Critiquing Circle Available

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The Litarena Website has several members who between them are either experts in grammar, historical research, editing and so on. Any member of the Litarena website can give expert and helpful help and advice. Our critiquing circle has one main aim and that is to act in the same way that a focus group does in marketing research. It's a bit like a peoples' jury or any other gathering of which you might ask for an opinion. The same is done in polls run by the media, and so forth. The usefulness, as far as an author is concerned, is that he, or she, gets to listen to a range of opinions given by people who understand how to talk about literature and bookmaking.

But in return that author is obligated to take part in critiquing other authors' work. Your critique might be a natural reaction. But, no matter what that reaction is, you'll be expected to explain to a reasonable extent why your response happened in the way that it did.

So, for example, "I don't like it," isn't a helpful answer.

A helpful answer might be, "in my opinion your language is too simplistic. You write things like, she didn't get on with her mum. But you don't explain why. That leaves me wondering why and I don't feel satisfied if a story leaves me wondering why the central character reacted the way that she did."

That would be a helpful answer.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of creating an entirely fictional realm in which to set your story?

Well, clearly it depends on what kind of story you're creating. If you're writing a fantasy story you'll need a fantastic realm to set it in. That's clear enough. But if you're writing realistic fiction than you might be better off choosing a real location. Agatha Christie switched between real and fictional locations all the time. Of course her most famous location, St Mary Mead doesn't exist. But the Orient Express does, the Nile is a real river, of course, and so on. Of course Christie was a keen Eqyptologist, as were many others of her generation. That probably explains the genuine settings of some of her eastern and north African stories.

Having to do less research is probably one reason for creating a fictional realm or location for a story. But no author wants to look sloppy. If you have statesmen and diplomats in your fiction, whether they're in an imaginary location or not, they still have to follow diplomatic protocols. If they don't they'll come across as made-up figures who don't know what they're doing. That means you still have to research diplomatic protocols. And that can be difficult and time-consuming. But setting your story in a fictional country isn't a genuinely satisfactory substitute for doing adequate research.

[AshKrafton]

And to add to Pat's post on world-building, I thought I'd offer this look at fantasy world building from my favorite blog (at QueryTracker.net): http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2009/09/fantasy-world-building-magical-rules.html

[pharbison]

I am looking for a critique partner or circle to participate in. I am working on a novel, and while I feel like I have a full plot to work with in my head, I am wondering if it is strong enough to continue working on. It is about 13,000 words right now. I want to know if it is entertaining, engaging, does it make you want to turn the next page (or, continue to scroll down since it is all on computer)?
So, if someone would refer me to the right place, or an interested party e-mail me at pharbiso@ttuhsc.edu I would really appreciate it. My novel is fantasy/fiction, I would describe it as a 'sci-fi western' kind of setting.

Thanks

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You can post a sample of your writing here if you like. It doesn't have to be from your novel, (but it can be.) That'll give us a chance to assess your writing in general. Don't make it too long, 1500 words will be adequate.

Also there are lots of writing competitions running on this site. You can also enter one of those.