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Blogs by Tory Lynn
Are You Open to Critique? I Am... 7/26/2008 6:10:22 AM
One of the best ways to learn to become a better writer is to open yourself up to critique. I personally can not afford to pay for a professional editor to go over my manuscript line by line. Oh, how I wish I could!!!
I take advantage of my writers groups, as we exchange our works chapter by chapter. This actually helps all of us, as we don't give so much that it overwhelms anyone in the group. The people in the group help me to learn where my most common mistakes are, the ones I keep overlooking because I didn't know they were wrong??? Wow this is a great learning experience for anyone. I also enlist my on line friends who don't mind reading a short piece. Not my long manuscript that is over a hundred thousand words. But other works that are shorter, one to three pages at the most. Peoples time is very valuable and I would not want to ever assume that my work is so great that they would want to spend a whole day or week on my work. I know I could not do that for someone else, at least at this time. The short pieces are perfect.
When taking critique, and giving it. You can learn to tighten up your work. Others can point out where it is choppy and does not flow. By positive feedback you can find out if your work is on the right track, if it has a hook, if it keeps the readers interest. My grammar is terrible, I readily admit this, so I am grateful for the feedback that I get in this area especially.
You must have a thick skin. Never take any feedback you get 'personal'. This will get you in trouble. If a person is really sincere in trying to help you, they won't make their suggestions sound like a personal attack. You must know the difference. Hopefully they take the time to point out what is good about your writing also. All of us need to know if what we have written means something to someone else.
I wanted to share this because I have had good productive feedback. I can't tell you how valuable this can be.
