Critique and critique groups part V

This is the very last post about critiques! I promise!

And it is a word of caution about showing your work to family and friends. It's very tempting to do this. For one thing, everyone wants to know why you spend so many hours a day holed up in a tiny room going clickety-clack instead of hanging out with them. They want to read your Pulitzer Prize winning novel-to-be.

RESIST!

Why? Because they have high expectations. They know how smart and funny you are in person, and they expect to be wowed by what you write. But chances are, your Pulitzer Prize winning novel won't see the light of day for a few more years. And your family and friends might be a bit disappointed in your starter-novel.

Friends and family have great sway over us. It's much easier to dismiss the comments of an obnoxious critique group member than of someone we love. Besides, critique group members submit themselves to critique each week, too, so they tend to be more careful about how they phrase things.

IF YOU MUST show your work to someone you love, have them read the Critique Group Code of Conduct in advance, and sign it in blood.

Have I followed my own advice?

Not really. (Which could explain many of my nervous tics).

Critiques and critique groups part IV

A noted published author in Northern New Mexico doesn't like critique groups. He once said, "Whenever I come home after going to a critique group, I feel like hanging myself."

Now I know what you're thinking. Lauren must be a terrible writer to have such a dark view of critique.

But in my defense, I have a very thin skin and a long memory. In fact, I remember every last negative things said about my writing over the past ten years, in rapid-fire chronological order.

But really, I'm not down on critique at all. In fact, without critique, I might still be the writer I was ten years ago (needs improvement). Several talented and diplomatic writers have helped me see how to take my writing to the next level. One critique partner recognized a Shakespearean angle to my story idea, and that sparked the current incarnation of My Invented Life. (Thank you Ellie, Kimber, Jean-Marie, Miriam, and many others for all that you've done).

If the whole group thing doesn't float your boat, consider one on one manuscript exchange with someone you trust.

I say go for critique, but consider all the feedback carefully, and don't take it too personally, DISCARD what doesn't feel right and LISTEN to the rest.

If I didn't dare put myself out there, I wouldn't have gotten an amazing letter from John Nichols after he read My Invented Life. I called it my "love letter" and read it over and over when I'm feeling discouraged about writing.

Critiques and critique groups - part III

Getting a critique by and editor or agent at a conference is a great opportunity to meet people with experience in the world of publishing. The critiques can be HELPFUL even (but not always).

My first professional critique happened at an SCBWI conference in Honolulu. The editor, Michael Stearn, was with Harcourt at the time.  He told me to get into my main character's head more, and explained about the POV third-person close. After that, I read other books with POV in mind and learned a lot.

Sadly, sometimes writers leave their conference critiques near tears, and have to take refuge in a bathroom stall. (This has only happened to me two times, three at the most.)

So before your critique, enjoy the fantasy of the editor handing you a book contract, But lower your expectations at tad for the actual event. After all...

Editors are real people, and like other real people, their tastes vary considerably.

Editors at conferences critique MANY writers in a single day.

Editors have only the first few pages of your mss, and for many writers, those are the HARDEST pages to write.

At a conference not so long ago, an editor told me that I had NO VOICE. I was devastated. Luckily Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down. This was her opinion about My Invented Life. Yes, the very same YA novel that will soon be published. The same novel my agent said she found so funny, she slowed herself down to savor every word.

Uh oh.  Did I just toot my own horn? Pretend you didn't read the last part.

And the point is...trust that someone will recognize the quality of your writing. Keep putting it out there.

Critiques and critique groups part II

So you're in a critique group. Hooray!

But what do you do about the person who spends a half an hour lecturing you on how you position the word "said" in a sentence.  For example: "Kith me," said Pierced-tongue girl  vs.  "Kith me," Pierced-tongue girl said?

How do you respond to the person who says, "I'm sure there is some way WE can salvage your story."

(These examples are based on incidents that may have actually occurred, but let's pretend they are made up.) 

Answer: 

When person A begins repeating himself, interrupt (politely, of course) and say, "Thank you for the information. I will think about it."

When person B drops her bomb, ask for the specific things that bother her about your manuscript. Listen politely while mentally reviewing everything that sucks about HER mss. Just joking (sort of).

If there are two people in your group that give useful feedback, listen to them and ignore the others!

You can set ground rules so that no one dominates the critique session. You can create a reminder sheet about how to give critiques, eg. make SPECIFIC instead of GENERAL comments.

Note: I still remember the time person C called my main character shrill. (BTW, that is a general comment.)  So, I asked for specifics. The specifics showed me that person C found my MCs thoughts overly dramatic, which clarified the issue for me.

Over the years, I've received helpful feedback by the truckload...but for some reason the negative feedback resonates in the echo chamber for a long time.

So...phrase your comments on other people's manuscripts very carefully.

The SCBWI website has a comprehensive how-to on critique groups. 

Critiques and critique groups part I

When the author of two award winning picture books agreed to critique my middle-grade novel, Vanessa the Contessa, I was thrilled. Sure, my audience was 10-13 year old girls, not middle-aged men. But ANY critique is good, especially one from a PUBLISHED author, right?

Hint: the correct answer starts with a W.

When I got my manuscript back, I scanned through, ready to learn from the master. His comments were sparse, but he'd scrawled a few words at the end, and they made an impression on me. I quote. "Shallow people dumping on shallow people = enlightenment?"

After the "critique" sunk in, I stomped around for a good hour, muttering to myself as I cleaned the house.

*Warning: cute toddler story ahead*

Later that day, my two year old son shared his feelings about the critique. "Shallow people dumping on shallow people makes Mommy mad."

I laughed, and eventually recovered from the critique. Maybe it thickened my thin skin just a little (but I doubt it).

Do you really need to hear the moral to that story?

More thoughts on critiques to follow.

 

And my point is...

All beginning writers make mistakes.  Let me rephrase that...all beginning writers named Lauren Bjorkman make mistakes.  All other writers are perfect. (If you're one of those perfect writers, you can stop reading right now.)

I mean it. Stop.

So one of my blog goals (besides making fun of myself) is to help writers avoid the pitfalls I fell headlong into AND to announce the things I did right.

WHAT I DID RIGHT (blare of trumpet)...

I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Then I found a critique group through the Honolulu chapter. I went to SCBWI conferences and workshops.

But...(there is still a little mistaKe in there)... I waited until my novel was almost finished before finding a group.

The advice moment is upon us. Duck! 

If you haven't already, join a writing group immediately.  If the first one doesn't work out, drop out and join another, and if that doesn't work out, then drop out and join another. And if THAT doesn't work out...it could be that YOU are the problem (just kidding) (maybe).

And my point is...writing groups don't always work out. But when they do, they can propel your writing to new heights, so don't give up.