Novel Boot Camp is only a week away! Before we all get absorbed in the excitement and chaos, let’s make some writing friends and snag some critique partners!
**Note: This meetup does not end at any specific time. Feel free to post here throughout Novel Boot Camp!**
Writing Friend: Someone to chat with about writing and publishing. Someone to give you a nudge (or a shove) when you fall behind on your goals. Someone to laugh and cry with you about your writing ups and downs.
Critique Partner: Someone to exchange full or partial manuscripts with in order to offer critiques of each other’s work. Must be polite, courteous, constructive, but also honest.
There are two ways to connect:
Twitter Meetup
Tweet your request for writing friends or critique partners to Twitter and tag it with: #NovelBootCamp
Sample Tweet: Looking for a critique partner. A YA writer would be great! Writing friends always welcome! I need a good shove during #NovelBootCamp!
Blog Comment Meetup
Post your request for writing friends or critique partners in the comments section below. Remember to provide some way for other writers to contact you (Twitter handle, email address, Facebook link, etc.).
Sample Blog Comment: I’m not ready for a critique partner just yet, but writing friends would be awesome! I like to read fantasy and suspense. My goal is to get an agent by next summer. I love knitting, dancing, and reading! Please contact me at [email address] or [Twitter handle].
ETA: Facebook Meetup!
If you prefer to connect on Facebook, there is now a Facebook Novel Boot Camp group!
Meetup Rules & Advice
In your request for a critique partner or writing friend, you may want to include:
- Whether you’re looking for a writing friend, critique partner, or both.
- Whether you need a gentle hand or some tough nudges to get you going!
- What genres you’re interested in reading/writing/critiquing.
- How long you’ve been writing.
- Some non-writing things about you, such as what you do for fun.
A Few Rules
- The meetup has no official end time. Feel free to post even after the excitement has died down.
- You do not have to participate in Novel Boot Camp to participate in this meetup.
- Do not be rude, attacking, or insulting in your posts. Keep it clean. I will delete you if I feel it will strengthen the experience for other writers.
- Do not post advertisements for your products (books, ebooks) or services (editing, proofreading, cover design, etc.). NO spam! This includes “veiled” spam, such as conveniently mentioning your products/services.
- Do not post looking for a critique partner if you do not intend to reciprocate with your own critique.
- Have fun!
Make Friends with Me!
I don’t have time for critique partners (way too much editing to get done!), but I love making writing friends! The best place to connect with me is on Twitter where I post writing tips, editing advice, and updates about my videos, blog posts, workshops, etc. I also answer writing and editing questions when I can.
When not editing (which is almost never), I love geocaching, watching movies, reading, and eating tacos.
Ellen Brock 
Would love to make a few writing friends š I specifically enjoy romance and high fantasy. You can find me at https://twitter.com/GrayerJoshua
Hello, I am interested in looking for a writing friend and a critique partner. I prefer that people be gentle with me since I’ve only been writing novels for a few years. My favorite genres are fantasy and literary, and I am stronger with children’s books, particularly middle grade and young adult. My manuscript is an upper MG fantasy novel set in modern-day America. If you are interested, please email me at Sunayna.Prasad@yahoo.com.
Howdy y’all! Iām looking for a critique partner and writing friends. I currently like to read dystopian fiction, as in post apocalyptic or prepper fiction. That’s also the genre of my current and first fiction book. My goal is to self publish soon. I have learned so much and have so very much to learn about this craft and that’s why I’m excited about the NovelBootCamp. I love my wife and our life with our fur babies; the 6 grandkids are fun too. Please contact me at jthttk@gmail.com or @jthttk.
I love dystopian fiction. I have two dystopian novels in the works at the moment, Unfortunately the one I’m currently working on isn’t either one of those, but I’d love to read yours and take come advice for my own if you’re willing.
I’m game Lillie. I’m a newby to fiction, so it’s all an adventure for me. Email me! jthttk@gmail.com
Hi everyone! I’m looking for a critique partner. I’m writing fantasy/parody, and I’m almost done with my first novel. I’m looking for honest and critical feedback.
It doesn’t matter what stage you are in, I am happy to give you feedback. I consider myself an excellent content editor. Or if you just want a cheerleader I’m good at that too.
I love reading, writing, editing, music, watching movies, geocaching, running, laughing, and cats. I’m really interested in building lasting relationships with other writers.
Woops! I forgot. I can be contacted at kyliebetzner@gmail.com or @kbbetzner on twitter.
Hi, Kylie! I am in the almost done stage of my YA fantasy as well (tomorrow, fingers crossed!). I am very thorough in giving feedback (English teacher) and will definitely catch grammatical errors, and I could definitely use someone who can look for plot holes. I hope you will consider me as a CP. I will email you, but my email is fansoffiction@hotmail.com.
Hi Jenna! Are we allowed to have more than one?
That’s awesome! I love to read YA Fantasy.
I’m not much help with grammar but I am a great content editor.
Are you on twitter?
You can have as many critique partners as you have time for!
Hi Kylie, my name is Sharon and I just added you to my twitter account. Looking forward to sharing ideas during the upcoming month.
Awesome! I’ll look for you! Always great to connect with other writers:)
High five for geocaching!
High five!
Hi Ellen. I’m pretty new to the techie side of keeping informed about the upcoming month. Will you be sending information by email or do I have to check on your website? Also I tried to sign into your group on facebook but couldn’t. You might have to send me the link on my FB page or you might know a better way. Here’s mine https://www.facebook.com/S.A.SmithsBookNook.
