Just as a change from queries, would you consider doing critiques of first pages for a while?
I would consider it. My concern is that I would suddenly have 300 first pages lined up, and at two a day, someone would have to wait five months. The query wait is about 8 or 10 days. And those who already have queries in line would have a long wait. Of course it could go fast if I merely publish the page, make a few comments, and let the author get most of the input from the minions' comments.
No doubt this would be beneficial to those whose first pages get critiqued. But 99% of those who visit this blog are here for entertainment. Would this be more entertaining? Or less?
12 comments:
I think it would be helpful to all, whether their page gets critiqued or not. Sites like Pod-dy mouth have recently published some first paragraphs that made them stop reading. If first pages are too much -- how about first paragraphs?
I'm sure that there are many avid readers who, like me, haven't yet reached the query letter stage. First page, paragraph, or even sentence (is it catchy?) would be helpful, and would allow more minions to participate.
Word verification: exmgagyf
exam gag y flunk?
Do it the PODdy way--"this is where I stopped reading".
Yeah, first paragraphs sounds good to me. And if you don't want to comment, throw them out for dissection. The minions will chew them up!
Miss Snark turned me on to you, Evil Editor (Sorry, I know you want it to go the otherway, but she's your pimp and you're her ho). I personally prefer the query because they are hard to write and there's less help with these than there are first pages. I'm not saying no, but maybe do a limited run of first pages (or paragraphs - I like that idea) and then resume queries?
First pages? Excellent! I'm working on a 400,000 word fantasy epic about a boy who can transform into a moose. I'll send in the dedication page, which is as far as I've gotten so far.
To Ursula,
your love
keeps me breathing
at least through one nostril.
I think it could be funny. and thus entertaining. As long as people understand that the first pages might not (due to time and query line) get the same amount of critique as a query letter.
first paragraphs is a good idea too. Maybe you could just use the funny ones.
I know most of my comments are just that, smart-ass comments and as such are of little value. That's mainly because I don't know what I'm talking about and bum around EE's site for entertainment. Having said all of that, I must confess that I do learn a lot from EE and some of his minions. It doesn't take long to figure out which ones know what they are talking about and which ones are just hangin' around -like me. -JTC
I come here for both information and amusement, but admittedly, I get more info out of the Q&A than the critiques. It probably wouldn't hurt as an experiment though (or perhaps during certain time windows), lest EE get so overwhelmed he doesn't have time to stuff form rejections into SASEs.
I'm in favor of seeing some first pages. While I think there's a lot to learn from the query letters, the idea of seeing EE cover an entirely different subject sounds promising. Lots more to learn!
Paragraphs. I love that. That PODy post got made-man ratings.
I dunno--I think it'd be fun for a while, but would get old long before 300--and I think I'm learning more from the queries.
But a first paragraph/first hundred word thing might be interesting.
Possibly you could do it as a one time thing, and whip through however many you see giving each a simple -- yes (you'd keep going)/no (you'd bounce it right there)/maybe (you'd keep going if you were in a good mood) -- and leave it at that.
Call it Rapid Rejections, perhaps.
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