Be specific about the kind of feedback you want. State what you want and when you want it, and be as clear as possible. This is important because if you give your critique partners little-to-no direction, then their comments will likely reflect this. For example, if you’re uncertain about your dialogue, then ask them if your dialogue works. You could even ask something as vague as, ‘I know something isn’t working in this scene, but I don’t know what it might be’. Note: don’t ask for your partners to look for too many things. A giant list of questions about your work will only overwhelm them.
State the genre and the target market. Don’t let your critique partners go in blind when you hand over your manuscript. It’s important they know what genre and market you are aiming for. What may work for a crime novel, may not work for a fantasy. Likewise, what may work for adult fiction, may not work for young adult. Knowing these details about your story will help your critique partners focus their comments.
Be specific about when you want the feedback. Be sure to give your critique partners plenty of time to go through your manuscript without rushing. However, without setting a finish date, you could be waiting a long time.
Nurture open communication. This is so you can easily clarify any comments your critique partners make. A relationship between writer and critiquer is far stronger if both parties feel comfortable with each other. There’ll be a better chance of gaining truthful comments, not comments the critiquer thinks the writer wants to hear.
Use more than one critique partner. Three critique partners will give you a clearer overview of your work than just one. What one person doesn’t like in your manuscript, two others may love. When there is a conflict in the feedback, I tend to go with the majority.
Approach your feedback with an open mind. Sometimes writers won’t recognize fantastic feedback because deep down they don’t want to hear their baby needs more work. While critiques are simply opinions, if you’ve picked your partners well, then most of those opinions will be educated. It’s worth listening to them. This doesn’t mean you should treat those opinions or suggestions like the law. Weigh everything you hear and then decide for yourself whether you agree, but do it with an open mind.
Do you struggle to get helpful feedback?
57 comments:
I'm specific, I give them a date, and I use three critique partners - score!
Yes, they get a list of what I want and where I think I am currently sucking.
Never had problems with the feedback. Almost all of it is spot-on. One of my critique partners always has great ideas, so I keep bouncing things off him as I'm working on edits.
And snark is always appreciated!
Excellent tips, Lynda! Communication with critters goes such a long way. The last two tips are particularly helpful. Don't view critter feedback as the final word on your story. That helps with the open mindedness, I've found. :-)
Thanks for this now. Today I just attended my first critique group here in PA and I'm excited to hear from them.
Excellent tips! I agree that at least a couple people need to review your work--with three, you get a tie breaker, LOL!
Being specific also is key.
Excellent advice, Lynda. I always struggle with this.
I think it's a great idea to give specifics when asking someone to read your manuscript. I don't think I usually do this unless I have one specific question. These days, my manuscript is omniscient YA, so I'll be asking critique partners if it works or they think I'm smoking something.
While I used to use the same critique partners, I find it varies now. Anyone who has ever helped me had made my manuscripts stronger, even if some of the feedback was hard to hear at the time.
(P.S. You are an awesome critique partner!)
It helps if you're having a problem and tell your cp's and/or editor, so they can help you make it less sucky. :)
Working together over time also improves the relationship and the feedback.
Terrific advice, Lynda, particularly using several CPs/betas and being open about communication. I don't usually tell my CPs what to look for. I'm curious what will stick out to them. Great post! :-)
It's interesting, I just got some feedback from someone, and I really didn't appreciate just how right he was about a couple of things until I did the rewrite and tried his ideas on for size. But this was from someone with whom I've developed a strong level of trust when it comes to the writing. We talk books and writing a lot, and I think he knows he can pretty much argue with me about anything and I won't get mad or tune him out. And vice versa.
I believe in using more than one critique partner. It helps to get a second or third opinion.
Great list of how to make sure your crit partners are on the same page with you! And you for them. Sometimes if they don't say what they're looking for I worry that I missed it.
Wonderful tips, Lynda. There are six of us in my crit group. And we give each other 2 weeks to critique 20 pages of each others' work.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I agree with you Lynda. Sometimes we know our story so well we forget to give our CPs enough info to give us the best critique. Thanks for stressing that point. I recently made this mistake and the feedback stung a little. Ouch! Mainly because the person didn't know the synopsis of the book.
I went across to check out the free copy, but due to writing commitments which begin with 'N' I can't do a review in that time frame. I will certainly be buying/reviewing it for you all later. I want to review so many blogger friends' books that I'm reading/have read.
Denise
Hi Lynda, I find your posts very helpful and if you will please help me improve my writing, I will be very grateful. I will be very happy if you will be my critic. I want to write short stories. I don't know how to put it but I really feel that you can help me a lot.
Anticipating your positive response.
Lynda, thanks for these wonderful tips. I've actually bookmarked this post so that I can use it as a guideline for future when I actually find some partners. I really like the advice of having three partners.
