Comments on: Good critique is hard to find http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/ Patricia C. Wrede talks about writing Tue, 21 May 2013 04:03:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: pcwrede http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-2108 pcwrede Sun, 16 May 2010 14:14:19 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-2108 Esther - Being friendly with an author works, if what you want is to become a beta-reader; so does hanging out on writing boards, forums, communities, etc. where people are occasionally looking for new beta-readers. <a href="http://www.critters.org/about.ht" rel="nofollow">Critters </a>is set up specifically for people to trade critique (and I don't think you have to actually write in order to comment), and Baen's Bar over at the Baen Books website has a whole section for reader comments on their actual slush. Or, if you have the temperament for it, starting an online fanzine to edit and publish other people's fiction can attract would-be writers with similar interests (and doesn't cost much to produce and distribute, which is usually a consideration with paper 'zines). Esther – Being friendly with an author works, if what you want is to become a beta-reader; so does hanging out on writing boards, forums, communities, etc. where people are occasionally looking for new beta-readers. Critters is set up specifically for people to trade critique (and I don’t think you have to actually write in order to comment), and Baen’s Bar over at the Baen Books website has a whole section for reader comments on their actual slush. Or, if you have the temperament for it, starting an online fanzine to edit and publish other people’s fiction can attract would-be writers with similar interests (and doesn’t cost much to produce and distribute, which is usually a consideration with paper ‘zines).

]]> By: Esther http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-2107 Esther Sun, 16 May 2010 05:12:25 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-2107 Not quite, I have a learning disability so the "writing" I am bad at is the of act of transcribing thoughts(or sound)to written form. The finished result is usually perfectly acceptable. Heck, I've even had two poems published and a letter printed in Astonishing X-Men! So even 'tho I am capable of writing, the process is literally painful and I usually only attempt it when there is an idea that INSISTS on being written down. As much as I would love to write the flood of ideas in my head, it ain't happening. Drawing is a painless way to get my ideas down - but even with classes my skill is about at "recognizable". And that is a loooong way from professional. Video seems to fit my idea/skills best and I currently looking into it. *sigh* I always had a dream of writing some of the books I loved and its a dream that dies hard. .... How does one become a beta-reader anyway? Have the good luck to be friends with an author? Not quite, I have a learning disability so the “writing” I am bad at is the of act of transcribing thoughts(or sound)to written form. The finished result is usually perfectly acceptable. Heck, I’ve even had two poems published and a letter printed in Astonishing X-Men!

So even ‘tho I am capable of writing, the process is literally painful and I usually only attempt it when there is an idea that INSISTS on being written down. As much as I would love to write the flood of ideas in my head, it ain’t happening. Drawing is a painless way to get my ideas down – but even with classes my skill is about at “recognizable”. And that is a loooong way from professional. Video seems to fit my idea/skills best and I currently looking into it.

*sigh* I always had a dream of writing some of the books I loved and its a dream that dies hard.

….

How does one become a beta-reader anyway? Have the good luck to be friends with an author?

]]> By: pcwrede http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-2103 pcwrede Sat, 15 May 2010 12:32:21 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-2103 Esther - Writing is a craft, as well as an art, and it's a craft that is very difficult to judge for oneself. Which is to say that 1) you may not be nearly as bad a writer as you seem to think you are, and 2) even if you are as bad as you think, you can almost certainly learn how if you put in the time and effort. There are very few people (if any) who sit down, start typing, and sell their first product. Esther – Writing is a craft, as well as an art, and it’s a craft that is very difficult to judge for oneself. Which is to say that 1) you may not be nearly as bad a writer as you seem to think you are, and 2) even if you are as bad as you think, you can almost certainly learn how if you put in the time and effort. There are very few people (if any) who sit down, start typing, and sell their first product.

]]> By: Esther http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-2100 Esther Sat, 15 May 2010 06:49:18 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-2100 Huh..... apparently I'm actually really good at critiquing and its a useful skill! (Now maybe I'll feel better about not being able to write) Huh….. apparently I’m actually really good at critiquing and its a useful skill! (Now maybe I’ll feel better about not being able to write)

]]> By: Meg Justus http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-2003 Meg Justus Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:17:18 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-2003 I notice that several people posted here looking for beta readers. I am looking, too. Would anyone be interested in swapping and critting? I write historical fiction with romantic and fantasy elements set in the American west (which sounds a lot like Pat's recent lovely book, but isn't). I notice that several people posted here looking for beta readers. I am looking, too. Would anyone be interested in swapping and critting?

I write historical fiction with romantic and fantasy elements set in the American west (which sounds a lot like Pat’s recent lovely book, but isn’t).

