tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post3510881543242478089..comments2023-09-05T08:36:25.033-07:00Comments on Author Lisa Gail Green: Getting CritiquesLisa Gail Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-37733900421856829462012-04-19T05:21:16.311-07:002012-04-19T05:21:16.311-07:00I've been really lucky. I have an enthusiastic...I've been really lucky. I have an enthusiastic beta reader and a cutthroat (in a good way) critique partner. I also belong to a local writers group and by critiquing the work of others, I'm strengthening my own editing eye.<br /><br />I've also learned that if something is “bothering” me about a passage or section, my critique partner and beta reader are going to pick it up too. The lesson? I should just address it BEFORE I hand it off to another. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-46792822686461483412012-04-18T12:56:17.991-07:002012-04-18T12:56:17.991-07:00Call me crazy, but so far (okay, young career here...Call me crazy, but so far (okay, young career here) I enjoy the revising and critque process. It provides so much help, knowledge and support into a deeply personal process. Like it, love it, or maybe not, someone I trust is reading my work, validating my efforts and making it better.<br /><br />On the flip side, I am always honored when someone asks me to read their WIP or MS. Even reading just a single scene for accuracy is exciting...getting in on the ground floor of someone's work. <br /><br />If/when I get published, I'l reconsider, but for now, beta-reading/critiquing is the best part of the process.<br /><br />Beta-Readers...if you find a good one, don't ever let her/him get away!Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02585231102949370872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-25572189946977820982012-04-18T07:45:33.898-07:002012-04-18T07:45:33.898-07:00Such great points here, Lisa, as always. A good cr...Such great points here, Lisa, as always. A good critique is invaluable, but that doesn't mean it will include everything we want to hear. But with time and consideration, most often the comments will make sense and contribute to making the story better than ever. Also, I couldn't agree more about the benefits of starting a new project right away.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-23184395290991395912012-04-18T07:26:56.052-07:002012-04-18T07:26:56.052-07:00Hi Lisa-I haven't been here for a while! I cou...Hi Lisa-I haven't been here for a while! I could NOT let the lemming cartoon go uncommented on, though. Love it!<br />I am so with you on beta readers. It is so helpful to have the big picture in front of you.Kristen Wixtedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270464973842125576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-49529702331290354882012-04-17T14:26:07.306-07:002012-04-17T14:26:07.306-07:00Gosh, LIsa, thanks for the shout out. Ditto that y...Gosh, LIsa, thanks for the shout out. Ditto that you and Julie put golden eyes on my work. I think what works for the three of us is that we are completely different. We all bring different "filters" to the table so we know the work is being looked at from a variety of angels.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-27725935767524182532012-04-17T11:38:22.200-07:002012-04-17T11:38:22.200-07:00I know all three of your betas through their wonde...I know all three of your betas through their wonderful blogs! <br /><br />I am starting to appreciate betas SO MUCH MORE after years getting critiques chapter by chapter. You really need someone to commit to reading the whole thing.Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-1062347399048309362012-04-17T09:19:04.559-07:002012-04-17T09:19:04.559-07:00GREAT advice Lisa, and just what I needed to hear ...GREAT advice Lisa, and just what I needed to hear right now! MY WIP is due back from an editor/beta reader and I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Because I know the comments will help me take my WIP and my craft to the next level. Critiques are soooo important!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-75386574599933370472012-04-17T07:40:14.108-07:002012-04-17T07:40:14.108-07:00I can't even think about putting my work out f...I can't even think about putting my work out for public consumption without my critique partners going over it with their keen eyes. I've very lucky to have three excellent writers/editors. Seems like you're pretty lucky, too!cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-52843967241347090122012-04-16T16:47:44.017-07:002012-04-16T16:47:44.017-07:00So true! I've lucked into some excellent crit ...So true! I've lucked into some excellent crit buddies and I've learned SO much from them :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-65347759775391224182012-04-16T14:03:59.281-07:002012-04-16T14:03:59.281-07:00This is excellent! I always like to let things sin...This is excellent! I always like to let things sink in and think about them before I go any further. I find that after a bit of time to mull them over, I absorb what the critiquer was trying to say much better.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-52160910533028315652012-04-16T09:53:56.825-07:002012-04-16T09:53:56.825-07:00I've found that I learn most from beta reader-...I've found that I learn most from beta reader-type critiques too. And those views from others who aren't so heart-stitched to the story (like the writer!) can see things we can't.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-81561008500213674322012-04-16T07:38:00.105-07:002012-04-16T07:38:00.105-07:00Great post. There's nothing like a great crit ...Great post. There's nothing like a great crit partner (or two, or three!). I just blogged today about taking it up to the next level and hiring an editor. These polishing techniques are definitely a necessity in today's publishing climate! My post is here: http://heatherdaygilbert.blogspot.com/2012/04/newbie-writing-mistakes-monday-from.html. Hope you can check it out!Heather Day Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353914883176152555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-1090188480693491322012-04-16T07:34:48.844-07:002012-04-16T07:34:48.844-07:00Lisa, thanks so much for the shout out! You and Le...Lisa, thanks so much for the shout out! You and Leslie have definitely made my work MUCH stronger. You two spot things that I didn't see, even thought I'd read the thing 100 times. Your perspective is awesome, and I'm so thankful that we have each other to review our work.<br /><br />I like to read through all the comments at once, then let them marinate for a couple of days. If something stood out to you, then I need to address it. No buts about it.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-64433689497944386812012-04-16T05:44:02.518-07:002012-04-16T05:44:02.518-07:00Even if a crit just forces me to re-look at someth...Even if a crit just forces me to re-look at something (and I don't change it), it still makes the work better (because I can defend my choice there). But MOST of the time, I do have to change something! And the story is always better for it.<br /><br />Finding the right crit partners is an art all to itself - and an ongoing one! I think you need to keep adding new people to the mix, to get fresh insights.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-64412819945285213842012-04-16T05:43:51.336-07:002012-04-16T05:43:51.336-07:00I'm getting better at shifting through the hel...I'm getting better at shifting through the helpful comments and the ones that I don't agree with. At first, I took everyone's comments and tried to apply them. Yeah, that got rather rough when I received conflicting advice. I've learned to focus on my story goals and use the advice from others to help me get there.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-57581880092706861152012-04-16T05:39:06.358-07:002012-04-16T05:39:06.358-07:00That last point is so true. I've changed my mi...That last point is so true. I've changed my mind about something a critter wrote when the comment kept hitting me over the head long after I finished reading the feedback. That was my hint that the individual was right. :)Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-17955233090502752132012-04-16T05:03:58.994-07:002012-04-16T05:03:58.994-07:00Critiques aren't easy and yes they're hard...Critiques aren't easy and yes they're hard to take but 99% percent of the time they make my work stronger! Even if I don't take the advice right away I usually see the wisdom in it!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.com