Critiques.Love them or hate them. But they are necessary in the life of a writer.
Necessary to receive and necessary to give.
I feel like we're gearing up for critique season. Maybe that's because the ACFW Genesis contest and the Carol awards are on the horizon.
And since I personally have a lot of room for improvement in my critiquing skills, I'm curious how you go about giving critiques. Maybe we can all learn something new today. :)
So please share with me. How did you learn to critique? What do you notice right away when reading someones work? Do you enjoy giving a critique to another writer? Do you enjoy submitting your own work to be critiqued? Are you entering any of your work in either the Genesis or the Carol Awards?
Morning, Sunshine! It's early around here!
ReplyDeleteThe way I found my main CP is a really cool story and I don't want to take up a whole page on your comments section, so I won't.
I will say that sending my ms to her the first time and to my 2 other cps made me nervous, but I knew it was for the best. The first time, I admit I got a tad defensive. LOL Then I chewed on it and realized much of what was said was correct.
Now that we have worked together a lot and talk regularly--I look forward to sending my stuff. I know it's going to be a better book.
I try to be honest but not nasty. I had a nasty critique one time (another story). I like to leave comments on things I think are positive, funny and great original lines as well as leaving suggestions.
I hope you enter Genesis. Some of my best feedback and encouragement came from that contest last year!
I worked as a copyeditor for a small publishing company in the past, so I tend to give detailed feedback. I like to give smiley face comments as well, letting the writer know what I like.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering any contests this year since I'm not eligible at this point. I wish everyone who is sending off entries the very best.
I read a lot of history and historical fiction mainly. What jumps out at me in a historical is a line or word that pulls me back to the present. Maybe it's a modern structured phrase or something that just wouldn't have happened back then.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to return to the bubble once it's been popped.
I'm always nervous to turn in my pages for critique, but I'm lucky to have critique partners who know how to be encouraging and honest at the same time. (Waving to Sue and Eileen!) I guess I learned how to critique by being in past critique groups.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm entering the Carol Awards, but I'm a little intimidated. I'm a new author who would be up against the big names. Eek!
Morning everyone! Thanks for coming by today!
ReplyDeleteJessica - Seriously, what time did you get up this morning? Haha! Now I'm really curious about how you met your CP. A blog topic, maybe??
Keli - I value your copy-editing expertise! What an asset you are! As for contests - 2013 is your year for the CAROL! :)
Loree - I write historicals and I also prefer to read that genre. I love your comment about language taking us out of the time period. Very valid!
Julie - Don't be nervous! Send in your book right now!! Learning by doing is the best way to learn I suppose. (Too bad it takes so long!) ;)
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that I left you awards over at my blog!!
Pop on over and get em' :)
Confession: I was a terrible critiquer when I first started out because, well, I didn't know much yet, LOL. I still feel like I don't know much, but I do know more than I used to. So I guess for me, the secret to learning to critique is learning to write. And then always sprinkle in good comments with the not-so-good. Always.
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