The Ever Project

Elsa Neal Provides the Best Critique Service Ever

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 2 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

I'll show you how to write a book your readers can't put down

It's one thing to write the book you've been carrying around in your head; it's quite another to write fiction that gets a vivid reaction from your readers.

Why do we forget some books within weeks of reading them, but remember others deeply for years? Why do some characters seem to live on beyond The End, leaving us wondering if they found happiness or love? How do some books manage to give us nightmares, or make us cry?

Join in the free First Five Pages editing workshop!

The answer hinges on your reader 

But you have more influence over your reader than you think you do.

I can show you how to push the right buttons, subtly, so that your reader falls for your characters, cares about them, and wants to know what happens next.

Here's what clients are saying... 

  • "What I learned from your critiques about my writing was just as valuable as the hundreds of dollars I spent on "How-To" books on writing."
  • "You only had a small excerpt to work with, yet you understood perfectly the problem I'm having."
  • "Elsa has a real eye for plot and character motivation and can see clearly when you've gone astray."
  • "Your comments showed a thorough professional job where you thought a great deal about the story and how it can be improved."
  • "Your honest critique provided useful guidelines for point of view, plot, and character improvement, and your meticulous editing helped clean up my writing."

Why is Elsa Neal's Critique Service the Best Ever? 

I believe I offer much more than an average critique.

When I comment on your manuscript, you get lessons in fiction crafting tailored to exactly the areas where you have weaknesses.

I show you how your writing affects your reader, and how you can change it to make it more effective.

I help you understand and strengthen the matrix behind a story - the part of your book that should never be visible to your reader. I can help you develop characters that will get under your reader's skin.

Visit Elsa Neal's Critique Service webpages for more information 

Critique Service main page
Read full testimonials and information about options and pricing.
Critique Service questions and procedure
Explanation of the critique procedure, file formats, and questions.
Example critique
A mock example of a critique report (not including the sidebar comments I provide on the manuscript itself).

"I'll just join a critique group..." 

Critique groups are a great way to learn, because reading and analysing another's work teaches you a lot about how a piece of writing affects the reader. This is valuable insight to gain.

However, there are two main problems:

- critiquing other writers takes time you don't have.

- when you're expecting someone to comment on your work in return, you tend to "be kind".

Do you really think those critiques have picked out all the flaws in your writing?

Or could you do with someone who has nothing to gain from sugar-coating her comments? I'm tactful, but honest. And it's my job to show you the flaws in your writing so that you can improve it.

First Five Pages - Free Editing Workshop 

Polish your manuscript and improve your chances of acceptance!

I'm running a free 10-week workshop in self-editing of fiction, based on Noah Lukeman's bestseller, The First Five Pages. This workshop will run in the First Five Pages lens.

Read some of my articles on the Fiction Writing site at BellaOnline 

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Fiction Writing books I highly recommend 



The First Five Pages

Noah Lukeman explains in clear terms why you need to delete those pesky modifiers, watch your use of "was", and offers a great deal of logical advice that you will happily apply to your entire book.

Writing a Book That Makes a Difference

This is a book for advanced writers that is packed with information, analysis of what makes a number of great books so effective, and indepth guidelines on craft, with clear explanations and examples of why it works.

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland

This book is plain good fun. If you're writing fantasy, check in for a trip to Fantasyland first, to make sure your hero has all the right cliches, and none of the wrong ones. Far from spoiling your enjoyment of fantasy, this book will help you lighten up and remember that the only rules you have to follow are your own.
Writing a Book That Makes a Difference

Writing a Book That Makes a Difference

by Philip Gerard

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel

by Diana Wynne Jones

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/05/2008)

The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile

The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile

by Noah Lukeman

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 07/05/2008)

Talking about writing 

The King of Ezellor by Dark-Sentry [PG-13]
A boy must return to his kingdom as the rightful heir, however, several challenges await him.
Resource for Fiction Writers: British Grammars
Addendum: Oh, I'm posting here because I know this comm is more fiction-writing oriented. I didn't w...
Totally Podgasmic Casting
Teach yourself to write fiction while improving the course from which you're learning. This blog tra...
Katherine Anne Porter
Born Callie Russell Porter on May 15, 1890, in Indian Creek, Texas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning autho...
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Questions or suggestions? 


The best and quickest way to contact me is through my website, Hearwritenow.com. But you are welcome to leave a comment here.


flowergardener

Very cool, I've never thought of writing fiction, as I tend to write poems, but this is a cool resource!

Posted March 06, 2008