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Post by beckyminor on Apr 20, 2010 7:57:40 GMT -5
I'm with you , Morwena. I would so much rather hear from my peers that my work stinks than embarrass myself in "public" by sending a MS that is not ready to an editor.
I think we all feel the sting to some degree when we get a hard critique, but my work is always better for the hammering. Some of the critiques I bristled at the most when I first read them were the ones that inspired the biggest rewrites, and I think, the best changes. So yes, we do one another a favor when we dish it out, in love of course. I'm glad this writer I'm working with is of the type to say "sock it to me!" not, "you're hurting my feelings."
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ryain
Junior Member
Fantasy.... Fashion....
Posts: 90
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Post by ryain on Apr 20, 2010 21:12:00 GMT -5
Critiques are always hard. Especially if there a issue that is really, um, delicate. Recieving my first critique was okay. I just sat back and said "I can't write" and shut down my computer. The next day I started all over again. It really has helped my writing.
I think that when we give critiques be as gentle as we can. We writers are very sensitive. And point out a few good things here and there.
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Post by morganlbusse on Apr 21, 2010 6:42:09 GMT -5
Definitely Ryain! A spoonful of critique goes down so much smoother with some encouragement and things we are doing right with our manuscript
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Post by beckyminor on Apr 21, 2010 8:52:52 GMT -5
I try to subscribe to the PSP formula...praise...suggestion...praise, when I critique, by opening my comments with what I think the author is doing well, then marking the text (and sometimes a few "oooh, like thats" sneak in there), then I close out with something encouraging as well. Hopefully that makes my critiques digestible.
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Post by newburydave on Apr 24, 2010 21:11:36 GMT -5
Becky;
That's about the same approach Dr. Andrew Burt recommends over at Critters. He's got a few documents over there, on how to critique properly, and giving specific approval for what's done well is strongly emphasized.
I too felt like quitting the first time I was critiqued. I guess that proves that writers have to be resilient. You just need a calling to it that won't let you quit if you're going to succeed.
After all Jesus said, "Seek and you'll find, knock and it will be opened", somebody who knew Greek told us once that the verbs, seek and knock, were in some tense that means keep at it until you you succeed, and never give up. Like the widow and the judge.
Write on bros and sis'
SGD dave
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