Swap 'til you drop! Or, something like that...

[J.R.]

In all seriousness, I am a sci fi author who would really love a critique partner. And that is, let's face it, a lot like a marriage.

So I will vow to you, my hopeful future critique partner:

* I vow to read your work as soon as I can. My job is a demanding one but I will make time to read your work. Feel free to nudge me if it feels like things are taking too long.
* I vow to do my best to let you know if there will be any delays.
* I vow to be honest with you but not mean. I hope you'll be the same way.
* I vow to edit and proofread my work before you ever see it. But of course tenacious typos will sometimes hang on.
* I vow to be as objective as I can be, and tell you if I think I'm out of my depth in any way.

About me: I'm already published, both a full-length novel and a bunch of short stories. I'm looking to be published more. I'm not expecting to get rich off this (hence the demanding job). I'm serious about my writing but I also have fun and don't take it too seriously. That is, I'm not depending on it to feed my family.

My writing is based in science fiction and I mean science fiction, not fantasy (although there can be fantasy elements). I write for grownup type folks, as in, not YA or NA. My published novel is LGBTQ+ dystopian. My current WIP trilogy is Victorian sci fi (not steampunk). I've got a super-eclectic portfolio/back catalog/bunch of WIPs hanging around. There will be occasional sex scenes (not in the Victorian trilogy; that one's fade to black), There will be swearing (one standalone is particularly full of blue streaks of swearing).

I'm married, no kids, live in Boston in a big Victorian house that my husband and I are trying to keep from falling down on us.

I'll read most works but I'm not a big fan of horror, vampires, zombies, YA, NA. This doesn't mean I won't read them; they're just not my preference.

Thank you for reading this far, and for considering it. Pretend I'm on one knee, okay? :D

[D.W.]

Hi

Hope you don't mind, I'm being nosy while you wait for takers.
Victoria sci-fi, yet not steampunk sounds really interesting. Verne/Wells-esque?

DW

[J.R.]

Hey, thanks for asking! I started off with a kind of thought experiment of what it would be like if there were aliens living among us, but the people who discovered this were Victorians. The trilogy runs from 1876 - 1881 which is a nifty time as the telephone and electric light are invented/perfected. So the world is already in an upheaval.

Enter my plucky Irish scullery maid, who flees her abusive husband and comes to America with a few pennies and the ability to mimic a Cornwall accent well enough to get past a NINA sign. So she goes to work in Boston, where her employer belongs to an odd society which is starting to figure out what's going on. It's her POV, so she hears a few hints here and there to start.

It's been a blast to write although God only knows what sort of market there is for something like this. Thank you again for asking.

[Chris]

Hi JR

I have a 110k novel ready for beta reading if you’re interested in a swap? It’s a whodunit set on another planet, so whether it’s sci fi told through a crime story, or a crime story with added world building I don’t know.

If you’re interested, PM me or let me have an email address and we can take it further.

Best wishes

Chris

[J.R.]

Sounds awesome, thanks Chris!

[D.W.]

J.R. wrote: "Hey, thanks for asking! I started off with a kind of thought experiment of what it would be like if there were aliens living among us, but the people who discovered this were Victorians. The trilog..."

This sounds amazing, kicking myself I don't have the time to help you out. That old devil life has crashed on me (wonderfully, I should note).
Good Luck with it, and I shall keep an eye out for the finished article.

DW

[J.R.]

Aw, thank you. You're very kind. Onward to the fun stuff!

[Karsyn]

I'm intrigued! I would absolutely love to swap WIP with you, however I'm a complete newbie, so I understand if you are looking for someone a little more seasoned.

This is the first time I've done any creative writing, and while I've enjoyed the journey and love it so far, I don't take myself too seriously. I'm seeking long-term ongoing critique partners, if it's at all possible.

I only have 3 Chapters (10k total) of my WIP ready for Critique, I'm slowly working through the rest, as it's all on the first draft, except the first three. My WIP is an erotic romance, so I'm finding it hard to find critique partners. Since you mentioned sex in some of your works, I thought maybe you wouldn't mind so much? Again, if the whole newbie thing isn't a dealbreaker. :)

The WIP is a contemporary erotic romance with characters in their 30s and 40s. It features themes of graphic sex (F/F & M/F), polyamory, BDSM (of the SSC variety), lots of nudity and moderate swearing.

Feel free to contact me if any of this sounds appealing. No worries if it doesn't for the newbie thing or just in general. Either way, I hope you find the partners you are looking for.

[AK]

I'm also an experienced writer (I'm working on my fifth novel) looking for a completed manuscript swap. Mine is a 75,000 word YA dystopian thriller with an Appalachian twist. Would be willing to swap manuscripts? Our critiquing styles sound similar. I'm honest and straight forward without being mean. I wrote this novel a few years ago, but was unable to find an agent so I did a complete rewrite over this past winter. I'm on to my next writing project now and just need an honest critique from another experienced writer to fix whatever problems still exist.

[J.R.]

Hi Anthia!

Sure but I will tell you, I've got an embarrassment of riches right now so I've got a ton of reading to do (this is not a bad problem to add). Please feel free to send me a message and we'll figure something out. Thanks for your interest!