|
|
Post by The Voice on Jun 2, 2016 8:04:45 GMT -6
Btw, Jade, may I borrow your friend for feedback?  None of my friends can critique worth a damn. |
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 2, 2016 8:21:59 GMT -6
Oh don't worry, when I get published, no matter how small, I'm going to shout it to the rooftops!
|
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 2, 2016 8:24:52 GMT -6
Btw, Jade, may I borrow your friend for feedback? None of my friends can critique worth a damn. I would really recommend trying an online critique group. I've been having pretty good luck with Critters Workshop, although it's clear that it makes more sense if you write fantasy, science fiction, or horror. |
|
|
|
Post by The Voice on Jun 2, 2016 8:38:44 GMT -6
Btw, Jade, may I borrow your friend for feedback? None of my friends can critique worth a damn. I would really recommend trying an online critique group. I've been having pretty good luck with Critters Workshop, although it's clear that it makes more sense if you write fantasy, science fiction, or horror. I'll take a look at that although I've just joined a writing group that meets in Madison and I'm attending my first meeting on Saturday so we'll see how that goes. |
|
|
|
Post by angietrafford on Jun 2, 2016 9:13:36 GMT -6
A friend of mine gave me critique once, and it wasn't really critique…
Basically, he told me that he didn't like my antagonist which is kind of the point of an antagonist! It wasn't as though he was telling me that he wasn't written very well, he was saying that I had no idea how much he hated him at that moment because of what he had done.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 2, 2016 10:29:47 GMT -6
A friend of mine gave me critique once, and it wasn't really critique… Basically, he told me that he didn't like my antagonist which is kind of the point of an antagonist! It wasn't as though he was telling me that he wasn't written very well, he was saying that I had no idea how much he hated him at that moment because of what he had done. Maybe he meant it as a compliment? Or was he confused about whether this character was actually supposed to be the good guy? |
|
|
|
Post by angietrafford on Jun 3, 2016 8:27:39 GMT -6
He knew full well that Warren was not meant to be any thing nice. In the end I took it as a compliment because it just went to show that I was achieving what I wanted :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 3, 2016 8:31:18 GMT -6
He knew full well that Warren was not meant to be any thing nice. In the end I took it as a compliment because it just went to show that I was achieving what I wanted :-) Makes sense to me. "Argh, I hate your bad guy, he's so BAD!" sounds like a compliment to me. |
|
|
|
Post by angietrafford on Jun 3, 2016 9:06:39 GMT -6
Somebody else told me during this story a day challenge (when I wrote a scene from my work in progress) was a great antagonist he was. That was one very proud me!
|
|
Jade
Junior Member
"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."
Posts: 63 
|
Post by Jade on Jun 8, 2016 19:02:55 GMT -6
Btw, Jade, may I borrow your friend for feedback? None of my friends can critique worth a damn. LOL none of my friends can critique worth a damn either...except my one best friend, and that's only because 1) she's a huge bookworm, and reads lots of different genres, which is great because I write in different genres and 2) she actually gives a damn about my writing. That being said, I'm sure she'll make an exception for you  Feel free to send along my way anything you'd like us to read. You'll get two pairs of eyes (mine and hers) for the price of one critique! I would really recommend trying an online critique group. I've been having pretty good luck with Critters Workshop, although it's clear that it makes more sense if you write fantasy, science fiction, or horror. I'll take a look at that although I've just joined a writing group that meets in Madison and I'm attending my first meeting on Saturday so we'll see how that goes. Ooh, definitely give us the details on that writing group! Online critique groups sound like a great idea but since I don't have any manuscripts for anyone to read yet, I haven't joined on. I've always loved the idea of critique groups and writing retreats and things. Seems like such a great way to get the creative juices flowing  |
|
|
|
Post by The Voice on Jun 8, 2016 19:29:18 GMT -6
That being said, I'm sure she'll make an exception for you Feel free to send along my way anything you'd like us to read. You'll get two pairs of eyes (mine and hers) for the price of one critique! Nice! I'll take you up on that. Ooh, definitely give us the details on that writing group! Online critique groups sound like a great idea but since I don't have any manuscripts for anyone to read yet, I haven't joined on. I've always loved the idea of critique groups and writing retreats and things. Seems like such a great way to get the creative juices flowing I meet this Saturday with the group for my first meeting. I still haven't read the material we're covering so I need to get my butt in gear. It sounds like this group is pretty hardcore when it comes to critique, so I'm hoping they'll tear my stuff to pieces and help me put it back together in a stronger, better body. |
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 8, 2016 21:03:02 GMT -6
Having a group that's hardcore and really critiques is important. I'm feeling pretty disillusioned with one of my two in-person groups, that I just can't seem to bring back former members or attract new ones who are any good. So I end up getting pretty weak critiques on my own chapters and --even worse, it feels like -- taking a lot of time and care to give thorough feedback that I don't think they take seriously, so it won't make a difference. It's frustrating.
