P.N. Elrod is Critiquing!

Channy · Jan 30, 2015

Have many people sent any present tense stuff? I read through her rules and she seems quite adamant about not taking any. My chapter would be first person present tense, but I don't want to send it to her and seem like a total knob for not reading the rules. I'm also hesitant by putting a note in, something like "Well, I know you don't like this but I thought I'd try anyway because it's super cool" because I feel like that will make me come across as, not only ignoring the rules, but assuming I'm an exception and mines super special.

Urgh... but it seems like it's such an experience.

Gillhoughly · Jan 30, 2015

I've talked about the present tense thing with other writers and with agents, and what they don't like is that it's impossible to sell to publishers.

It's not just first person, present tense, but present tense in general that gets rejected. I know there are exceptions, but those books might not be from debut writers.

She's clear on the website she loathes it, she actually used the word loathe--in red letters--so it's probably better to stick to the Share Your Work forum here. At least it's free!

Gringa · Jan 30, 2015

Channy said:
Have many people sent any present tense stuff? I read through her rules and she seems quite adamant about not taking any.

I sent first present. But I submitted way back, before she changed her site rules. Got lucky.

AW Admin · Jan 30, 2015

Did y'all notice the nifty interview with P. N. Elrod on AW's blog today?

Gringa · Jan 30, 2015

^^ had no idea. Thanks! Will take a look.

thothguard51 · Jan 31, 2015

Nice interview...

Isilya · Feb 6, 2015

I'm considering using her editing service advertised onsite. Anyone have any experience with this?
Kinda nervous since I haven't worked with an editor before. Should I try her critique instead?

akaria · Feb 6, 2015

Elrod edited my debut novel and I can't recommend her highly enough. She was prompt, thorough and very helpful. She even gave me a separate document highlighting my main writing sins. I continue to refer to it while doing first round edits on my current MS.

If you've been through a round of crit in SYW, then you'll be fine with her style. I didn't find it brutal, but some do. She'll ask for a sample to see if your MS is ready for her services before taking on the job.

Good luck!

Cathy C · Apr 19, 2015

Just spotted this on Ms. Elrod's Facebook page:

Having a prob--I need the ID of the writer who sent this:

CRITIQUE/math based magic-read world)/Novel/Road to Chaos

I've churned through sent emails and can't find the original submission and worse luck, I failed to put the writer's email on the submission itself...

If this is your story, please let me know if I sent the crit to you or not.

Does it belong to anyone here? If so, get thee to your email and drop her a line!

Indubitably · Apr 19, 2015

Am I understanding right that it takes a few months for her to get back? I'm sure her input is incredibly valuable, but yikes, that's hard to wrap my head around.

Gillhoughly · Apr 19, 2015

She added an update:

Okay, that's it. I'm caught up on all my critiques. If anyone has sent something in and didn't hear from me, now's the time to speak up.

Indubitably- a few months of waiting is nothing. I waited 8 months to hear back from a magazine about a story (their listed wait time was supposed to be 8 weeks) but you get used to it. In the end they bought the story.

I have an agent and it took 8 months to sell a book proposal-- and it was a hot property, too. If you're aiming for commercial publication the glacial slowness is part of the landscape.

Anyway, I understand she could only do a couple crits at a time and is busy with her own writing and editing. It's a wonder she has time at all. Most pros don't, or they charge a lot more for their feedback.

Indubitably · Apr 19, 2015

Gillhoughly said:
Indubitably- a few months of waiting is nothing. I waited 8 months to hear back from a magazine about a story (their listed wait time was supposed to be 8 weeks) but you get used to it. In the end they bought the story.

I have an agent and it took 8 months to sell a book proposal-- and it was a hot property, too. If you're aiming for commercial publication the glacial slowness is part of the landscape.

Anyway, I understand she could only do a couple crits at a time and is busy with her own writing and editing. It's a wonder she has time at all. Most pros don't, or they charge a lot more for their feedback.

That's a good point. I have to keep reminding myself of the pace of publishing. Then do you think it's a good idea to wait to send out queries on the work she's critiquing, since so many agents don't accept re-submissions?

Gillhoughly · Apr 19, 2015

Indubitably said:
That's a good point. I have to keep reminding myself of the pace of publishing. Then do you think it's a good idea to wait to send out queries on the work she's critiquing, since so many agents don't accept re-submissions?

Well, since she's just said she's all caught up, I expect the wait time is now quite a bit shorter. The problem before was getting a whole bunch at once.

Write and ask if there's a long wait at present.

Agents accept resubmissions all the time -- if there's been rewriting to improve on things. I can let you know (I read a slush pile) that most agents and editors simply won't remember the original submission. When you're digging through 100s of subs a week, your head won't hang on to any of them. The best of the best are sent on to the senior editor, and only the worst of the worst send me to the bar for liquid therapy.

What I get from my agent is that she reads the first 5 pages and if those don't hook her, then the rest don't matter. Elrod does feedback on the first 10.

Indubitably · Apr 20, 2015

Thanks for the insight, Gillhoughly! I'll submit to Elrod and hope for the best.

tko · May 4, 2015

thanks!

Great info, made me like her all the more.

AW Admin said:
Did y'all notice the nifty interview with P. N. Elrod on AW's blog today?

Gillhoughly · Aug 28, 2015

All good things...

Seems that health issues have shut this one down. She just posted this on her Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/p.n.elrod/posts/10153031308186434?pnref=story

RE my Critique Service: I am still editing, but no longer doing critiques.

Seems when I get stressed the Rheumatoid in my wrists gets aggressively painful and writing critiques are a major stress trigger. Here's the announcement on the webpage. The page is up until I can shift the writing advice to another location.

THE CRITIQUE SERVICE IS NOW CLOSED

I'm sorry, but my doctor has told me to cut back on stress triggers, and doing critiques is one of the biggies. Until my health improves, I can no longer offer critiques. You are welcome to read the "Pro's Tips" near the bottom of the page, I will leave it up for those, but everything else to do with submissions is off the menu. Please do not send submissions. I will work to clear the ones that are left, but cannot take on any others. Thank you. P.N. Elrod, August 28, 2015

Gillhoughly · May 1, 2016

Elrod has reopened!

Looks like she's back in the feedback game. This just appeared on Goodreads:

I've gotten healthy enough to reopen my critique service again. The website page is all new, but pointers may take you to the old page. If you see a pic of a dog on a tan background, just hit "refresh!"

I have in the sidebar 16 NEW PAGES of PRO'S TIPS, so if you're not interested in the critique, it's still worth a visit to check those out.

Also included in the sidebar are links to help sites for writers. Just paying things forward!

Hope you enjoy!

Pat Elrod

http://www.vampwriter.com/CRITIQUE.htm

P.N. Elrod is Critiquing!

Channy

Me Gusta

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Gringa

AW Admin

Gringa

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Isilya

Rogues, thieves, and knaves abound

akaria

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Indubitably

I Followed the Hair Loss Ads

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Indubitably

I Followed the Hair Loss Ads

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Indubitably

I Followed the Hair Loss Ads

tko

just thanks fore everything

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor