How to critique complete books?

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Phil Brown

Writes as Wyken Seagrave
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I wonder how we ought to handle critiques of complete books within this forum? This isn't the place to publish long extracts but having only a chapter cannot really give a fair impression of a long text. On the other hand an author won't want to publish more than a chapter here since that would cause problems when trying to sell the work.

Perhaps one way it might work is if two authors with books in draft were to exchange them. Then both would have something to gain from a review and something to lose if the draft were passed on without authorisation.

Another way might be to include several chapters with a synopsis of in-between chapters.

Even so, I've found this an exquisitely valuable place to read other's work and get feedback. Thanks to whoever created the site!
 
I'm sure in the past people have been willing to swap, read and critique whole novels, but I'm not sure that it happens often, and I've never seen any posts saying that it was a success... In any case it's matter of negotiating on a one on one basis. I'm not sure I'd entrust my entire work to someone I've never layed eyes on, but different strokes...
 
I'm afriad it comes down to the anonymity of the internet. Sure, you might give them something, but who says they give something back? You can't trust someone you haven't met. I say I'm a sixteen year old boy in the UK, but I might be a forty year old gal in the USA for all you know. There's no reason someone can't nick your work, and one of you has to send the file first. Although there are a couple of people around here who could probably be trusted, most people are just too unknown, too anonymous, for there to be any certainty of integrity.

If I had a full novel (I wish...), then I definately wouldn't give it to anyone other than a close friend or relative, whom I would obviously know in real life. Even then I'd make sure I had some form of evidence that the thing was mine, just in case. You never know in this world, and even if they don't steal it, someone else could off them or the like.
 
Wow, y'all are a bit pessimistic. Not that I had really given a lot of thought on such a thing, as I don't have a novel needing a critique. But I'd like to think there are tons of folks here I'd trust not to pinch my work.

You could always copyright the drafts, although I have no idea how you'd accomplish it. Seems there's probably a thread devoted to copyrights around here somewhere.
 
Sapheron
I think you can assess somebody's honesty by the way they critique samples in this forum. If they are honest and diligent in their assessment, and if they are writing something themselves, I'd say you could probably trust them not to copy your work. Of course you can't be sure what demographic your reviewer belongs to since he may be telling lies about that. If you are interested in the market then you have to make a judgement on whether his opinions are likely to reflect those of other people.

Bookstop
As far as copyright is concerned, an author automatically owns the copyright of everything he writes. Nothing special needs to be done unless you think you will need to prove that you wrote it, in which case you could send the work in a sealed envelope to a trusted party such as a solicitor.
A statement of copyright, name and date is only necessary to protect the author's rights for the legal period, either 50, 75 or 100 years depending on the country of publication.
 
Certainly there are folks here who could be trusted. But whether any of them have the time or inclination to sit down and critique an entire novel is also an issue. I think the better way to do it is to find a local writer's group you might be able to join, or even start one. I imagine you'd get a lot more use out of that than getting some John Doe half way acros the globe to read your work. But that's just my opinion...
 
that seems like a big task, asking netizens to review a complete book you've written. attention spans are short enough as it is.

a couple of friends have submitted whole books to me- that seems like a better way to receive initial feedback since i can perhaps be relied upon. and even if i can't i'm easily tracked down if i decide to pilfer.

otherwise, sending one of your good chapters to the net seems relatively smart and harmless.
-gigantes
 
I think there are people on the site who swap whole books and I've certainly swapped big portions of mine but it is with members who I have been talking to for some time and have got to trust.

I came on to this site very wary of the internet and I think that is generally wise. I think you have to build a relationship with someone first so that you know they are the sort of person who's opinion you respect and who would want to read the sort of thing you have written.

In the same way that you wouldn't give your book to someone you'd just met in a pub, you wouldn't do it over the net. I'd say it's a good idea but get to know people and then you'll know who to speak to about it. It won't happen over night.

The questions I'd ask are.

1) do you trust them, A) with any personnal details if you send any, B) with your book.
2) do you respect thier opinion. - are thier other critiques sensible? Do you rate the stuff they write themselves?
3) Do they have the time and inclination to critique your whole book?
 
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