You can follow the blog, sign up for the mailing list, or just check back – whatever is more convenient for you. I’m not sure why you’re having trouble joining the group.
Hi Kylie? What kind of parody? In my mind, I associate parody with films like “Airplane,” so I’d be curious as to your level of humor and sarcasm. (I’m a fan of both.)
As for me, I am writing historic fiction, specifically time-travel within American history. I’m a bit of a history geek, and I find that is rubbing off on my main character for better or worse.
I’m on Twitter @TruckingWriter (there’s a future story there, but nothing I’m ready to tackle yet) and although I have blogged for years, I am finding writing a novel a lot of fun, but extremely challenging to translate the ideas in my head into text. I think I may need plenty of feedback and I hope this will be the start of some long-term writing connections.
Pam
That’s awesome! I’ll look for you on Twitter. I’m not very familiar with the historical fiction genre, but I could offer feedback on characters and writing style.
Hi Pam. Just added you to my twitter account. Look forward to sharing ideas in the upcoming month.
My WIP is a middle grade urban fantasy, for a predominantly female audience, called The Last Princess.
I have run all of my existing chapters (12) through the Critique Circle website and have gotten some invaluable advice, so I’m pretty happy with the novel at this stage. However once I’ve finished it (2 chapters left to go) I plan to go back over it to filter for weasel words and check consistency, and then I’ll be sending out the revised complete manuscript for beta.
I would be happy to partner or group with other fantasy and/or middle grade authors. Contact me at john_r_berkowitz@yahoo.com.
You can see my blog, where I’ve posted a synopsis and the first chapter of my WIP, at http://www.johnrberkowitz.wordpress.com.
I don’t even know where to start . . .
Um, I’m an introvert, so this is kind of freaking me out; I almost exclusively read (way too much) and write (some) YA urban/high fantasy, and I’ll happily communicate with anyone who wants to read my semi-complete fantasy epic. I have no real preference toward either writing friend or critique partner. I’ll read/critique your fantasy or sci-fi, but don’t expect professional-grade feedback, I’ve never done this before.
When I’m not doing something with words, I dance, drink tea, and bake. My e-mail is h.e.viers@gmail.com.
I think we would be a good fit! I will send you an e-mail:)
Hi. My name is Amber and I actually have two manuscripts that I would love feedback on/to be critiqued: one is contemporary fiction, with some romance infused complete at 80,000 words and the other is a contemporary romantic thriller complete at 77,000 words.
I’ve been querying both of these to get representation for a few months now and haven’t found an agent yet so I’m really interested in the first few chapters to be really broken down for me, but would love for you to read the whole manuscript š
I’m interested in reading thrillers, anything contemporary or romance or erotica.
Reach me if you’re interested at brown.ambers@yahoo.com
Amber
xx
Hi, I am 50,000 words into a sci-fi thriller that I’m struggling to finish, so I’m looking for some constructive critique and support to get me over that hurdle. However, I’ve written some contemporary fiction (with romance infused) previously, so I am happy to look at either of your manuscripts, or perhaps help you tighten and polish the beginning of those pieces. My email is leekiwi@gmail.com. My interests include running, reading and avoiding the vacuum cleaner.
Lee
Hi. My name is Amber and I actually have two manuscripts that I would love feedback on/to be critiqued: one is contemporary fiction, with some romance infused complete at 80,000 words and the other is a contemporary romantic thriller complete at 77,000 words.
I’ve been querying both of these to get representation for a few months now and haven’t found an agent yet so I’m really interested in the first few chapters to be really broken down for me, but would love for you to read the whole manuscript š
I’m interested in reading thrillers, anything contemporary or romance or erotica.
Reach me if you’re interested at brown.ambers@yahoo.com
Hello! I’m working on a Upper Middle Grade Adventure/Horror. I don’t know if it fits in the fantasy genre or not, but it does have some fantastical elements. It’s kind of a dark fairy tale.
Anyway, I’m 1/2 done and I’m looking for a critique partner or two, so if you’re interested, let me know.
Hello fellow MG author! Mine is not horror, but straight urban fantasy. I would be happy to partner up with you. You can contact me at john_r_berkowitz@yahoo.com.
Hello everyone. I’m a notorious chipmunk, dropping one acorn and running for the next, but I would really like to finish something this year. I’m currently halfway through a sci-fi thriller, and I’d love a few critique partners and some support to get myself through the sticky middle bit. I’m an experienced editor and am happy to provide a fair exchange of critique, although I’d prefer to work chapter by chapter. My previous works include middle grade fantasy, YA (contemporary and sci-fi), women’s contemporary fiction, as well as some science fiction and horror – so a bit of a mixed bag. A quick reassurance here that any work sent to me will remain confidential – I will delete your file afterwards. I like to read, run, and avoid the housework. Contact me at leekiwi@gmail.com
Hey LeeMurray!
My name is Oliver and I have been reading through everyone’s comments. I feel we could be good writing/critique partners.
I’m a Staff Reviewer on a writing website. (I don’t wanna put the name in because it might seem like spam). I took a few classes through a New York writing school this past year and am working on my third novel. I have NO writing friends so I’m really excited about Ellen’s project.
I’ve had trouble jumping from one project to another as well and I really feel with a little friendly push a habit like that can be kicked.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
OliverAddams@yahoo.com
Have replied by email, Oliver.