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Seekerville: The Journey Continues

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OPEN CRITIQUE FRIDAY!

 Oops, forgot to post up the intro for this, my bad! 

Some of you know the drill... in case you don't, we keep it simple.

We are offering an absolutely free critique of your snippet.

You post a page or a concept or something not too long... and we'll tell you what we think based on our combined years of experience and the publishing market as we know it.

Fear not! 

I'm probably the only Meany-Pants among the Seekers... :) 

And even I'm not all that bad.

So get your postings ready and upload them and let the fun begin!

Enter your posting (and yes, sure, you can offer insight/explanation, too) in the comments section!

Ruthy

OPEN CRITIQUE FRIDAY!


OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!

 GOOD MORNING!

For those of you who are new, today is a day when you can post a small part of your work, an opening or a page or two and (GULP!) we'll tell you what we think!

Feel free to give us a little explanation in your comment.... but it's okay if you don't do that, too. Sometimes writers feel the need to over-explain!

We're all on deadlines so we'll be back and forth today... and this is Ruthy, we're planting on the farm, so if you have to wait a little bit, that's okay... have some tea. Grab some coffee, eat a doughnut...

IT IS NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY!!!! Also spelled NATIONAL DONUT DAY!!!!!!

:)

We're looking forward to seeing what you've got! 


BLUE MOON MONDAY OPEN CRITIQUE!!!!!

 

BLUE MOON MONDAY OPEN CRITIQUE!!!!!


Okay, guys, some of you know the drill:

You post a few paragraphs/a page in the comments and we lovingly rip it apart.

Sound fun?????

BIG SMILE HERE!

Well, that's kind of a stretch, some of us are very nice, some of us are barely human, but what we want and long for is your success as an author/writer/storyteller.

We'll offer advice...

And you decide to take it or leave it.

But every book, every story, every novella begins with an idea that needs to be fleshed out and unforgettable characters.

That's what you want to strive for: People who tug the heart for good or evil and a story that stands the test of time.

So polish things up, you can give us an intro (especially helpful if these aren't opening lines) and post it here, today and let the games begin!

But in the meantime, darlings, if you want to be a writer, there are no secrets. None. Not one. No short cuts, either.

If you want to be a writer, you need to write.

And that's the bottom line.

Good morning, Seekerville!!!!

And happy writing!

BLUE MOON MONDAY OPEN CRITIQUE!!!!!

The Seekers began as fifteen wannabe authors who forged a bond back in 2004 and 2005 to begin a group, an online loop, to pray one another into publication by a royalty paying publisher... They accomplished that goal in a very competitive business, a business with only so many slots open annually in traditional publishing, and they did it together... and they're still helping others.

Because they believe that there's room for all of us, that limits are self-inflicted and that (especially now with indie publishing) that authors should work hard and reach for the stars... but they promise you that the work comes first! 

Blue Moon Mondays are breaks in our schedule where we have an extra Monday to be filled with either critiques or guests, but we love, love, love working with authors.

So jump in!

The water's fine.

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!!!!

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!



OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!!!!

Hey, if you know the drill, then you're prepared to have some fun today...

If you don't, here's the skinny:

Once in a while we have an Open Critique Day. It's a day for you to share a blurb of your story with us and we will descend en masse and tear it to shreds.

It's what we do.

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!!!!


But we'll do it NICELY, so you have to look beyond the "nice" and get to the nitty gritty of the advice, then pick what you want to use... and scrap the rest.

At least temporarily scrap it, you may find yourself coming right back to that bit of advice in a month or six months on 2021...

And a light bulb clicks on and you say OH MY STARS!!!! (or an equivalent thereof) and all of a sudden you remember that criticism and/or advice and you realize this...

THIS!

Is what that author meant about organic roots or root canals or dangling modifiers or gerunds (listen, I don't know what half this stuff is, either, it's why I don't read craft books... I just write. And I read. And I copy smart people. Then I write some more.)

But that light bulb moment is huge.

So leave your opening or smidge or tagline below, whatever you'd like us to look at. Keep it to about a page... no whole chapters, please, darlings.

And let's chat how we polish, preen and persevere!

