Interview With the Owner of Critique Boutique
Why did you start the Critique Boutique?
I have a writing buddy who got her first book sale in 2004. She wanted her revised manuscript to be as polished as possible before she turned it in to the editor, so she hired a critique business to critique the entire 100K manuscript. They charged her over $2000.00 and it took them over a month to send it back to her. No comments were made on the manuscript and they included two double-spaced pages of notes—none insightful nor helpful. I was appalled, so I decided to do some research on critique businesses.
What sets the Critique Boutique apart from other critiquing services?
After completing my research, I realized most all based their fees on either a page count, or by the hour. Both seemed incredibly unfair to the author. Critique Boutique’s fees are based on computer word count—always! Also, with the Critique Boutique, the client gets comments directly on the manuscript, concise pointing out of the problems as well as suggestions to fix them. Finally, the Critique Boutique gives a detailed overview of the complete manuscript, detailed and professionally presented.
Being unpublished, how can you offer sound critiques?Interesting question. LOL My only answer is that some people just seem to have an “editor’s eye” for what works and doesn’t, able to spot problems. It appears I fall into this category, or so I’ve been told. I do some of my most in-depth critiques for published authors. Here’s what some of them say about my critiques: From best-selling Romantic Suspense author, Colleen Coble… “I always have Robin Miller go over my manuscript before I turn it in. She catches plot holes that no one else does.”From Suspense/Chick-Lit author, Traci Genestet… “I've written two books in the last 18 months, and I've had Robin critique each one of them. She's always been willing to work with me in phases, and she's been a great deal of help in keeping my character's voice right, especially with my series featuring protagonist Candy Kissen--the gun packing, twenty-something P.I. from Southern California. Robin's always been speedy, yet very efficient. It's nothing but a joy to work with her, even when she has her 50 caliber machine gun out and it's aimed at my manuscript. The help she's provided has assisted me in selling two books which will both be published in 2006.”
Of course, you can ask my crit partners too, but they may be biased! LOL
What’s the best thing about the Critique Boutique, in your opinion?The honest feedback. I don’t sugarcoat my critiques, nor do I praise just to blow smoke up your skirt—I don’t understand why some people do. Trust me, an agent and/or editor isn’t going to buy your manuscript just to be nice—why would any writer want less than a true appraisal of their work? I would rather have a critique point out a problem rather than an editor/agent reject a manuscript because of it.
What are your “credentials”, so to speak?I’ve been an avid reader since age seven? LOL Seriously though, being a reader is VITAL to being a good critiquer. You have to be able to tell if something works or not and the only way to do that is if you read regularly. The in-depth critiquer is good when they can tell you WHY it doesn’t work. But, back to the question—I’m a RWA trained judge for several contests, a published poet, and newspaper editor, as well as being a continuing student of the craft.
What’s your biggest pet peeve you see in things you critique?
I actually have two—1, a poorly structured plot and 2, pov issues. Yeah, my buddies call me the POV POLICE. LOL
What’s the #1 mistake you see in manuscripts you critique?It depends on what I’m critiquing, but what I see most often are plot point issues and telling rather than showing.
Website address: www.robinmillerbooks.com
I have a writing buddy who got her first book sale in 2004. She wanted her revised manuscript to be as polished as possible before she turned it in to the editor, so she hired a critique business to critique the entire 100K manuscript. They charged her over $2000.00 and it took them over a month to send it back to her. No comments were made on the manuscript and they included two double-spaced pages of notes—none insightful nor helpful. I was appalled, so I decided to do some research on critique businesses.
What sets the Critique Boutique apart from other critiquing services?
After completing my research, I realized most all based their fees on either a page count, or by the hour. Both seemed incredibly unfair to the author. Critique Boutique’s fees are based on computer word count—always! Also, with the Critique Boutique, the client gets comments directly on the manuscript, concise pointing out of the problems as well as suggestions to fix them. Finally, the Critique Boutique gives a detailed overview of the complete manuscript, detailed and professionally presented.
Being unpublished, how can you offer sound critiques?Interesting question. LOL My only answer is that some people just seem to have an “editor’s eye” for what works and doesn’t, able to spot problems. It appears I fall into this category, or so I’ve been told. I do some of my most in-depth critiques for published authors. Here’s what some of them say about my critiques: From best-selling Romantic Suspense author, Colleen Coble… “I always have Robin Miller go over my manuscript before I turn it in. She catches plot holes that no one else does.”From Suspense/Chick-Lit author, Traci Genestet… “I've written two books in the last 18 months, and I've had Robin critique each one of them. She's always been willing to work with me in phases, and she's been a great deal of help in keeping my character's voice right, especially with my series featuring protagonist Candy Kissen--the gun packing, twenty-something P.I. from Southern California. Robin's always been speedy, yet very efficient. It's nothing but a joy to work with her, even when she has her 50 caliber machine gun out and it's aimed at my manuscript. The help she's provided has assisted me in selling two books which will both be published in 2006.”
Of course, you can ask my crit partners too, but they may be biased! LOL
What’s the best thing about the Critique Boutique, in your opinion?The honest feedback. I don’t sugarcoat my critiques, nor do I praise just to blow smoke up your skirt—I don’t understand why some people do. Trust me, an agent and/or editor isn’t going to buy your manuscript just to be nice—why would any writer want less than a true appraisal of their work? I would rather have a critique point out a problem rather than an editor/agent reject a manuscript because of it.
What are your “credentials”, so to speak?I’ve been an avid reader since age seven? LOL Seriously though, being a reader is VITAL to being a good critiquer. You have to be able to tell if something works or not and the only way to do that is if you read regularly. The in-depth critiquer is good when they can tell you WHY it doesn’t work. But, back to the question—I’m a RWA trained judge for several contests, a published poet, and newspaper editor, as well as being a continuing student of the craft.
What’s your biggest pet peeve you see in things you critique?
I actually have two—1, a poorly structured plot and 2, pov issues. Yeah, my buddies call me the POV POLICE. LOL
What’s the #1 mistake you see in manuscripts you critique?It depends on what I’m critiquing, but what I see most often are plot point issues and telling rather than showing.
Website address: www.robinmillerbooks.com
posted by Robin Caroll @ Tuesday, November 15, 2005
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