]]> By: Dana Sherwood http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-1960 Dana Sherwood Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:38:55 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-1960 Definitely with you on the not wanting specific suggestions on how to fix something. Mainly, I want to know at what point their interest in the story started to flag or they had trouble making sense of what was going on. I don't even need them to come up with reasons why -- just a general location of where it happened is fine. For my current project, I'm keeping my beta readers' powder dry by not having them read multiple versions. I need their eyes to be as sharp as possible for this, and reading the same chapters repeatedly dulls that edge. The downside, of course, is that I may be writing a total snoozefest and won't find out until late in the game. But I'm gambling that it will be fixable. :-) Definitely with you on the not wanting specific suggestions on how to fix something. Mainly, I want to know at what point their interest in the story started to flag or they had trouble making sense of what was going on. I don’t even need them to come up with reasons why — just a general location of where it happened is fine.

For my current project, I’m keeping my beta readers’ powder dry by not having them read multiple versions. I need their eyes to be as sharp as possible for this, and reading the same chapters repeatedly dulls that edge.

The downside, of course, is that I may be writing a total snoozefest and won’t find out until late in the game. But I’m gambling that it will be fixable. :-)

]]> By: Cara http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-1959 Cara Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:59:15 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-1959 I think the hardest part about finding someone to help critique is locating a reader who knows how to be both supportive AND critical. When you're doing it in person and they can see your face, most people can figure out when they need to start being supportive, but online (or with my dad, who is an excellent writer and editor but terribly judgmental and critical) or even in writing there's often the 'give up and never write again' satiation point. But the reccommenders are completely useless when you know there's a problem but can't work out where it is. Right now I have one of those very analytical people, one appreciator, and one fellow writer who is so unreliable about getting back with criticism that I have no idea what her criticism is like. My mom helps me talk things out when I'm stuck, and I do the same when she is, but I don't really have a plot-noodler right now. I like suggestions, if only because it spurs my backbrain into seeing why they won't work and starting to spit out things that might. Critiquing really is a great skill to have. I miss doing it as well as getting it. I need to find someone I can trade with. It's funny about how everyone is bringing up their families. The worst thing about living in a family of writers is when the 'hating everything you've planned out and written' stage hits at the same time. It gets ugly. I think the hardest part about finding someone to help critique is locating a reader who knows how to be both supportive AND critical. When you’re doing it in person and they can see your face, most people can figure out when they need to start being supportive, but online (or with my dad, who is an excellent writer and editor but terribly judgmental and critical) or even in writing there’s often the ‘give up and never write again’ satiation point. But the reccommenders are completely useless when you know there’s a problem but can’t work out where it is.

Right now I have one of those very analytical people, one appreciator, and one fellow writer who is so unreliable about getting back with criticism that I have no idea what her criticism is like. My mom helps me talk things out when I’m stuck, and I do the same when she is, but I don’t really have a plot-noodler right now. I like suggestions, if only because it spurs my backbrain into seeing why they won’t work and starting to spit out things that might.

Critiquing really is a great skill to have. I miss doing it as well as getting it. I need to find someone I can trade with.

It’s funny about how everyone is bringing up their families. The worst thing about living in a family of writers is when the ‘hating everything you’ve planned out and written’ stage hits at the same time. It gets ugly.

]]> By: S. A. Cox http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-1956 S. A. Cox Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:10:30 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-1956 MY but this is true. Carmen, you are one very lucky human being. One of my younger sisters is my One True Critiquer/plot-noodler, but the rest of the family is too busy to have time for much except enjoying the bits which are already together. Which is wonderful, but not as helpful as more plot-noodling or critiquing would be. I do know that it is possible to look for critiquers outside of my family, but the same introversion which makes me happy to spend hours alone writing is somewhat of a stumbling block when I am trying to find someone else to play writing with. The book club member advice rings true, though, and usually book club people are not scary at all. Perhaps I shall go write a couple of emails. MY but this is true.

Carmen, you are one very lucky human being. One of my younger sisters is my One True Critiquer/plot-noodler, but the rest of the family is too busy to have time for much except enjoying the bits which are already together. Which is wonderful, but not as helpful as more plot-noodling or critiquing would be.

I do know that it is possible to look for critiquers outside of my family, but the same introversion which makes me happy to spend hours alone writing is somewhat of a stumbling block when I am trying to find someone else to play writing with. The book club member advice rings true, though, and usually book club people are not scary at all. Perhaps I shall go write a couple of emails.

]]> By: Miss Clark http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-1952 Miss Clark Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:37:30 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-1952 This really helps me, as an amateur book reviewer, to think about how I explain why I disliked books and to try and be more specific. Thank you! This really helps me, as an amateur book reviewer, to think about how I explain why I disliked books and to try and be more specific. Thank you!

]]> By: Carmen http://pcwrede.com/blog/good-critique-is-hard-to-find/comment-page-1/#comment-1949 Carmen Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:37:47 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=514#comment-1949 I guess I really lucked out! My whole family reads and discusses books all the time, so when I started writing I had at least 4 family members ready and willing to critique, and I've "trained" my younger brother to critique rather than recommend. Thanks for helping me understand how fortunate I've been! I guess I really lucked out! My whole family reads and discusses books all the time, so when I started writing I had at least 4 family members ready and willing to critique, and I’ve “trained” my younger brother to critique rather than recommend. Thanks for helping me understand how fortunate I’ve been!

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