Quick Question: Critters

Critters is a website (and this is a reminder to me to do one before I get shouted at) where you can post excerpts of SFF and request a crit. You can also request whole book crits.

Fluegel, to my knowledge there are 4 or 5 of us who have used it. Generally, I've found it very helpful, but you won't know the critters the same way as you do here, so it's harder to judge whose writing style you like, who seems to perhaps give the most reliable advice for your style. But, overall, I'd reccommend them.

(and now have a note in my to do list. :))
 
Lots of advantages: longer pieces than here, confidentiality (thus no problems with future publishers/agents), less personal contact (unless you want to get an entire novel critted), so no risk of personal prejudice, positive or otherwise, creeping into the analysis (which could be positive or negative, but at least offers consistency).

But they do not fit with my close perspective, detail nitpicking technique. They aim for a more global, overall impression type view, and this is clear from the reactions the electronic minions give to some of my attempts (don't quote so much of the original text! If you have really done a crit this long, it's splendid, but we suspect this is not the case…) Anyone who has undergone one of my "comma splice" laden analyses will understand, and probably sympathise with the macines.

Incidentally, Springs, those electronic minions will not penalise you for one missed week; last year, during my operation period, I went a long time without the drive or the concentration to do an acceptable job, and it was two months before I started getting automatic complaints; I get more when I'm actually doing them to the best of my ability:)
 
Hi FM,

I tried it for a bit earlier this year, but essentially you have to do at least one crit for someone else a week. (more or less, you can move it around with the system they have.)

Unfortunately I have far too much going on elsewhere timewise (loads more and above writing) to really dedicate myself properly to the site - but I do think is really good system for getting your work looked at.

However the effort to keep up to speed with the weekly crit got on top of me so I'd need more time dedicated solely to writing to justify it, so I've put it on back burner. You can always give it a go for a few months and see if it fits with your other activities.
 
Once a month is what they ask for, I think, particularly once you've built up some credits. And Chrispy, you're right, you get a bit of lee way, but I was on my second warning, so that's me done for a month... :)
 
First rate site. I've been using it for some years. You have to put in some effort on other people's work if you expect other people to put in effort on yours - just as it should be. :)

One thing you have to be aware of is that there are some strict rules that critters are expected to observe with regards to politeness. Read the rules carefully before submitting a crit. ;)

Some professional writers submitting and critting on there. I've got a couple of copies of Analog where suggestions I made actually made it through onto the printed page.
 
springs said:
Once a month is what they ask for, I think, particularly once you've built up some credits. And Chrispy, you're right, you get a bit of lee way, but I was on my second warning, so that's me done for a month... :)
Click to expand...

It was definitely once a week for me! (Did I join the correct site - maybe one leaked in from an alternative dimension!!)


mosaix said:
First rate site. I've been using it for some years. You have to put in some effort on other people's work if you expect other people to put in effort on yours - just as it should be. :)
Click to expand...

Totally agree - and to be fair, I critiqued about ten and never submitted anything. So overall I was a giver not a taker :p
 
I used it, and honestly I didn't find it too helpful. I can't commit to their 2/3 crits a week required either.

Seems like everyone else found it OK though, so I'd say give it a go.
 
I'm on their list but I've never done anything with it. I find the Reading Excuses Group(which is much smaller and more personable) to work better for me. Everybody there has a little niche and we all know what kind of stuff to look for.
 
Looks like an interesting site. Does it really take up to a month for your work to get critiqued though? I'm sure people would have already changed or found some critique elsewhere in that time.
 
Miggy said:
Looks like an interesting site. Does it really take up to a month for your work to get critiqued though? I'm sure people would have already changed or found some critique elsewhere in that time.
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Yes, you have to wait in a queue. But you can update it up to the day before it gets sent out, so you can be working on it in the meantime. the odd time I've sent mine out to people and done revisions, and had the revised version critted, which gives really good robustness. I'm not using it much at the mo, though - I mostly annoy everyone here, instead... :)
 
I've been a member for a few months now. I haven't gotten the gumption to sending something in yet. My stories keep mutating on me.
 
Just to add to what everyone else has said -- I used it for a year or so and I found it very useful.

I found it more useful the longer I used it, and the more I got to know the people whose work I'd critiqued and who were critiquing mine.

I've been away from short stories for a while and haven't been keeping up with my crits so I think they've bumped me off. I found it much more helpful for short stories than for novel-length stuff.
 
I like the idea of anonymous reviews.
Seems like someone would be more comfortable stating what they truly think pro and con where there is no social connection.

Just the facts, ma'am. :)
 
kshRox said:
I like the idea of anonymous reviews.
Seems like someone would be more comfortable stating what they truly think pro and con where there is no social connection.

Just the facts, ma'am. :)
Click to expand...
They're really useful, but, and it is a big but, anyone can state anything without you knowing about them. which can lead to a wide range of views and a cacophony of confusion. So, if you're a confident writer and can take what you need from that, then cool. If you're just starting out, I'm not sure the vehicle gives the same room for confident growth. I'm not knocking either model, btw, but I've tended to go with the Chrons model, becasue there are a lot here whose opinion I respect, and that's meant a lot. Maybe, like Hex says, I haven't quite got there on Crits, but the ones I did get left me scratching my head, with no way of going back and say what do I do with this. (they do start a discussion thread, I've never seen them being used.)

Having said that, I would post again, their rules of engagement are very strict, and you learn something from every crit...

I also, like Chrispy, find it doesn't entirely support my approach to crits - I'm an immediate reader, and think immediate reaction is good - so that, also, makes it a little difficult for me.
 
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