About Me
I am a dedicated and reliable critique partner with references.
I am educated, well-read, experienced, and professional.
I am also autistic and do not find in-person group sessions satisfying.
However, I am happy to work with other authors one-on-one remotely.
I can provide useful feedback to any level and any genre. I seek useful feedback in return.
Whatever you need feedback on, I will have something similar to swap.
In order to get to know potential long-term critique partners, I prefer to start small — with chapter swaps.
If things work out with chapter swaps, we can discuss bigger chunks.
Prices
Free. No charge. We swap like for like. Typically chapter for chapter. You give me feedback. I give you feedback. No money ever changes hands.
What We Swap
I work with several authors weekly. We exchange any of these.
- sentences
- paragraphs
- pages
- chapter outlines
- chapter sections
- chapters
- scenes
Option 1 – Swap Services
Most people prefer to swap services.
- R&R (read and react) – most common preference
- 3Os chapter structure – objective, obstacles, outcome
- alpha reads (plot feedback: normally in the form of outlines, points, or notes)
- sensitivity reads (racial, sexual, or cultural)
- developmental reads (see Beta Read Checklist below)
- 1st 250 words reads (hook and first page)
- 1st chapter reads
- structural/developmental/beat analysis
- copy edits (grammar, spelling, and punctuation)
- line edits (flow, clarity, impact)
Option 2 – Specific Targets Checklist
Sometimes people want me to look for specific things, such as:
- pacing
- structure
- world building
- character
- narrative voice
- interiorty
- sensitivity
- tone
- scenery
- spice
- tension
- gammar
- punctuation
- other (please specify)
Option 3 – Chapter Beta Read Checklist
Occasionally, people are preparing for Beta reads. In which case they want a full checklist done.
Source: A Space to Write
- Did you like the (main) character?
- Did you feel the (main) character’s personality come across?
- Was the situation relatable?
- Did you understand why the character did what they did every step of the way?
- Were there any parts of the story* that felt rushed?
- Were there any parts of the story* that felt too slow?
- Was there anything in the story* that you found confusing?
- Was there anything in the story* that you didn’t find believable?
- How did you feel at the end?
- Who do you think would want to read a story* like this?
* or chapter, scene, or passage
Who I Swap With
The current state of your draft does not concern me. Genre does not concern me. The level that you write at does not concern me. My background as an instructor and a coach means that I have the skills to adjust my feedback to any level. The only thing that matters to me is your reading level. If you read at or above the level of the majority, your feedback will be sufficiently helpful to me to justify at least one swap. Where we go from there will depend on how we both feel about the experience.
Contact me
If you are interested, please reach out to me by email: brentjohner@shaw.ca.