I had lunch with a writer on Monday. He is considering signing up for a workshop, his first. He asked my opinion on the class, which I gave. And then I gave him my thoughts about critiques, which I decided to pass on here. Critiques, giving and getting, are part of a writer’s journey. But I have found that the road both ways can be bumpy at best, and downright dangerous at times.
Good critiques should have rules. Some that I find work well:
- If it is a verbal critique, the receiver shouldn’t speak until everyone is done (cuts down on defensiveness).
- You should include positive criticism as well.
- Negative criticism should be constructive.
- Avoid rewriting for the other writer. In my opinion, suggestions as to fixes are OK, but let her do the work herself.
These are all fairly standard. But here are some of my own rules.
Only ask for criticism from a trusted source. By trusted I don’t mean best friends or mothers, neither of whom are likely to be harsh critics in my experience. A trusted source is someone who understands what you are looking for, will work on a timeline that is helpful to you.
Respect the genre or type of writing if you are going to critique it. The same goes for the person who is going to critique your writing. They don’t have to love it, or read it regularly, but they need to respect what you are trying to do. This is particularly true if you write genre fiction (mystery, sci fi, romance, horror, etc.) Finding your writing tribe will be helpful in finding good readers. And it can be very helpful to have someone outside the genre look at it. But a literary fiction writer whose idea of genre is Pat Conroy could be a problem for your thriller with sci-fi undertones.
If someone asks for your critique, do a critique. Don’t worry about hurting feelings. Remember, you are being kind and constructive. But at the same time, help the writer make the work better by offering your honest feedback. And then offer to reread the work after the next draft is done.
Don’t get defensive. If you get the same criticism over and over, consider revising. But if you don’t agree with what someone says, disregard it. They have their opinion, and you have yours. Just make sure you aren’t being stubborn. You won’t get better at writing without feedback.
Happy writing!
Julie,
Finding the right critique group is something of a quest, I think, for a writer. Connecting with the right group of people can take some trial and error, but the effort is – I’m sure – worth it.
I have only had minimal experience with a critique group. I was lucky enough to fall in with a diverse and quirky group who bolstered my confidence while helping me hone my craft. I am no longer with the group because I determined that I’m not quite ready – I have more studying, research, and writing to do.
One thing that sometimes mired our group dialog a bit was the propensity to engage in tangential debates. We were a very informal group, and sometimes two members taking part in giving a critique would wind up getting into a spirited discussion about a concept, a technique, or some other detail. Although this kind of conversation was valuable up to a point, we often let it commandeer the overall flow of the meeting, and that was not the best choice.
For people setting up a group, I’d recommend setting up some clear boundaries about those type of side conversations. Use a timer, if necessary, to keep things moving forward. Make sure the group stays focused on helping its members improve their writing vs. becoming a campfire around which to discuss personal opinions on the craft in general. Pleasurable to be sure, but not directly beneficial.
I agree that going off into tangents can be a huge problem. I found my best experiences were with the focussed critiques where the person being critiqued can’t respond until the end. It saves on explanations and defensiveness and keeps it focussed.
I also hear you about needing to be “ready” for the group you are looking into. Very complicated stuff!
I feel very strongly about having a good critique group. After trying a few and not having the best results, I finally joined a group that writes only historical romance. I’ve grown the most here because everyone is knowledgale about the genre, eras and such. Also, the first rule established was “crit honest, but crit nice”. Until you have received a negative critique, I don’t think you realize how damaging it can be. And I don’t mean the negative of “you should rewrite this scene (or sentence, paragraph, etc) to make it a bit more clear” type of thing. But the mean type of negative that makes you want to turn away from writing forever.
I agree about the impact of a negative critique. I had an experience that froze me for a long time, which is what makes me so wary of groups now. It is great that you found like minded writers for your group. Isn’t it wonderful not to have to explain what you are trying to do, and just have the craft itself critiqued?
Julie,
These are outstanding guidelines. I especially like the point to respect the genre. I may not like romance but I can certainly critique it on plot structure and writing technique.
Another good point you made was when you critique, you do just that and you don’t try to rewrite. I think that’s a good one to grasp if you are getting or giving the critique.
I have to admit, I haven’t been in a critique group before. I recently joined one but have yet to make it to a meeting
Some people seem to thrive with critique groups while some do just fine without them, it all comes down to personal style and what makes you feel comfortable.
Thanks for posting this, definitely food for thought.
Wendy
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