Anyone here ever use Critters?

[ChasPHX]

Real quick... Critters bills itself as the first online writing workshop. Been around a long time. Members share their stories among each other to get honest feedback from other writers. It's basically a giant pool of beta readers who (theoretically) know what they are doing.

I've started looking into it for non erotica. It's mostly known for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. But, they do have an "adult fiction" section, and I wondered if anyone here has ever tried it?

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Writing fantasy under a different name, I did use Critters off-and-on for several years.

It has good and bad points. On the good side, the amount of material of yours that can get reviewed is only limited by how much reviewing you yourself do ... so if you're really active, you can post a lot of your own work.

On the downside, the quality of beta readers is unproven. You don't have good control over who reviews your work and gives feedback. Good critiquing is a skill that takes time to develop and sometimes feels as rare as good writing. Also, I found that while short stories (under 5K words) got a lot of looks, longer works got a lot less feedback.

Mind you, I stopped submitting there about three years back, so maybe things have changed.

In the end, I cultivated a herd of beta readers by being active in social media fantasy-fiction groups and they've over time given me much more refined and targeted feedback.

Good luck!

 

[yibala2]

Real quick... Critters bills itself as the first online writing workshop. Been around a long time. Members share their stories among each other to get honest feedback from other writers. It's basically a giant pool of beta readers who (theoretically) know what they are doing.

I've started looking into it for non erotica. It's mostly known for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. But, they do have an "adult fiction" section, and I wondered if anyone here has ever tried it?

I was on Critters on and off for several years and most recently about six years ago. Mostly for fantasy, although the last stint was for erotica.

While I was on for erotica, there were so few critiquers and writers in the genre that it was hard to get much feedback. There just wasn't anything like the same level of participation as for sf/f. IMO, you'll get a better range of viewpoints in a much shorter time posting on the Feedback board here in the Forum than you will there. It may have grown over the past several years, but I still get amicus emails and haven't noticed any significant change.

Yes... actually, the email I got yesterday for the Adult Workshop says there isn't much new in the workshop so last week's pieces are being kept over, which is what it almost always says.

It's too bad. I completely agree with Peyton's sentiments on the value of workshopping, but Critters just doesn't have enough writers in the erotica genre to offer the same experience.

-Yib

 

[ChasPHX]

Awesome, thanks for the great firsthand feedback on this.

 

[Abbafan]

Real quick... Critters bills itself as the first online writing workshop. Been around a long time. Members share their stories among each other to get honest feedback from other writers. It's basically a giant pool of beta readers who (theoretically) know what they are doing.

I've started looking into it for non erotica. It's mostly known for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. But, they do have an "adult fiction" section, and I wondered if anyone here has ever tried it?

I participated in something like that about twenty years ago. Francis Ford Coppola had a writing workshop site that's not around anymore. It wasn't bad. I don't think anyone who responded to what I wrote was a troll. Some of the comments were on point and helped me realize some things about my attempts at writing fiction.

I don't know about Critters specifically, but this kind of thing can be helpful, depending on how its run.

 

[DarkWhispers2U]

Never used Critters

I have not used Critters. Scribophile is where I had a couple pieces looked over by other writers. There you also have to critique others work to earn the points needed to post your own in 3000 or less increments. If you join groups of similar interest, they say you can get more specialized help.

 

[ChasPHX]

I have not used Critters. Scribophile is where I had a couple pieces looked over by other writers. There you also have to critique others work to earn the points needed to post your own in 3000 or less increments. If you join groups of similar interest, they say you can get more specialized help.

Interesting thanks, I will check it out. Do you recommend it?

 

[DarkWhispers2U]

Do you recommend it?

For serious writers who want help with the craft, yes. Be sure to check out their Codes of Conduct to avoid any misunderstandings. Also, avoid spending too much time on the Scribophile forums. They kinda suck you in and waste your time. LOL.

Best of luck to you whichever path you take.

 

[nylonpunkie]

Critters - why do they have such a creepy weird name?

Maybe my head is stuck on porn mode but the word 'critters' just has disturbing connotations.