Ruthy

NOTE: The Seekers formed a group fifteen years ago, a group of fifteen authors who devoted themselves to writing and praying each other into publication and the current Seekers want to do the same for you... Publishing can be a rough business, but with love and support we can build one another into the writers we want to be!

OPEN CRITIQUE FOR BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!

Okay, darlings, some of you know the drill.

Some don't.

We keep it simple.

You have bestselling, award-winning inspirational authors here, but we don't limit our critiques to just inspy works.... as long as it's G-rated, you're welcome to post below!

Here are the rules:

Keep it fairly short, this forum doesn't allow for chapters... but a few paragraphs to share the idea  is great.

If you have to hunt through your work to find a few good paragraphs, then it probably needs polish OR you need stronger coffee because you're scared to death. Both are normal.

We are not critics... we are authors and bloggers and we love great work, but our opinions are just that: Opinions. Although every one of us will tell you that we wouldn't be where we are today without paying attention to early critiques and contest judges who helped us see what worked... and what didn't.

So today it's a drive-by critique.... Any Seeker may stop in and tell you what they think, and they/we don't always agree... and YOU know your story... so take that into consideration.

But it is also advised to leave wounded egos and overly-sensitive hearts at the door because we might tell you that your work needs work... and that should always be okay. 

And we have a prize today of a one chapter critique for some brave soul, but you have to tell us you want it.... you have to mention that you want to be put in that drawing...

Don't be too scared, darlings.

No one's died from one of our critiques.

YET. 

Coffee is here. Doughnuts/donuts, too, including the amazing cannoli cheese-filled donuts I get at Ridge Donut Cafe.... Because it's nice to share.

USA TODAY bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is the author of more than 50 published novels and novellas and while she can be a meany-pants from time to time, her tough persona hides a really soft heart but she doesn't like folks to know that, so she hides it well. Very well, some say. You can friend her on facebook, follow her on the most unfriendly social media in the world, AKA: Twitter and stop by her webpage ruthloganherne.com. She also actually answers email (and it's really her, not "her people", so be careful what you say, lovies!!!!) at loganherne@gmail.com.... and she may brag about how her bestselling Wishing Bridge series has been on the Amazon bestseller lists for weeks, but gosh, a girl's got to be able to share good news, right??? Even bossy girls! 

 AMAZON LINK HERE JUST IN CASE YOUSE WANT TO USE IT. :)

OPEN CRITIQUE FOR BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!
 

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!

Hey, if you know the drill, then you're prepared to have some fun today...

If you don't, here's the skinny:

Once in a while we have an Open Critique Day. It's a day for you to share a blurb of your story with us and we will descend en masse and tear it to shreds.

It's what we do.

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!


But we'll do it NICELY, so you have to look beyond the "nice" and get to the nitty gritty of the advice, then pick what you want to use... and scrap the rest.

At least temporarily scrap it, you may find yourself coming right back to that bit of advice in a month or six months on 2021...

And a light bulb clicks on and you say OH MY STARS!!!! (or an equivalent thereof) and all of a sudden you remember that criticism and/or advice and you realize this...

THIS!

Is what that author meant about organic roots or root canals or dangling modifiers or gerunds (listen, I don't know what half this stuff is, either, it's why I don't read craft books... I just write. And I read. And I copy smart people. Then I write some more.)

But that light bulb moment is huge.

So leave your opening or smidge or tagline below, whatever you'd like us to look at. Keep it to about a page... no whole chapters, please, darlings.

And let's chat how we polish, preen and persevere!

Ruthy

NOTE: The Seekers formed a group fifteen years ago, a group of fifteen authors who devoted themselves to writing and praying each other into publication.

Open Critique Day Surprise Appearance!

 YOU WIN!

When the inevitable happens, we throw up a random OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for you aspiring and established authors... all are welcome! You post a short excerpt OR idea that you want input on and we tear it apart, make you cry, and sadly watch you stomp away....

OR....

We give you loving advice, you still cry, but you still love us.  All in a day's work, darlings! :)

Some of you know the drill.

Some don't, so here's a fun, quick explanation:

Today is a random day where you can post a short few paragraphs of your work and we are going to be BRUTALLY HONEST about what we think....

And you then can retreat to your room with a blankie and and a cup of hot chocolate...