I've only gotten one story back from Critters Workshop, although I'm expecting another one in a week or two. I got some really good critiques, some really horrible rude critiques, and several brief and mostly useless critiques. But the really good critiques were worth wading through the crap for. I've found that when I give really thorough and careful critiques of other Critters' stories, mostly I just get a "thanks" (or no response at all; jerks), but some people responded with real
appreciation, and made an effort to look up my story and give me a thorough critique when it was my turn.
|
|
Jade
Junior Member
"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."
Posts: 63
|
Post by Jade on Jun 9, 2016 10:13:42 GMT -6
Having a group that's hardcore and really critiques is important. I'm feeling pretty disillusioned with one of my two in-person groups, that I just can't seem to bring back former members or attract new ones who are any good. So I end up getting pretty weak critiques on my own chapters and --even worse, it feels like -- taking a lot of time and care to give thorough feedback that I don't think they take seriously, so it won't make a difference. It's frustrating. I've only gotten one story back from Critters Workshop, although I'm expecting another one in a week or two. I got some really good critiques, some really horrible rude critiques, and several brief and mostly useless critiques. But the really good critiques were worth wading through the crap for. I've found that when I give really thorough and careful critiques of other Critters' stories, mostly I just get a "thanks" (or no response at all; jerks), but some people responded with real appreciation, and made an effort to look up my story and give me a thorough critique when it was my turn. I know exactly what you mean! From experience, I've had people - strangers & friends - who I've asked to critique my work and I've found that alot of people either don't care enough about my story to really read through it and so I get superficial critiques (great plot! love this character! - Ok I'm glad you do, but WHAT makes the plot great? WHY do you love this character? CAN YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING TO WORK WITH HERE GOSH DARN IT), or they care but they're afraid to hurt my feelings so I get roundabout beating-around-the-bush critiques (So I think the plot is a little cliche but it's good, you know, I mean that's why authors keep using it, because the cliches sell, right? but yeah it is a little predictable but not a bad predictable you know! ~> ...What.) Finding people who are hardcore and who will, like Chris mentioned in an earlier comment, really rip that manuscript to shreds and then lovingly piece it back together into a tighter, better story, is so rare, but so important. Maybe the combined hardcore-ness of all of our respective critiques here can merge into one SUPER HARDCORE CRITIQUE BEAST. |
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 9, 2016 13:38:38 GMT -6
I know what you mean, Jade. So many people give such brief, superficial critiques that I feel like I have to preface mine with a warning not to freak out that it's detailed. I think a lot of people assume I must hate their piece because I have so much criticism, or like I'm just trying to be mean. No way -- if I hated the piece I wouldn't bother spending so much time and energy trying to help you make it better, I'd just blow it off! Grr!
|
|
|
|
Post by Joy Pixley on Jun 9, 2016 14:40:30 GMT -6
Speaking of hardcore critiques... Remember I said I was in an online critique group? Well, despite tons of rules and reminders to be polite and constructive, sometimes the other folks can be pretty dang mean. So here it is, my BIRTHDAY, and it just so happens that my story got submitted today. Which means I'm getting critiques already.
I've decided I don't want to risk getting grumpy and bummed out on my birthday by reading rude crap, so I'm resisting opening any of the emails. Which is a good idea anyway -- let several of them come in, then if one or two are bad at least there's a chance another one will be more positive.
But it's SOOOO hard not to look!
|
|
Feel free to send along my way anything you'd like us to read. You'll get two pairs of eyes (mine and hers) for the price of one critique!