Kimberly Rose Johnson: To Work With a Critique Partner or Not

For some writers the idea of allowing anyone to read their writing is more than they are willing to do. For other writers the idea of not having at least one critique partner look over and comment on their work is unthinkable. Perhaps you love critiques and want to have as many people as possible read and critique your work or maybe you fall someplace in the middle.

I fall into the middle category—although in the beginning I spent time in each of the other categories. I currently have three critique partners, and I believe without feedback from the various writers who’ve mentored me over the years, I never would have been published. God has blessed me with wonderful mentors almost from the beginning of my writing journey and they’ve taught me with love and patience even when I didn’t want to hear that I needed to keep working.

Although the critique groups I’ve been in have changed through the years, I’ve have the privilege of having one critique partner in particular virtually from the beginning. I’ll be the first to tell you I don’t always care for what she has to say. In fact, sometimes I’m downright annoyed, but I know that she has me and my story’s best interest in mind, so I sit back and chew on what she’s said. Yes, I’ve vented to my patient hubby more than once, but after taking time to think about her comment or suggestion I begin to see her point.

That is not to say a writer must take all critique comments and incorporate them into their work—ultimately it’s your story and no one knows it better than you. What I am saying is that there is value in critiques, and we as writers should be willing to learn from the people we’ve chosen to work with.

  

We need to be open to correction and instruction and not allow our feelings to be hurt when someone doesn’t agree with us, or suggests we didn’t hit the mark. Keep in mind our critique partners are there to help make our baby the best it can be, and if there is any doubt about their motivation perhaps it’s time to find a new critique partner.

If you’ve never allowed anyone, much less another writer to see your work, I encourage you to find a trusted writer friend that will be honest and fair to give you feedback. How else will you know if what you’ve written hits the mark?

Finally, critique partners can be so much more than what the word implies. They can be prayer partners, advisors, friends, brainstorming partners, cheerleaders, and a shoulder to cry on when the rejections come. We writers live a somewhat solitary life, and we need each other for encouragement as much as for help with our writing.

About Kimberly:

Kimberly married her college sweetheart and is a graduate of Northwest University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two teenage sons and their yellow lab. Kimberly is an avid reader and loves romance, suspense and romantic suspense. She enjoys playing the piano, hiking and coffee with friends. She loves hearing from her fans. You can connect with her on her website at http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/

About Kimberly's New Release:

Susan Hill isn't ready to forgive.

The small-town CPA can't forget how Blake Mitchell jilted her and left their hometown without an explanation. But when her first love returns to Leavenworth, the ruggedly handsome writer evokes conflicting emotions, especially when Susan meets the child she assumes is his daughter.

Since his parents' deaths six years ago, Blake's been raising his little sister on his own. But he's never forgotten the woman he left behind. Now, he can't undo the past, but maybe he can change the future…if he can convince Susan to give him one more chance.

Purchase A Romance Rekindled at:

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Critique partner: Nice...or nightmare? Kimberly Rose Johnson shares her thoughts on Write Right! http://tinyurl.com/ncdevmv

Does the thought of a crit partner give you hives? Relax with Kimberly Rose Johnson  on Write Right! http://tinyurl.com/ncdevmv

Delia Latham: Critting It Right

Critiques are a literary “bread of life” to some writers. Others shudder at the thought of allowing another author to rip/tear/shred at their carefully chosen words.

To each his own.

Here’s my take on the subject. A solid critique can mean the difference in having a manuscript (which may never be seen by anyone other than the writer and the editors who reject it) or a novel (which makes the journey from writer to critique partner to writer to editor…then into print and available to readers).

I’m not here to laud the value of a critique. If your mind is made up to hate them, I doubt I could change it anyway. So this article is for those of you who, like me, wouldn’t dare send a manuscript out without your critique partner—or better yet, partners—having seen it first.

