Showing posts with label Chris Redding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Redding. Show all posts

Monday, September 24, 2012

Critique Groups


At Amazon
My guest this week is Chris Redding, author of Incendiary, an exciting new romantic mystery from Imajin Books.
 What can I say about critique partners. I had one set, when I first began writing, who were terrible. They kept rewriting my stuff in their style. They also gave me the advice that I should start writing category romance.
NOT.
I don’t write category. There is NOTHING wrong with category romance. I just don’t write that way. I write darker stuff. Not a lot of description or angst.
The next group I was part of met once a month on a Friday. We’d have pizza. The hostess’ husband was a character, that we actually learned a lot from. I kind of miss Al. And Ann, of course our hostess.
I learned a LOT in this critique group. And I acquired a very thick skin about my writing. (Thanks Irene)
I would not be published without them.
There are some writers who never show their work to beta readers. Not me. I don’t trust my writing enough. I appreciate at least one other set of eyes on my stuff.
These days I am in a smaller critique group. We all write different stuff. One writes category. The other writes more science fiction type romances. The third, our newest member, write YA. We’ve not only helped each other, but we’ve become fast friends. We have seen each other through some crappy times.
And I trust them implicitly with my work. I don’t always do what they suggest, but if I’m not sure, I will err on the side of doing what they suggest.
Everyone should have confidants in their lives. I’m lucky to have two.
Cathi and Kathy have kept me from quitting. They’ve kept me on track. They’ve cheered my successes and I’ve been glad to cheers theirs.
As a write, do you use a critique partner?
As a reader, do you find you seek out the same person when you need advice?

INCENDIARY
What if your past comes back to haunt you?
Chelsea James, captain of the Biggin Hill First Aid Squad, has had ten years to mend a broken heart and forget about the man who'd left her hurt and bewildered. Ten years to get her life on track. But fate has other plans.
Fire Inspector Jake Campbell, back in town after a decade, investigates a string of arsons, only to discover they are connected to the same arsons he'd been accused of long ago. Now his past has come back to haunt him, and Chelsea is part of that past.
Together, Chelsea and Jake must join forces to defeat their mutual enemy. Only then can they hope to rekindle the flames of passion. But before they can do that, Chelsea must learn to trust again. Their lives could depend on it.

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ABOUT CHRIS
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Journalism.  When not writing she works for her local hospital in the Emergency Services Department. She has been writing for thirteen years and has five books published.