Thirteen Reasons Why: By Jay Asher

[meredith_wood]

I'm not going to talk about craft in this post because there is absolutely nothing in Jay's writing techniques that resemble how I write. Except I hope to obtain such an honest nuance in my own writing

Comments

[marybethkelsey]

Your observation is right-on (oops, mean 'write-on!).

That's why I think critiquing is such a tricky thing, to be handled carefully. I do not want to inadvertently change the voice of another's work, to sound like mine!

And now I'll have to read Jay's book.

[meredith_wood]

I panic more over doing crits than I do receiving them. *G*

[lefalcone]

Spot on.

I don't anything significant to add.

[meredith_wood]

Having been half asleep when I wrote this last night, I was shocked to wake up and see it still made sense. lol. Funny, how honest we can be when talking from the heart with a mind too tired to interrupt. *G*

[lefalcone]

That's why I can't add anything -- I'm still half asleep myself.

[rosemaryinwheat]

While critiquing others' works: I will remember to check twice when I make a suggestion. Is it to improve the story and voice of the book I'm working on or is it to make it read like I would write it?

I must confess, I'm in recovery from a barrage of critiques of the latter sort. No single one would have been too awful, but coming all at once, they sent me into a spiral. I'm starting to climb out slow-and-steady

Crits are, as mentioned above, a tricky thing to do. There's so much more to a good crit than saying to the author "use only what's helpful". The attitude behind the rest can so easily counteract such assurances.

*Cate gets off the soapbox*

Sorry. I'm naturally a little touchy about this subject these days.

[meredith_wood]

Some days too many are too much and it's confusing. You get so confused you can't even decide what is the stuff you can use. 'Cause if they want that many changes, then, surely, you don't know what you're doing anyway. *G* Yep, been there too many times myself.

I rarely pay any attention to word by word or line by line anymore, but instead look at spots the reader found themselves confused and suggested stuff that made no sense to me. To me that means I messed up somewhere, just not where they think I did, so I backtrack.

I'm not above asking point blank why someone wants a change. It helps me understand where their mindset was and whether it was on the track I wanted it to be. Crits are good, but they are work all the way around.

[rosemaryinwheat]

I'm not above asking point blank why someone wants a change.

Always a good technique. Context is necessary.

I'm probably stressing too much, but I feel like I have to choose between making my book 'publishable' and making it what I wanted to write. I'm wondering if I've been trying too hard to walk that middle path and have failed to write a book that is either one.

(Sorry to whinge on your journal. I'm thinking out loud here.)

[meredith_wood]

Don't apologize. I think everyone of us goes through this. Or at least I know I do. And it just gets more confusing. I threw a right royal fit just yesterday while trying to work through a query. I mean bawling and crying because I don't know what anybody wants out of me. I can read all these agents blogs about what they want, but guess what? None of those agents have ever asked for a thing of mine, even when I did it just like they said to do it

[fandoria]

What a great post. I haven't read the book but I found myself nodding as I read your review going, yep! that's so true. Especially the part about not being afraid to step outside of the cookie cutter and be true to yourself and your story as you write.

[meredith_wood]

It is truly an amazing story--more so for the way it is crafted.

[stitchnstamp]

Critiquing is subjective at best and so are agent opinions. It also depends on what the public is interested in at the time. That said, each of you write what you need to. There will be a place for you in time. Knowing Leisa and getting to know Shea, writing comes from the heart. That kind of passion shouldn't be lost for any reason. Just do the best you can and help each other succeed. I have faith in you.

[meredith_wood]

Boy am I glad you keep this faith, cause I tell ya, we lose it often in this world or writing. *G* We need people like you out there pushing us on and letting us know it'll all be worth it in the end.