Seekers allow a 24 hour WHINING rule. :)

You get to be mad for one day...

And then we pull up our big girl panties and move on.  (Not kidding, Cupcakes.... you get a day.)


Open Critique Day Surprise Appearance!

Okay, we're not really mean. Well, Ruthy is KINDA mean, but she really wants your success so she'll tell you it's for  your own good. This may or may not be true.

But when you look at the wealth of experience and published books here on this blog, you know you've got a bunch of gals who not only know what they're talking about... they love helping others.

So be big and brave and bold!

Get your short piece ready and post it in a comment....

LET'S PLAY!!!!

We've got coffee and tea and hot chocolate and a cooler of Cokes (which means any soda imaginable for you Southern gals!) and there's a full breakfast bar of great healthy stuff....

And then there's a breakfast bar of Twinkies and Oreos and great cherry desserts.

And if you've never had Ruthy's cherry pie, well.... you'll love it. And she's picking up a 40 lb. box of IQF tart cherries on Saturday morning, so let the cherry desserts begin!

And we have a couple of book surprises we're giving away today, so free critiques...

And books.

It's been a long winter, but we are on a roll for 2019!

So get your stuff ready, it's that random moment of fun with the red pen you've all been waiting for! Use the comment section below to give us a paragraph or two of your work.

Let's see what ya' got.


Open Critique Day Surprise Appearance!
Multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne has written over 50 books and loves to work with people on her own terms: AKA: SNARKY. She's also finaled in a lot of awards and won a few, so she uses that to be even bossier...

So take that as a warning or a dare, your choice because she's a born in the north Yankee and kind of proud of it...
Don't say you haven't been warned! :)

Book giveaways are ANYONE'S GUESS, darlings....

We'll see what's in the prize vault!  And any Seekers who are around today may/will jump in and offer advice. Let's do this!

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!



OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!


Okay, here's how this works, my lovelies!!!!

Some of you have been here before.

Others are new. And we have THREE DAYS to complete our tasks... so if you're not ready now, we'll be here tomorrow... and Friday.... Just pretend we're your neighborhood critique group and go for the gold. 

Here's the scoop. On this blog you have the collective wisdom of a whole bunch of authors/bloggers and sometimes industry professionals stop in and offer their advice and/or opinions.

You never know who's lurking in the shadows of virtuality.

Having said that, part of successful writing is the ability to take criticism and use it to your best advantage. Ruthy here, and I got a really nice note from someone who won (and I use that term loosely, you poor, sweet things!) a critique from me last year and got it.... and shelved it.

I AM SURE I BROKE HER HEART. #SPIRITCRUSHED

And yet she wrote to me last week and said she'd spent the winter working/learning/writing and she got it now. She re-read the critique and understood what I said and sees how it will help and then the poor, sweet, delusional thing THANKED ME. :)

When soccer players begin, they are not Pele. When tennis players begin, they are not Serena. When football players begin, they are not Tom Brady.

Growth is a very important factor in writing, so why do new writers/authors pour their hearts out in a first work and assume they are the new sliced bread? Because they've poured their emotions and feelings and probably therapeutic murder into the work.

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!


That's all well and good, and could save you therapy cash in the long run, but it's not the goal: The goal is to sharpen your prose and your poise. The former is more important than the latter, darlings, but the latter doesn't hurt.

So today feel free to post a paragraph or two and we'll offer opinions. The opinions of women who've published collectively hundreds of books, won numerous awards, been nominated for or finaled in dozens more, and who actually get paid to do this. Which means people are buying our stuff.

Like real, live people in stores! Who'd a thunk it???

We've got the red pens ready. Ink filled. Go for it.

And there's a box of chocolate bribe for one fortunate, brave soul.... Because chocolate heals a whole lot of wounds!

This is Ruthy for Seekerville... and we want to see you be the best you can be. Because you are absolutely, positively worth it.

OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!



OPEN CRITIQUE FRIDAY! BLUE MOON MONDAY OPEN CRITIQUE!!!!!OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!!!!OPEN CRITIQUE FOR BLUE MOON MONDAY!!!!OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!Open Critique Day Surprise Appearance! OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!

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