This week I sent my first novel for a professional critique, a costly venture and Deborah Rickard, a writer from Bristol, http://deborahrickard.wordpress.com/, has asked if professional critiques are worth the cost.The short answer is yes. I retain my critique reports as a valuable reference library.

Although I will not have my novel critique for four to six weeks I have, in the past, purchased professional critiques on some of my short stories. The reports were detailed and helpful; all ...