Critting
Critiquing is a huge part of being an aspiring writer and also one of the hardest. Not only do you have to figure out your own craft, but you have to turn around and tell some other writer what they're doing right or doing wrong. This is fraught with all kinds of perils especially when- like most of us- the exchanges are all online. Not that face to face isn't hard too.
I got lucky in that I had to learn to give feedback in the day job environment so learning to give it on writing wasn't as hard. I had to learn what to crit and how, and I still struggle with finding the right things to say in the right way.
But I have learned a lot about writing that I couldn't ever have learned from a zillion "how to write" resources or from doing it myself. There's nothing like an example to show you how to do something or not to do it.
I also like to think I've sometimes been able to help out other writers, even writers a million times better than I will ever be, with my feedback.
I know that getting good crits on my own work has helped me more than anything else. My critters are invaluable and I love them all to pieces.
Yet I still talk to a lot of writers who are afraid to give a crit. Afraid of critting something they think is well written because it would be presumptuous. Afraid of critting something poorly written because it would hurt the writer's feelings.
Here's my advice: just do it.
There are lots of guidelines and templates out there for learning how to crit. Forward Motion's How to Critique is a great starting place.
Learning to write a critique in an impersonal way is hard, but think of it like an english lit paper or a book report from grade school.
"This is what happened. This is what I think it meant and why. This is why I liked it or didn't"
A helpful rule of thumb: never address the author directly or use "you" in a crit.
Of course don't tell an author something is wonderful if it needs work. You're not helping them improve.
Conversely, don't beat up on an author if you honestly know that you'd never have cared about that thing if you'd been reading the book as a reader. That's just snotty.
Remember that a crit is just an opinion and the author is asking for your opinion. Every writer has to learn to accept critique and that's their challenge.
A critter is responsible for:
Being polite and professional
Being honest
They are not responsible for the author's reaction to a crit.
Yes there are some immature and unprofessional authors out there. If you happen to encounter one who reacts negatively to feedback, just say "I'm sorry the feedback wasn't more helpful" and then steer clear of the idiot.
I always try to ask up front what a writer wants in a critique. Grammar and spelling? Suggestions on how to improve? Just reader reactions?
Also let the author know what you think you can provide. If you hate grammar, don't agree to do a line edit.
Asking helps to set the right expectations and prevents ugly misunderstandings later on.
But whatever approach you choose, definitely do it. Have the courage to write. And have the courage to crit.
I got lucky in that I had to learn to give feedback in the day job environment so learning to give it on writing wasn't as hard. I had to learn what to crit and how, and I still struggle with finding the right things to say in the right way.
But I have learned a lot about writing that I couldn't ever have learned from a zillion "how to write" resources or from doing it myself. There's nothing like an example to show you how to do something or not to do it.
I also like to think I've sometimes been able to help out other writers, even writers a million times better than I will ever be, with my feedback.
I know that getting good crits on my own work has helped me more than anything else. My critters are invaluable and I love them all to pieces.
Yet I still talk to a lot of writers who are afraid to give a crit. Afraid of critting something they think is well written because it would be presumptuous. Afraid of critting something poorly written because it would hurt the writer's feelings.
Here's my advice: just do it.
There are lots of guidelines and templates out there for learning how to crit. Forward Motion's How to Critique is a great starting place.
Learning to write a critique in an impersonal way is hard, but think of it like an english lit paper or a book report from grade school.
"This is what happened. This is what I think it meant and why. This is why I liked it or didn't"
A helpful rule of thumb: never address the author directly or use "you" in a crit.
Of course don't tell an author something is wonderful if it needs work. You're not helping them improve.
Conversely, don't beat up on an author if you honestly know that you'd never have cared about that thing if you'd been reading the book as a reader. That's just snotty.
Remember that a crit is just an opinion and the author is asking for your opinion. Every writer has to learn to accept critique and that's their challenge.
A critter is responsible for:
Being polite and professional
Being honest
They are not responsible for the author's reaction to a crit.
Yes there are some immature and unprofessional authors out there. If you happen to encounter one who reacts negatively to feedback, just say "I'm sorry the feedback wasn't more helpful" and then steer clear of the idiot.
I always try to ask up front what a writer wants in a critique. Grammar and spelling? Suggestions on how to improve? Just reader reactions?
Also let the author know what you think you can provide. If you hate grammar, don't agree to do a line edit.
Asking helps to set the right expectations and prevents ugly misunderstandings later on.
But whatever approach you choose, definitely do it. Have the courage to write. And have the courage to crit.