Posts
We all know how vitally important it is for us to open our work up to critique. You HAVE to do this if you truly want to be a writer. Period. But wait! Before you go rushing out to change your manuscript because you're a good listener, you should think it through.
I've said this before - and I'll say it again - I LOVE my critique group. And those who have been generous enough to beta read for me. Does that mean I have made every single change and/or correction they've ever given me? Nope. *Gasp* I know. Have I seriously considered every one of them? YES.
So how do I know when to make the change? Well here's a little checklist that helps me out.
- Is it something that resonates with what I've been feeling? Many times (you'd think I'd learn by now) when I get a piece of advice I think, yes, that's what I thought but I didn't want to acknowledge it on a conscious level. Somehow hearing it from someone else forces me to make that leap.
- Does more than one person have a problem with the same part of the manuscript? Even if the comments are different, you can see that SOMETHING is wrong with this section. Look at it again closely, there's something there that may not be obvious, but I guarantee it exists.
- Is it logical? Writing may be creative but there is a good deal of logic involved. Especially in plotting. And you may be filling in details in your head because, well let's be honest, you KNOW everything about your characters and world. But perhaps you haven't done as well as you thought imparting this knowledge to the reader.
- Does it feel wrong? I know, this is the exact opposite of number 3. But seriously, trust your gut. There's a big difference between not opening yourself up to constructive criticism, and forcing yourself to make the change even though it makes you feel sick inside. And you're the only one that truly knows whether you're just being defensive of your baby or you know it isn't right.*
- Conflicting advice. Person A loves the gnome (you knew I had to throw something in somewhere right?) and person B is emphatic that it doesn't work. Well guess what? You decide.
*If you notice yourself hardly ever taking advice or making changes based on critique, you probably ARE having difficulty with opening yourself up to critique.
Ultimately this is your work, so it is your decision. Just be sure to give everything serious consideration. If you've done that you'll know what's right and what isn't, and you won't second guess it.
Thanks for this post--it's hard sometimes to NOT take advice and show your group the same excerpt with only some of the suggested changes. I used to feel like I was letting people down or insulting their feedback by not making alterations. I just have to remind myself that I would understand if the tables were turned, and not every comment needs to result in a change :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post and an important thing to navigate. #4 is the hardest! But even when I have an emotional reaction (scratch that, ESPECIALLY when I have an emotional reaction) to a critique, I dig really deep to find what the critiquer is objecting to. Often they prescribe fixes that are not what needs fixing, but they HAVE identified something that needs to be fixed. It's then my job to figure out the best way to fix it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Jess - You're welcome! It is sometimes just as hard to NOT fix it, as it is to take the criticism, and I haven't seen a lot out there on when to do that. I'm glad you've gotten past it!
ReplyDeleteSusan - Thank you! You have to give it enough time to make sure you understand whether your emotional reaction is valid or not. Definitely have to take it all seriously and make sure you're doing the right thing because you want your manuscript to be its best.
This is soo hard but worth it : ) Great tips
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I followed these same guidelines when I was in my MFA program. It was necessary because each time I submitted my work, I got feedback from 13 other people! I quickly had to learn how to decide which types of suggestions to make and which to ignore.
ReplyDeleteYou are so amazingly wise! I have got to link to this from the post I did on the Critique Sisters Corner blog about the right critique group! You're right on every point. #2 especially resonates with me. I was hearing the same advice from different people and finally realized I was being stubborn and had to change something!
ReplyDeleteBekah - Isn't that true of everything about writing?! :D
ReplyDeleteGhenet - glad to hear this worked for you with your MFA. I see it happen with other professions in the workplace too.
Heather - Aww, you're so sweet! Thanks. It's tough knowing the difference, but worth the effort in figuring it out.
Thanks for this great post. A lot of times, I get criticism that hits me like "wow, why didn't I see that?" Then sometimes I get criticism that just doesn't feel right. These are great steps to deciding whether or not to make changes based on a critique!
ReplyDeleteShallee - I'm glad it was useful to you!
ReplyDeleteMy critique group has made me a better writer. I love the multiple perspectives and the way they keep me on my toes. It's so great when I can't quite put my finger on something that is making a dull clang in my MS and my group solves the mystery. Thank you Lisa, Julie, Ian, Deborah, Laurel, and Tanya. Rock Stars all.
ReplyDeleteLeslie - the check's in the mail!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lisa. With my critique group, I find I'm often guilty of filling in the details in my head and assume the reader can follow...until one of my crit partners highlights something and asks "where the hell did that come from?" I don't know what I'd do without my crit partners!
ReplyDeleteKristi - it's hard to separate what's in your head from what you've actually explained on the page. Crit groups are sooo important!
ReplyDelete#1 definitely happens to me. I even expect someone to bring it up, and if they don't, then I'm really confused. Was it really a problem? Or maybe they didn't realize it was a problem when it was and now I'd better change it because if I think it's a problem someone else will too eventually, possibly even an agent. (Can you tell I've just had some caffeine?) ;)
ReplyDeleteStina - caffeine is good... Oh um, YES. And I do that too. I think it typically means you should in fact change it or you wouldn't obsess.
ReplyDeleteDitto on Leslie's comments on our critique group. It's not always easy to hear what's wrong our manuscripts, but you're right, we MUST hear these critiques. After I read through my marked-up pages I set them aside for a few days. Once I read through them again, most of the time the comments make perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteJulie - I'm running out of money here to pay you guys off. So start saying mean things about us, okay? Sheesh. :P
ReplyDeleteI might go with suggested rewrites but I always try and see what the root of the problem was for the critiquer. And I think your list up above is perfect. We can't take all advice. We know our style and what we're going for. It's definitely a balancing game. :)
ReplyDeleteLaura - I picked out from that that I am perfect. That's what you wanted me to get, right? LOL. Selective listening can be dangerous! It is definitely a balancing game. We have to make sure we are being honest with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteYou tackled a really dicey question, Lisa and so very well. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee!! I just try to be honest and hope it's helpful to others.
ReplyDeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteJanet - I LOVE that comment. :D <33
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good to take everything into consideration, but if you don't feel 100% about the changes they have suggested then don't feel like you have to change for everyone else. Stay true to you!
ReplyDeleteRegina - absolutely. As long as you are open to the suggestions and actually weigh them seriously.
ReplyDeleteLearning to take advice is a good thing - but knowing when to ignore advice is good to.
ReplyDeleteWhat works for one person doesn't work for others.
Nice blog by the way.
Austin - thanks! I'm so glad you found it. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, as always, Lisa. And like others have commented, I think it's so important in a critique group to have an understanding that the author has to decide which advice to take, and not consider it an insult if someone's advice is not acted upon. That can always get tricky, and people should be understanding!
ReplyDeleteSusan - absolutely! But hopefully we as writers would understand, assuming we want the freedom to act the same way.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, the timing of this blogpost is impeccable. I'm in the midst of receiving CP feedback. It's driving me crazy!
ReplyDeleteLOL Lydia - glad I could help!
ReplyDeleteThis is good advice. It's often hard to know how to handle critiques, especially when you get conflicting opinions. Whenever I get reader input, I'm tempted to ignore it at first, but after a while, I can almost always find some kernel of wisdom. If I can't, I try to be grateful for it anyway. It takes guts to give advice as well as get it.
ReplyDelete