You think its cool, but you are like, bias, right? Family too, and friends. So -- where do you find that first reader to read your story and let you know, objectively, things that are wrong? Preferably someone who knows something about the craft, right? Yea, yea, you can get into a group, but aren't all in a group the same -- looking for the right thing to fix what they are trying to be?
Any pointers? Anyone out there know this? Anyone know where to go for that first pre-submission story critique?
WillC
So, I guess like you, I'm interested in where everyone else finds that honest review?
I'm not worried about bias. They know my goal is to write and get published. Contrary to glossing over any shortcomings, they typically ask lots of questions, point out lots of things (major and minor). Then I evaluate the comments and keep and discard as I see fit.
[aside]One thing I've read before and feel is very good advice: Don't respond to critiques with explanations, respond in your writing. That doesn't mean you can't talk with them about things, but don't try to explain anything to them. You won't be able to explain anything to an editor reviewing your work for publication. If it's not conveyed well in your story, or someone doesn't get it, explaining it to them won't make it a better story.[/aside]
Though I don't have the book right in front of me, I remember Stephen King talking about first readers in _On Writing_. His wife is his first reader, and I think he had some thoughts on this. Might be worth checking out.
Still being new to this [craft] I don't have much help for you except what I've learned from my own experiences. If you have written your story and you think it is as good as it can be, you've double checked for all the problems like transitions, pace, depth of character, etc., then you put it aside and work on something else - intensely. When you come back to the "finished" story in question and read it with as fresh of a mind as possible, you will know if you are ready to send it out or not.
So, I guess, in summary, I am saying that the true test will come from you, then the publisher.
I truely enjoyed "On Writing". For English II I did my term paper on "Bag of Bones" so you can tell that I am a fan of King's. You folks who read "On Writing", did you write the story exercise he suggested in the book? For these past couple of years I have been reading many books on writing. This web site is a powerful helper, too.