I’ll talk about giving constructive criticism. Since I’m certainly not the reigning guru, you can take or toss anything I say—just as I hope you would do if I critiqued your manuscript. Because that’s the whole idea, isn’t it? Get someone else’s take on your work. She’ll watch for typos and misspellings, sentences that don’t flow well, and inconsistencies (like your hero having blue eyes in one chapter and brown in another). She’ll also make suggestions she thinks will improve your words. The thing to remember with a critique is that, just because your crit partner makes a suggestion does not mean you must use it. It’s a suggestion. Something to consider. That’s all.

(That’s the extent of what I’ll say about receiving a critique.)

All that said, critiques can hurt. I’ve been there. So, while it’s important to be honest (otherwise, what’s the point?), it’s also important to be nice. Making the writer feel unspeakably stupid should not be your goal.

And please, please…when you read something you do like, say so! It’s like salve on an open wound to get that little nugget of praise in the middle of a chapter that’s bleeding red crit marks. It can mean the difference in leaving your critique recipient sobbing in defeat or rejuvenated and raring to do another rewrite.

Seriously…isn’t that what it’s all about?

Let’s look at some examples. For the record, I’ve been given permission to share these tidbits of critiques with you. (I won’t be sharing the writers’ names or the titles of their work.) Blue text indicates my comments and/or changes.

 Not wanting Nate the men to see her amusement, Rose busied herself with Jenny Ann, handing her the baby a piece of meat to chew on. Her hero acted like a she bear protecting her cubs when it came to her and the baby. (This sentence gets a little confusing, with three “hers” referring to two different “hers.”J  See what I mean? With the suggested changes in that first sentence, maybe this will work:

 When it came to her and Jenny, Nate behaved like a protective Mama bear with cubs. 

 Love the analogy, especially when referring to a supposedly big, bad he-man! lol)

 Not every criticism can be followed by a compliment, but when possible…by all means, do it! (Ever had your eyebrows or upper lip waxed? The sweet girl who does mine follows each painful rip of skin and hair with the firm pressure of her fingertips. It doesn’t replace the missing skin, but it sure helps relieve the sting. I try to always remember that a critique is much like the removal of unsightly facial hair. Each time I deliver a criticism to some author’s literary darling, I’ve ripped away ‘skin and hair’ and left her hurting. If I can find something to compliment, it eases the pain. Why wouldn’t I want to do that?)

Also, note the yellow highlights above. I use them to indicate repetition of any word (or form of the same word) in close proximity. Without my having to voice a single criticism, my critique partners know what they mean: You should probably rephrase, and avoid overuse of this word.

One more example. This one is taken from a synopsis, thus the “telling, not showing” style of writing.

(When? I’d insert that here. “Two years ago, Scott…”) Scott Lunsford experienced every firefighter’s nightmare when he answered a routine accident call involving a loved one. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the images of his girlfriend Julie’s shattered body out of his mind. 

Counselors recommended time off and he decided to go someplace with happier memories. His grandmother’s turn-of-the century-house has set been vacant since she passed away almost two years earlier. (Your call. Nothing wrong with “set,” it just sounds weird to my ears today. lol) Scott thinks it’s the perfect time to start renovations on the old place. But he’s not prepared for the amount of work the house needs and even less prepared for the ghostly images of Julie that show up nightly every night! 

Offering an opinion is fine, even if it isn’t necessarily a “rule” of writing. In this case, my suggestion to replace “set” with “been” is nothing more than personal taste. But that’s all right…it’s like a mini-brainstorm session. The author can take it or leave it, but it gives her something to think about.

As the one on the giving end of the critique, it’s important to remember that you’re not there to rewrite the book. Let that author keep her voice and style. Your task is to watch for several things in particular, including (but certainly not limited to):

• Typos
• Misspellings
• Inconsistencies
• Incorrect grammar
• Kinks in the flow of the storyline
• Repetitive words
• Weasel words
• Timeline issues
• Anything else that seems “iffy” or makes you backtrack/re-read.

What is most helpful to you in a critique? Or do you simply shy away from them? If so…why?

Let’s talk about it…

by Delia Latham
(c) 2012