Well, folks. It was fun while it lasted.

As you can see, not much has been happening on this blog lately.

There are several reasons for this, but I will only hit on a couple:

First: It's amazing how much can change in a couple of months--both in our personal lives and on the writing front. A couple of us have signed publishing contracts, and so the need to write, edit, market, promote HAD to take preference over this blog and the services we were providing.

Second: Running this blog, critiquing submissions, providing feedback...well, that's a LOT of dang work. We weren't getting paid for this service. We had a concept and we went with it--for free--not realizing how much time it would involve with very little (nothing) in return for our effort.

Third: Probably the biggest factor that made us come to this decision, was the fact that a good portion of the submissions we received just weren't ready. They needed more revision. We were wanting to give out reviews on AMAZING, fully complete, well edited novels. 90% of what we received didn't come close.

So we've shut it down. We've moved on.

If you liked our comments and our posts, you can check us out on our individual blogs:

Angela Scott: www.whimsywritingandreading.weebly.com or @whimsywriting on twitter or http://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter

D.S. Tracy:

Kacey Mark:

Sunday, May 29, 2011

What You Got Hiding There?

Posted by Ready, Aim, Hook Me at 8:41 PM
Greetings!
Rabbit in a Hat Hooker here.

It’s about time, isn’t it? Our blog is up and running and we’ve got three luscious hook’ers lying in wait this very moment. Okay, so it’s not quite as tantalizing as I’m making it sound. We’re probably still suffering a serious case of bed-head and wearing nappy ole bunny slippers, but hey, we’re here and ready to assist you!

Whether you’re a scarred and marred critique veteran or just taking your first dive, we want to offer you something fresh and new.

A multidimensional critique from not one, not two, but three hook’ers at the same time!

Best of all, it won’t cost you more than an awesome story worth reading. Now that doesn’t sound so hard, does it?

I know how it is, your first time sending stuff in for critique. You’re unsure. Want to know you’re normal and not some malformed story freak.
And what happens when you expose your stuff to the world? Will they criticize you? Point and laugh? Maybe.
But take heart, dear friend. We here at Ready Aim Hook Me like to pride ourselves on our professionalism and we hope that when we’re laughing, we’re only laughing with you. That’s the best quality one can have, by the way, the ability to laugh at your own work.

I have no qualms about telling you that I annoy the hell out of the Barnes and Noble staff on a weekly basis, laughing like a caffeinated hyena when I go through critiques. My poor Critique partner (CP) looks at me like she’s ready to call up the happy wagon. I’m far from perfect. I make mistakes just like everyone else. To sulk over them only crushes my creativity.

So come on! Get brave and expose your work. Let’s play around with it and for the love of god, let’s have a good time. This process doesn’t have to be all bad. It can be pleasurable too!

11 comments:

Juliana L. Brandt on May 30, 2011 at 8:18 AM said...

Geeze, this makes me want to finish my WIP faster. Only 18k to go... *sigh*

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader on May 30, 2011 at 9:54 AM said...

Great idea ladies. I look forward to following your book recommendations. Please try to spread the love in other genres aside from YA. There are already so many YA book blogs out there it seems weighted in their favor.

Uva Be Dolezal on May 30, 2011 at 11:38 AM said...

I would love a critique on my work in progress. I've been posting my novel for a page a day now, for 150 days or so and people seem afraid to comment.

I like very much what it reads in your side column: did I hook you in the first few lines ? first page ? or is it slow and boring ? would like some honest feedback, even. Here's page 1.


http://odetoimpossible.blogspot.com/p/ode-story-pages-in-order-1.html

p.s. thanks very much :) great site idea.

Ready, Aim, Hook Me on May 30, 2011 at 12:39 PM said...

We review everything, not just YA. We just don't review poetry, non-fiction, and explicit horror or sex. But everything else is welcome.

We only have one YA author on this blog. The other two write romance, mystery, paranormal, and suspense. So it's all good.

Please make sure to submit your first five pages to readyaimhookme@gmail.com

Brooke R. Busse on May 30, 2011 at 12:57 PM said...

I love your ladies blog template, especially the picture at the top. But, of course, I may be biased, as I love the color purple. XD

Have you realized that you have your blog archive posted twice?

I wish I could bug the Barnes and Noble staff every week, but we don't have one. TT_TT

Anonymous said...

You should change your name to just "Hook Me" - less complicated and succinct.

Ready, Aim, Hook Me on May 30, 2011 at 7:28 PM said...

Three women. One blog. No complication? lol. It would've been less complicated for sure, but we had this idea of the title being something with three parts, like us. It just goes to show how important titles are. Thanks for your comment.

Hildie McQueen on May 30, 2011 at 9:09 PM said...

Your blog is a definitely hooker. I am following!

Jessica Bell on May 31, 2011 at 12:21 AM said...

Great idea! Maybe one day I'll submit something to you :o) Nice to meet you!

Ready, Aim, Hook Me on May 31, 2011 at 7:12 AM said...

Thanks to all the encouraging comments! We're going to have a great run together guys. Keep following and don't be shy. Get those polished submissions out to us so we can really start having fun! Okay, now I gotta sit down. All this cheerleading is beginning to make even me nauseous Hehe

Unknown on June 1, 2011 at 3:25 PM said...

I'm hooked on this blog. I hope you would post excerpts with your comments (assuming you got the author's permission) as well.

I always love seeing a work dissected.

Perhaps I'll even send you a couple pages!

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Hey! Where Is The Comment Box?

If you can't see a comment box below post, scroll up to the top and click "comments" in the header. *shakes hook'er fist at blog template*

We seem to be having some technical difficulties with commenting. Hopefully, it is just an issue with blogger and it'll be easier in the future. Sorry for the trouble.















 

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