There are some things in this list that I should have done ahead of giving my novel to a guy who works in editing to critique, as he told me when giving feedback ;)
Great advice. Our writing group has recently progressed to the stage of critiquing. It helps that we've already built up a close relationship over the year so we trust each other with our tender hearts :)
and you should pay your critic partners if you want a nice and glorious feedback :PPPP
I find it hard to gage my own work, so I hesitate to give specific details on what I need. Nevertheless, all the advice I've had has been great. I had four CPs on my recent WIP, and they were pretty much united in pointing out the problems, which was a fantastic help!
I find reciprocation works well in critting. I prefer to swap a few chapters at a time on a weekly basis. It's give and take.
Thanks for the great reminders, Lynda. I just left the critique group I had attended for the last 2-1/2 years. (We were all just going in different directions.) I plan on taking a bit of a break, but I still have my BCP (Best Crit Partner)to run things by. ^_^
Thanks for the great advice Lynda. Recently we were involved in some critiquing and the writer was hurt. Now I make a point of contacting the writer and getting her point of view, her notes before starting on an editorial project.
Nas
Excellent post. My CPs have different strengths, and this really helps with my writing.
That's so wonderful, Terri! I hope the group is a great match for you.
I try to stick to the same ones because I understand where their comments are coming from. Makes it easier to weigh the suggestions. But of course it's not always possible, so yes, I occasionally branch out.
Thanks, Theresa :)
absolutely! That's a great a point about working over time to improve the relationship and thus the feedback.
It's that kind of relationship which makes a good critique partnership.
If I don't know the synopsis of the story, then I'll either ask or put conditions on my comments eg If this is meant to be a paranormal romance, then... etc.
And yes, it's a crazy busy time of year. I hope your 'N' is going well ;)
And thanks so much for the offer of a review later down the track. You're awesome.
Hi Nobu, unfortunately I'm super busy at the moment with many committments. Perhaps in January, when my workload eases, you can send me an email with this request, including the type of stories you like to write (the genre and your target market), and I'll give you an answer.
lol, Dezzy. What do I do if I want them to rip my story apart? ;)
I hope you find another crit group soon.
Yes! Reciprocation works really well in critiquing.
pay them too but in Monopoly money :)
Since I'm still making my way around to blogs following my beach trip, I backed up and read the first critique partner post, too. Both are filled with great information. Good series :)
Great tips. I look for an overall critique, but I'll also be specific at times. Sometimes I get a nagging sensation that my plot or characters need work and I'll voice those concerns to my CPs hoping for suggestions in those areas. I also have more than one CP and I usually ask if they're able to give feedback within a month.
Such great advice! I think that being open to comments and suggestions is the biggest leap. If our partners are taking the time to help us, it's important that we consider everything they say!
Thank you very much Lynda.
hahahahaha! I'll have to start collecting monopoly money
I love the picture you posted. I have missed seeing your photography! Communication is key for any relationship and clearly stating what you want from your critique partners is very sound advise. It is not always easy to do but the pay off is well worth it.
I have 2 crit partners. I need to ask them specific questions (though both are pretty thorough in their critiques). Next time round I will be more specific with what I want them to critique (plot points, character arcs, pacing etc)
great tips! Asking for specifics is important if you want helpful feedback. And having reliable critique partners is a must for every writer who wishes to get published. :)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
You're advice is spot on, Lynda! I am an extreme advocate for CPs and all the good they can do for us writers. I had many for The Mistaken. Only 2 were real stinkers. And 3 were so phenomenal, I will use them forever!
Oh, and, thank you so very much for featuring The Mistaken as a new release! That is so sweet and generous of you!!
I would love to work with three... But I seem to only find two crit partners to work with each time. Great tips asian. Xx
*as usual* ahem... iPad typo
Great tips, ma'am. Thank you so much. I'll keep them in mind. And that Dezmond is one funny dude. (But I DO have Monopoly money...)
Great post. Quality feedback is SO important. Hearing your baby needs work is hard, but that is the only way to prepare her to brave the *real* world.
I think like most things in writing, obtaining a quality critique depends on the amount of effort you put into it. If you merely hand off your MS to anyone and don't follow up on comments, you won't utilize the full critique.
Excellent post, Lynda!
I value the feedback I get sooooo much! Everything just seems to make sense after wards. :)
These are great tips. I'm currently looking for more CPs. Thanks Lynda.
I only need two critique partner for my papers, myself, and my girlfriend.
And after my girlfriend has had her hands on it, it's covered in red and I know what I need to fix. :P
Fantastic tips! And the genre thing is a big conflicting factor in my writers' group. Most don't read fantasy/sci-fi, so when they go to critique it, they sometimes forget how different fantasy/sci-fi can be from other genres.
Very good advice as it means the critique partners review my story based on who it's intended for:)
Critiquing is so hard - both to give and recieve!It is a necessary evil but you have some great tips there.
Thanks for the info.
I think sometimes, just stating the type of feedback you need can be extremely helpful.
good advice. Just put it in practice and it was very helpful.
That's great to hear, Al
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