Suzan Harden's Page

I have a small critique group here in Houston, but none of the others write urban fantasy. I've convinced two of them to try reading the genre so they can get a feel of what I'm aiming for, but the third adamantly refuses to read any urban fantasy but mine. Even though I've learned a lot of basic novel crafting from these folks, it can be ... difficult. My writing is at the stage where I'm getting the "It's nice but not right for us" type of rejections.

What I'm looking for in a critique partner

An aspiring writer(s) with a serious goal of being published by a major house and some submission experience or a published writer(s). Preferably a two to four person situation. (Anything larger and I cannot keep up with everyone's critiques and I don't want to let anyone down.) Even if you don't write urban fantasy, please be a reader (i.e. know the difference between Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jim Butcher).

I'd like to find someone to bounce ideas off of, help me hash out character details, and let me know what's working (or not working) in a story. I don't expect a c.p. to be my copy editor, but if her/she spots a punctuation error I missed, by all means, please let me know!

What I read
Almost everything, from Homer to the Wall Street Journal. I draw the line at slasher porn or anything Ellora's Cave refuses to consider in a submission.

What I can offer
My feedback usually consists of spotting logic holes in the plot, inconsistant behavior in characters, pacing problems, POV problems (because I'm the queen of POV errors). I'm not a nitpicker with grammar, but if I spot something, I'll let you know because those pesky bugs sneak into my ms too just when I think it's perfect. I use Track Changes and Comments on MSWord.

Time/Materal
I'll read a project of any length provided I'm given sufficient time. It takes me about one week to review a 300-page ms. If there's a specific deadline (i.e. an agent or editor request or a contest deadline), let me know. I will extend the same notice.

Expectations
I look at a c.p. as a business partnership. If the relationship grows into a real friendship, all the better, but I don't expect my co-workers to be my best friends.

I start any potential partnership with a trial period (usually a mutually agreed time, such as one month). Sometimes it works. If so, wonderful. Sometimes it doesn't without it being anyone's fault. We shake hands, give best wishes and move on.

Mutual honesty, respect and communication is paramount. If I see something in your ms that may be a problem, I let you know without cutting out your heart. Please do the same for me.

I don't need a mommy to report my page count to, and I don't want to be someone else's. As long as everyone is moving forward, then the c.p. is beneficial.

Anything else, we'll make up as we go!