Comments on: Receiving a Critique: What Can YOU Do?

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:19:30 +0000

It’s been my discovery while I work on this critique book. I think I’ve been thinking & talking about critique groups for sooooooo long that when I started writing, the voice poured out. I was worried, at first, that it would be too unprofessional, but I decided to just love it instead!

By: Jeannine Atkins

Jeannine Atkins — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:41:58 +0000

I love that line about voice maybe being even more important in nonfiction. I never thought of that!

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:06:19 +0000

Hi, Jaimie!

Believe me, there are plenty of times I open my mouth and the “But…” comes out. I find myself clapping my hand over it frequently & waving at my critique partners to keep going. And when I totally forget, they remind me!

I think if we let oursevles listen to the critiquers, we get better at listening to ourselves, to our own thoughts about what might or might not be working in our projects.

By: Jaimie

Jaimie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:43:19 +0000

Great points! When it comes to people dissecting my work I have a knee-jerk reaction and want to defend my point almost immediately.

But, I’m working on becoming a better listener because, when it’s done in a productive way, critiquing can offer fresh perspectives and reveal writing flaws. After all, I’m realizing that when I listen and then take some time to think about the points that were raised I can make (or not make) the suggested changes with an objectivity that wasn’t there before.

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:35:20 +0000

If the info you’ve gotten so far is good, you might just want to have a quick discussion with this group–see what their schedule/agenda is and how they feel about all the work you’re passing along. They may be very into it and just need more time, or they may feel like it’s shifting the balance of the group in a way that isn’t working for them. The answer might help you make your decision.

By: C. M. Clark

C. M. Clark — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:23:51 +0000

I’ve had the first few chapters up since Sept, added more in Dec. (I didn’t expect much during the holidays) But I thought by now there’s been some movement at the group.
I’m thinking about just doing some novel swaps via fmwriters.com or joining http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/

I’ve gotten great information from all the crit groups I’ve been with in the last year, so I don’t want to give them up, but at the same time really would love to get feedback still.

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:48:18 +0000

Susan, I love that saying! Yes, I think we spend a lot of time talking about all the things the CRITIQUER must worry about, and sometimes we forget that the recipient has to put some effort into the process, too.

By: Gottawrite Girl

Gottawrite Girl — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:36:45 +0000

SO true… “Even the flattest pancake has two sides,” I also love. Well, I really appreciate a little sugar with my vinegar, you know? Thanks, Becky!

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:20:24 +0000

Shawna–Exactly! Sometimes, we’re lucky and a critique will flip the switch on the lightbulb, and we’ll go running home with the perfect idea to follow. More often, though, we do need to “sit with” the feedback and give it time to mesh with the whole project in our mind. Hmmm..critiquers wanting instant feedback. Interesting. I think the feedback is seeing you revise with their critiques in mind, even if you don’t put in the exact changes they suggested, and seeing your project adn writing develop.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:10:30 +0000

For me, I have to let the critique age a bit. It’s never a good thing if I react immediately to any critique of my work, I need to mull it over, let it sink in, then I can objectively decided whether I think I should revise or leave it as is. This doesn’t make me popular to people who want instead feedback but I do tend to revise more often than not.