Taking a Critique on the Chin

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

This is the tale of how I eased myself, ever so gently, into the world of critique. And how critique has become an indispensable tool.

For two years now I’ve been hammering away on my book.What began as a tiny seed of a story sprouted into a notebook filled with scribbles. Then I actually put my fingers to a keyboard and, Viola! – I wrote the first ten pages of my novel.I thought they were pretty good (SPOILER: they needed lots of work) but I was craving another opinion. Now what?

Enter the world of Critique

Family! Okay, so I started with baby steps. The first person I showed was a cousin of mine. We wrote stories together when we were kids. I got some encouraging words: “Some parts are really good, nice description!” Thank you, Nate! That was exactly what I needed.

I pushed forward. I wrote chapters. I wanted more feedback. Maybe I should explore other avenues beyond Cousin Nate? After all, if I want to be published, I am going to have to show my pages to non-relatives.

Writing Group #1

I joined a local writing group in Sioux Falls. And though many of us wrote in different genres, I met people wired like me. Everyone battled the same affliction— the inability to turn off our wandering, creative minds! Recognize this? -- Those whispers that come to you at night that only go away once they’ve been written down?

We’d read our pieces out loud. My voice shook the first time and after a load of helpful suggestions, I left that night feeling inspired and ready to work. And work I did. I was getting pretty far along on my first draft.

Professional Conference Critique

A pamphlet came in the mail. There was an upcoming writing conference in Black Hills, South Dakota. Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) had an impressive group of speakers lined up. I knew I had to go. There was also an opportunity to have your first ten pages critiqued. Did I dare? I was already going to the conference, and if I was driving five hours anyway, why not have a published author, an editor or agent look at my work?

The conference arrived. My critique would be given by none other than Alexandra Penfold, editor at Simon and Schuster Publishing. Cue the flip-flopping stomach and regrets of drinking that third cup of coffee! I made the mistake of glancing over the pages I’d submitted. Ugh. My “polished words” morphed before my eyes into amateur ramblings. My throat went dry and I wondered how I’d talk. Could I just nod my way through?

They called my name and I sat across the table from Ms. Penfold. First – she was so nice! And she doled out the best advice I’ve ever received. Real, book changing stuff. My novel started with my protagonist sulking. Ms. Penfold suggested I start my story in a point of action. –Why not start my novel with the event my protagonist was sulking about? *Forehead Slap!* Best of all, at no point did she hint I should step away from the laptop and consider knitting. She even gave me a compliment on my writing style. When I walked away from the table I actually felt good. Again, critique inspired, not deterred.

The OWLs – Osceola Writing League

A year or so after my 1^st conference critique I moved to Florida. I joined a new writing group, completely dedicated to children’s writing. A collection of writers, that I quickly discovered, were leaps and bounds ahead of me in technique, experience and the art of giving a good critique.

This wonderful group gave me my first, truly gut-wrenching critique. My chapter was too long— sixteen pages for a Middle Grade? Seriously? Also my voice was weak. Ouch. Way too many “be” verbs. Too many “saidisms.” Say what? But there was also positive stuff. I had some nice descriptive passages. Colorful characters, good dialogue. I was told, “It’s because there is potential here that we are being so critical.”

I nodded, sat back and listened to how they critiqued each other’s work. So much time and thought had gone into these crits. The bruises I felt about my first critiqued pages faded with this realization: These guys were good. They were going to help me and that is what I wanted.

Stronger writing, stronger backbone.

Bottom line: Critique is invaluable, though sometimes it can sting. But if you can handle it, your work will be better for it. And those compliments sure feel good when you get them. Your goal is to craft the strongest manuscript possible. The chapters I've worked through with my critique group are much stronger. Also, critiquing their work in return exercises my brain in a whole new way. This all helps me in the end.

----Rina