Who's Beneath Your Skirts?
You've toiled long hours over the writing desk, lost sleep, shed tears of frustration and hopefully joy. And, finally your coveted WIP is at the stage for someone else to read it in full. When it comes to critiquing your own work, whom do you turn to?
For me, this is quite an intimate undertaking....who do you let beneath your skirts, the dear lady whispers, twirling the hairbrush through loose tendrils.
Who can you trust to critique it for you, lavish you with good honest feedback. This is the cold hard warts and all stuff you want someone to hit you with before you get to the querying stage.
Do you use a small group of friends, one, two...three? Do you use a critique group online? Which works best?
From my own experience, I tried regular group sessions...sounds like therapy doesn't it? I've read my work aloud to complete strangers; and it was great - only a little confusing. If there were ten in the group - then it would be ten viewpoints I received back. And seriously, can anyone deal with this many views without losing sight of the story you want to tell.
I find that having at least two serious critique partners combined with several good friends is the method that works for me. If your friends fit your target market - why not? For me the difference between this approach and a critique group is that these are people who know you...hell if my good friends can't tell me the cold hard truth about my work - then who can?
Let me know, which privileged souls do you allow in? Who gets to read your lovely work before the querying process?
A/N: Any tips on critiquing, please feel free to share.
Photocredits via webshots Evelyn Nesbitt
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| Beneath my skirts? As if! You'll have to get past my polar friend first! |
Who can you trust to critique it for you, lavish you with good honest feedback. This is the cold hard warts and all stuff you want someone to hit you with before you get to the querying stage.
Do you use a small group of friends, one, two...three? Do you use a critique group online? Which works best?
From my own experience, I tried regular group sessions...sounds like therapy doesn't it? I've read my work aloud to complete strangers; and it was great - only a little confusing. If there were ten in the group - then it would be ten viewpoints I received back. And seriously, can anyone deal with this many views without losing sight of the story you want to tell.
I find that having at least two serious critique partners combined with several good friends is the method that works for me. If your friends fit your target market - why not? For me the difference between this approach and a critique group is that these are people who know you...hell if my good friends can't tell me the cold hard truth about my work - then who can?
Let me know, which privileged souls do you allow in? Who gets to read your lovely work before the querying process?
A/N: Any tips on critiquing, please feel free to share.
Photocredits via webshots Evelyn Nesbitt
Comments
I'm not finished but I've had a lot of it critiqued in crit groups.
My husband is really good. He tells me the truth and has good ideas. Since my MC is male, I try to get a lot of men's input. Don't want to emasculate Gardner. Heaven forbid!
I've made some friends in the blogger world who share similar interests and styles with me, and I have turned to them recently for feedback on a manuscript under revision -- and I have given feedback on some of their work.
Rather than a regular group, I depend on who's available at a given time, interested in that particular work, etc. It may vary.
Hi Brenda, I like best friends who aren't afraid to insult-question-point out the warts in my WIP too! They're the best. I found some the feedback from within a group environment a little contrived because its almost a fleeting interaction with strangers. Either they love your work and will listen or their eyes glaze over until its their turn to read.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for adding your great comments!
Good to hear you have used crit groups, and I think thats great being able to get a lot of male POV for your character from your husband! So great to have him involved in your writing. We definitely don't want to emasculate our Gardner!
Thanks! I love that pic too - couldn't resist it! Blogger world is a great pool of talent - and like-minded writers who write the same genre are brilliant for critiquing. I think it makes it easier to work with someone whos at the same phase of the writing process as you are. You can bounce ideas off each other.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Me too - I'm very protective of my baby...WIP. I really make sure that if I share it with someone for feedback that I get honest feedback and not just - wow thats great. I like friends who question the plot. One of mine BFF was devastated that I wouldn't let my main MC hook up with a certain character. LOL she got so involved with it.
Good luck with your critiquing!
I hear ya, I love groups but I'm not sure I've experienced the right ones so far. Am happy with my organically grown/ virtual one with friends across the globe whom I've known for years; I share my chapters with them as they are ready for reading.
Good luck - it could be lucky no three? ;)
That's brilliant! You're very fortunate, you definitely want to keep the ones the set you straight.
Thanks so much for coming by! ;)
I joined my current critique group a few months ago, and I couldn't have been more terrified. I appreciate those ladies more than I could have imagined~ they are God sent.
I'm still leery about letting my family take any peeks:)
A case of whatever suits the individual, I guess.
I have a retired fiction editor (friend) who loves going through my work when time allows, sometimes his editing is a tad cruel but mostly light-fingered on the criticism and like he says: what he passes as ready to go another ed will likely find fault, it all comes down to personal choice!
best
F
*whispers I'm typing hastily during my lunch* (apologies for any typos Ladies & Gents)
Lovely to have you here. Thats really great you've found a lovely critique group too.
Its a little scary showing work to anyone but when it comes to your nearest and dearest its always that little bit harder. IDK why? Maybe we get nervous of their reaction - but I bet when you're ready, they'll be supportive no matter what!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Another approach - which I would consider is using a professional service, I've seen a few publishing groups offer this.
Very true, its personal choice at the end of the day. Its whichever approach works for each of us and our lifestyles. You are a lucky lady having an retired editor for a friend!
Thanks for stopping by ;)