about me

I am not interested in getting to the Editor's Desk. I am here for good, solid critique alone. Anything is appreciated. I'm not asking for a NY Times-worthy six-page report (although if you feel like it, then go right ahead!). Just one or two clear sentences on any typos/errors you caught and any thoughts on the novel. If you give me an honest critique, then I'd be happy to either back and star your book or trade a reading. Whatever you prefer :)

Please keep in mind that this a YA novel targeted at middle school boys between 10 and 14. As such, there's a great deal of juvenile/crass humor. Try to think back to your middle school days when the booger in your teacher's nose was the highlight of the day. :) I'd also like to reach a few crossover high school readers and maybe some female readers.

If you can't think of anything to say in your "review," here's some of the things I'm looking for:

1) Does the pacing ever slow? Remember, I'm trying to reach middle school boys, who aren't exactly famous for their long attention spans. If you ever get bored STOP READING and tell me where and why you did in the comment box.

2) Can you think of a better title? "Girls, Grades, and Grumpy Teachers" is definitely temporary. I need something that will catch the eye of a middle school boy in a few short words. However, I'm also considering a long-ish title saying something outlandish (think Ally Carter's "I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You." Long but effective.)

3) Is anything melodramatic? Granted, there must be some teenage angst, especially in an insecure middle school student, but do any scenes just drag on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on kind of like this sentence? (Speaking of which, are there any [unintentional] run-on sentences [there are a few intentional ones]).

4) Is anything TOO crass? Yes, I was going for middle school boy humor, but I feel like I've gone over the top in a place or two . . .

5) Can I cut anything out? I'm a wordy person (if you've noticed, I can't keep anything short) and I want to strip this novel down to its underwear. Think of the sparse language of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Author Jeff Kinney provides barely any descriptive language (although the text is significantly supported by the comics). I don't have comics to add visuals, so I have to be more wordy. But I think I'm a bit TOO wordy for a middleschooler. Any parts stand out to you?

6) What genre is this? I know, I know. I'm the author; shouldn't I know this?! But I'm torn between Middle Grade and YA. Middle Grade is aimed more at that general 12-year-old age range, which is where I am, however it's supposed to be between 20,000 and 45,000 words and stay fairly clean. I estimate that Dan Garcia, on the other hand, will be about 60,000 when completed, which is right in the range of a YA novel. But what high schooler wants to read about a thirteen-year-old eighth grader? Additionally, is the homosexual dog/other iffy jokes appropriate for a middle schooler? Any ideas/preferences?

I'll add more as I think of them. Feel free to write your 2-sentence "review" on other topics/"popups" as well. Thanks so much! I look forward to backing and reading your books! :) - EZ

**NOTE**

I'm taking a break off Authonomy for a bit to work on finishing Dan Garcia and start draft two. I really appreciate all the comments, and hopefully I'll be back in a few weeks. I think that I've read and commented on all the books I promised to, but if I missed you, leave me a message and I WILL get to your book! Thanks so much, EZ

favourite books

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
ALL Jane Austen's books (I've read all of 'em)
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

my websites