So, as I’ve mentioned before, my face-to-face critique group meets on a Thursday night. Everyone comes to my place (usually laden with all sorts of snack food), I make coffee and we all sit down for 3-4 hours.
This week, we had two pieces to go through. A great prologue piece from Brian (as a free prologue to his already published book: Hell to Pay), and a chapter from #Hewhoshallnotbenamed. Yes, it’s a running joke, but there’s also a reason – so maybe one day we’ll share it. For now we’ll just refer to him as HWSNBN š
I’m a little OCD when it comes to critiquing. I open the piece in word and have at it with the comment feature. And I mean, have at it. The thing is, I find critiquing someone else’s work to be well – a learning experience. It enables me to find all these little things I do myself, or I realize can be done and therefore am more wary of when I write. From dangling participles, to telling too much instead of showing – from overused words right through to my English spelling. Every single piece I critique – makes me a better writer.
You’ll often hear this applied to reading. If you want to write, you have to read. This is more true than most people realize. The more we read, the wider our vocabulary, the better our scope of how fiction can be twisted and turned to fit the ideas in our heads, and the broader our understanding of how multiple genres work.
So, for me and others like me, I’d recommend that you not only read a lot, but that you critique a lot. Whether that means you take a piece of work that’s already been published and read through it, finding any things you might think could have been done better. Or you find a crit group where you’ll be helping others and yourself by critiquing their work.
One thing to remember when receiving critiqued work though, and this is very important: The critique is only from that person’s perspective. Stay true to your story, tighten the language and make it the best piece it can be. But it’s your story – make sure you don’t give in to other people’s opinions of how they might do it better.
I know that, at least for me, critiquing has made as much of an impact on my writing as reading has. And we don’t need to go into how mortally scared I am of having TDP critiqued.
Lastly – I’m contemplating a blog layout change. Simply because I feel there isn’t enough room on my sidebar for the things I want to put there. What do you think? Is it too cramped, how does the site navigate?
And let me know how you feel about reading and critiquing. What are your experiences? How does critiquing effect your writing style and methods?
(PS – If you haven’t yet looked at the Writing Campaign 2nd Challenge Entries – DO SO NOW! And please vote for the ones you like, including mine if you like it. I’m #17)
I do have one small critique. Make sure your links open new tabs, please. I clicked on the Platform Building button, and it opened in this tab. I really don’t like that as I tend to try finish what I’m reading on one page before I go on to read the link.
I will talk to Shyntyrr lol. I have no idea how to do that in the side bar LOL
This came up on another blog today. I’ve critiqued well over 800 stories in part or whole in the past seven years. It’s been the best writing education I’ve ever had.
š That’s awesome. I hope when I’ve crit that many stories my writing will be 100 times better š
Your critique group sounds fun! The best experiences I’ve had with critiques have been the brutally honest kind. Sometimes there are tears involved…it’s a tough job, but it’s got to be done. I’m so grateful to those who have the guts to tear my work apart. Bring it on lol! Thanks for stopping by my blog š
My crit group is pretty awesome. One of the guys doesn’t read though… but he is great at technical stuff (we’re really trying to get him to read books other than ours). I have a lot of difficulty with crits. I generally need to sleep on them – and then I can see them in a more impartial light. And your pictures were GORGEOUS
I’m just starting to dip my toes into critiquing, and I’m hoping to get out of it exactly what you’re talking about š
Oh, you’ll love it! I hope you have fun and it’s as great an experience for you as it is for me
I agree with you on critiquing a lot. I have to add that I’ve learned to critique better by the crits I’ve received. It’s shown me what to look for in not only my own work, but other work as well. Love it.
Yeah I love critiquing. Not just getting them, but performing them myself. Helps you really grow as a writer.
I’m just starting on critiquing and am getting going on it. For me I know I have a lot to learn in terms of structure and what scenes belong and what scenes don’t so it’s helping me learn what works and doesn’t work in other peoples works and maybe how scenes and characters can be combined to make a stronger work.
Also, you’ve put a thought into my head about maybe putting together a face to face critique group for some friends of mine.
Face to face crit groups can be fantastic. You just have to make sure the people you’re putting one together with read and understand your genre. That’s been by far the most difficult thing to accomplish. But I think we have a nice groove now.
Good luck š I hope you find one!
I gave you an award over at my blog. Go check it out if you want it.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I’ll have to do another post of thanks to people.
Your sidebar looks lovely to me. Not crowded at all. Critiquing has helped me so much as a writer. I learn every time I critique a piece.
Thank you so much! Yeah I love this layout, but I just… you know, I’m never 100% happy lol!
I’m so glad to know other people find critiquing beneficial too š