their work.

Also, when I receive a review and a reviewer points out several glaring mistakes (we all make them), I immediately change the copy on this site first so the next reviewer doesn't have to spend their time making the same suggestions. 

Food for thought.  Also, if you are paying $20 a month here, you are overpaying. Check again because it's not that much.  If you are, let Sol know so he can correct your monthly amount.
Happy trails,
MJ

MJ

What she said.

Quote Post 12