Writers First Aid

Blessings or Brutality?

May 13, 2011

I took a break today from doing final revisions on a novel and picked up a little writing book called Some Writers Deserve to Starve! (31 Brutal Truths About the Publishing Industry) by Elaura Niles. I don’t find the chapters very brutal–just honest. And I agree with nearly all of them.

If you’ve been writing any length of time at all, chapters like “Putting Words on a Page Does Not Obligate Anyone to Read Them,” “All Publishers Are Not Created Equal,” and “Writing Conferences Cost Bucks” will resonate with you! Frankly, I expect there is a great deal of truth in all 31 of Ms. Niles’ chapters, but I have been spared a lot of it.

What About This One?

Two of the author’s brutal truth chapters are “Writers Rarely Help Other Writers” and “Not All Critique Groups Are Critique Groups.” Because I’ve seen what she described over the years in various groups [that didn't work for me], I believe she is right much of the time. But it also reminded me how wonderfully blessed I am to have a writer friend who DOES help me.

From time to time, I trade manuscripts with a writer friend in Australia. Her thoughtful responses in the detailed critiques have been very helpful in many areas: strengthening endings, picking up loose plot threads I had inadvertently dropped, telling me which chapters dragged, etc. I’m grateful for her honesty–which is NOT brutal.

How About You?

What has been YOUR experience with critiques and critique groups? Have they been helpful–or not so much? Is the advice good–or in such conflict that you don’t know what to believe? Give me your thoughts.

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Posted in: critique groups,publishing,support | | Comments (11)

11 Comments »

Glad you’ve got that friend in Australia! I’ve been blessed with three terrific critique groups as I’ve relocated through my writing life. The members discover that we all improve our own writing by helping each other, and so we go into critiques with detailed notes and annotated mss and discuss and debate and enthusiastically share ideas and potential solutions to ms. problems. I know not all critique groups work that way, but I think that, with some leadership, they can. When they do work, like mine have, it’s a wonderful experience for everyone. Brutality isn’t helpful. but enthusiasm, clear-eyed reading and support benefit each and every member at every meeting, whether you’re critiqueing or receiving the critique.

Comment by Elaine Marie Alphin — May 13, 2011 @ 7:52 am
I’ve had both good & bad experiences with “critique groups”. Past groups I didn’t have much luck with were in my University days… Presently I have a couple of good friends who write for fun. One journals her progress through life, especially now as she has made some tough decisions & her journals have helped her to see things objectively, some of which she has shared. My other friend writes fan fiction online. She does it as a hobby and has no goals to become published. I value both of their opinions on writing work I do as they come from 2 very different view points.
The most valuable feed back I have found has not come from groups or friends but from teachers of the craft or writing contests (sponsored by writing groups) where you can have a formal critique done by a writer & returned.
Cheers

Comment by Ally M — May 13, 2011 @ 9:34 am
Thanks for the post, Kristi. I laughed as soon as I saw that book title and put it on reserve right away at the local library.

I’ve found critique groups tremendously helpful and have had good experiences with the two I’ve been a part of. The first one was formed with writing friends, and the second one I found online.

Each one has presented challenges. For instance, who wants to be the friend who tells a friend that you believe there are serious problems with her last submission? Online can be just as difficult, since if you’ve never met a person and have only corresponded through emails, how can you judge when you’re being too direct with your critique? Gentle honesty works best, but honesty is imperative. I start with a list of the positives. Then I give my suggestions for changes I think would help.

On the receiving end, I look for common issues that everyone noticed in my writing. These definitely require close scrutiny and change. If only one person felt there was an issue in an area, I think about their suggestions and play around with possibilities that might improve it.

I owe a LOT to my critique groups!

Comment by Beth MacKinney — May 13, 2011 @ 1:36 pm
I am a newish writer (have written before just never thought of it as possible career/job) and am registered with a few writing communities and have seen the “toxic” writers out there – and the insane ones that think their first draft is perfect. It can be scary and intimidating if you don’t have quality people that support you around you. Because let’s face it, writers need support – we can be so needy.

I do have another writer friend (she is truly new to this whole writing idea) that we trade work to help each other out (that and she is a school teacher so I am thinking that puts a somewhat advantage in my corner!). Thing is, she is really good at dialogue whereas I am good with description and settings. We are able to bounce ideas off each other and have become better writers for it.

Scripture says “Iron sharpens iron and so man sharpens another man” (or woman in this case) and it is especially true for sincere writers helping each other. Thanks for your articles, they help me and thus my writing partner, out a lot.

Comment by Crysie — May 13, 2011 @ 8:02 pm
You may not always want the same kind of critique…..These days most aspiring writers are online and RWA has online and specialty chapters that can help a writer find a hospitable critique partner or group. The only reason I wasnt crushed was that I had a letter from an editor about the same piece saying she liked my first three chapters very much that I wrote with verve and emotion and that the main characters came to life beautifully. Shed requested the full manuscript.

Comment by Michael Carabini — May 14, 2011 @ 3:01 am
Maybe she writes adult books? I find children’s writers pretty generous. I’m fortunate to be in a good group. As far as conflicting advice, I use this principle: If at least two people pinpoint a spot that needs work, it does, whether or not they agree on what exactly is wrong or how to fix it. My job is to figure that out, based on their clues their comments give me.

Comment by Marcia — May 14, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
Apart from learning craft (through books, workshops, blogs, conferences, etc.) I believe that being part of a good critique group is the best thing I’ve done for my writing. When you have the gift of good critique partners AND you are willing to set aside your pride so you can listen and learn from their wisdom, it’s like taking the elevator rather than the stairs. Stairs (going it alone) will get you there eventually, but elevators (taking the journey with good critique partners) get you there quicker and with a lot more fun. Here’s to a good critique group!

Comment by Heather — May 15, 2011 @ 8:59 pm
As far as writers not helping other writers, I think that is false, at least in the children’s writing arena. We writers, at least the ones that regularly surf the web, pay it forward all the time to help each other out. With blogging, forums, twitter, and WriteOnCon, we LOVE helping each other out!

Thankfully, I’ve been blessed to be a part of a wonderful critique group. We’ve been going strong a little over a year now, with relatively low turnover from the beginning. Without them, I would not have made near the amount of gains in my writing as I have.

Comment by Christie Wild — May 16, 2011 @ 9:19 am
Overall, I believe most writers do help other writers. I’m somewhere in the lower middle of the publishing journey, since I haven’t had any books make it yet, but I don’t think I could not help others be the most they can be. They’ll probably do it eventually with or without my help. Why not have the fun of having been an encouragement. There’s way more to life than just getting someone to publish your writing. I’d feel sorry for any writer who isn’t able to think this way anymore.

Comment by Beth MacKinney — May 17, 2011 @ 9:49 am
Thanks to everyone who left a comment! I’m glad the overall experience among children’s writers is one of others being helpful. I think so too. And I think you’re savvy enough to spot a jealous person who is just knocking your writing so they feel superior (and this can be an unpublished person or someone in a power position like an editor). Run from those people–but embrace those who are encouraging and helpful.

Comment by Kristi Holl — May 18, 2011 @ 8:28 am
I’m not a big fan of writing groups. I have had a few positive experiences with them but more negative. You have to be careful since some people’s harsh critques are really about their jealousy. And if you can’t separate that–here comes the writer’s block. I found reading is the best way to learn.
So no–I don’t think writer’s groups are for everybody unless you can take what you like and be wise enough to know what to leave behind.

Comment by Melanie Van Wyhe — August 27, 2011 @ 2:57 pm