Sandbox Question

[stormiel]

How much of your project (lets say a novel) would you have to have completed to join the Sandbox? What other qualifications do you have to have to join the Sandbox?

[Kristen]

Dave can provide more details, but all you need to join the Sandbox is a willingness to provide critiques to others in return for getting critiques of your work. It's open to writers at all levels, at any stage of manuscript development.

[Kessie]

What Kristen said! I personally don't advise getting crits on an unfinished work, because you'll revise the stuff you've written and never finish writing.

Although if you need a writing cheerleader, I can do that. I've helped a two people finish their novels--they send me chapters as they complete them, and I send back positive feedback and questions. (I never critique during the freefall writing phase because it kills the muse.)

[newburydave]

I set up the Sandbox for writers of all levels. My inspiration was the slush pile over at Baen's Bar where newbies with no publishing cred could put their efforts up and get feedback from more experienced authors and other Authors in Training (AITs).

I tend to put up chapters or smaller chunks of prose. Many of the Sandboxers like to put up fininshed Manuscripts in the files section for some serious crits; but we are very free form. You can do what ever feels comfortable to you.

All you really need is the desire to improve your writing craft and a willingness to contribute. My guide to Critiquing allows for input for writers at all levels of development. We'll be glad to help you however we can.

When you join check out my "Vision for the Sandbox."

Write on my sister

SGD
dave

[stormiel]

Thanks everyone!

Kessie: Thanks for the offer! I think you are correct about getting critiques on something I haven't finished yet. I overhauled my outline one more time, which means that I have now officially lost count of how many times the storyline has changed lol. Anyway I really appreciate your offer, I don't think my work is ready yet but maybe in the future I could trade off with you

Dave: I think I should probably hold back on getting critiques for a little longer because I think I would probably sabotage myself into never finishing. Is it possible to do some critiques without submitting your own work? That way I could get a little more familiar with the process.

[Kessie]

Storm: Yeah, there's always stuff going up that needs crits. You can read other people's crits and see the way we tear stuff apart. It's very educational and kind of fun.

[newburydave]

Stormiel;

I learned some of the most important stuff about writing by jumping in the deep end of the pool over at Baen's Bar before I knew the first thing about "proper" style for Speculative fiction.

Nobody will beat you up (as long as they follow my critique style guide). My first rule for critiquing is the golden rule, "Critique others the way you want to be critiqued." There's more specifics in my critiquing guide.

So don't be shy. If you're investing a lot of ink (err, electrons really) into something that might not be a good idea then IMHO it'd be better to get that input sooner rather than later.

Bottom line is we're all on your side.

Write on sis

SGD
dave

[Resha Caner]

I see that I'm in. Cool.

I was just out with the family tonight, so I'm a bit tired. And, I'll be traveling for the weekend. So, it might be awhile before I actually get a critique done.

I tend to be a very impatient person, so I always want to jump right in. But I'm going to see if I can make a leisurely pace work this time.

[Kessie]

Welcome aboard! Jacob's already jumped in, and his first story is currently being shredded by the sharks. Bwahahaha

[Resha Caner]

Thanks. I found Jacob's post, so I'll see if I can get to that in the next week or so. It's always interesting to learn the "personality" of a new group - the pace, the level of banter vs. serious review, the spectrum from comments on art to comments on mechanics, etc.

I usually start with the more summary stuff to get a feel for how things go before I dive in to do the heavy cutting.