What to look for in a critique partner

Every writer needs feedback on their work from other people. It's a necessary part of the process. A writer is far too close to their own work to see its flaws and holes. A writer cannot always see their weaknesses and crutches. And we ALL have them. No one can put out the best product possible without help.

This is why it's so important to network and find other writers and critique partners. Whether you do it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or in your local community. Every writer needs the writing community. Even those who have been published several times.

I know it's not easy to send your baby off to some stranger, and I don't recommend that. It's important to find critique partners that are perfect for you. People you have some kind of relationship with, even if only online. Here are a few of my tips for finding the very best ones.

- Find partners who write what you write. I think it's very necessary to critique with someone who understands your genre and knows what to look for in a proper plot. Genres vary and what works for one may not work for others.

- Find partners who have experience. It's probably a good idea to critique with someone who has the same level as experience as you, or more. Learn everything you can from those who know more. I know lots of writers who love to help those who are just starting out. Even if it's just a chapter or two. It's amazing what little things can be corrected there that can be applied to the entire manuscript. I do it. I love to help when I can and kinda pay it forward. I wouldn't be where I am without the help I received early on.

- Find partners who will be tough. Gushing and unending praise do not help you perfect your craft. A writer NEEDS to know what they are doing wrong. If your chosen critique partners are too shy to tell you the truth, they are doing you an injustice. It's great to hear when people like your stuff...if feels awesome. But if they are holding back in fear of hurting your feelings, you will never learn what you are doing wrong.

- Find a couple non-writers to read your work too. I love having a mix of beta readers. My writer friends are great at pointing out plot inconsistencies, grammar, genre issues, etc.. But my non-writer betas, who read just to read and relax and escape, I love their input too. They are great at pointing out spots that are confusing. They give me a great idea of what the readers like.

Good luck!!

I'm doing it!!! Wanna join???

I've tossed this idea around for a very long time. A critique group. I have been a part of a critique group who meets in person for over 5 years. They are great. Fantastic. But no one writes what I write. It can be really tough sometimes. Their feedback is helpful, but we have time constraints and they only get to hear a scene at a time..once a month. I need feedback on my books as a whole, and much quicker than that.

So, is anyone interested????

I am still putting it together, but my plan is to get maybe 5 or 6 writers who all write similar genres. Mostly I'd like to stay in chick lit, contemporary romance. Usually my stuff is a bit funny and sassy, so I'm looking for writers who write like me...who get it, I guess. 

I don't have many details yet, but most likely it will be a Yahoo group, private of course, where members will post their manuscripts chapter by chapter for feedback. Members will be required to read and comment on others work too.

If you're interested, please email me at Stephanie_Haefner at yahoo dot com with a sample of your work. I need to make sure it fits with what I have in mind for the group.

Our babies and our books.....

As a parent, we are all wired to think our children are the cutest, the smartest, the funniest....they're the apples of our eyes. We shower them with unconditional love and would do anything for them. But I think a good parent also needs to see their child's flaws. No one is perfect and it is wrong to put that kind of stress on anyone, let alone a child. All kids have their tantrums and pick their noses and say things they shouldn't. And if you are a parent who is too blind to see that...if you think your child is perfection and it's all the other kids who are little demons, well.....you're setting yourself and your child up for disaster.

And I think the same can be said for your MS. We pour ourselves into our work...they too are our "babies". We give them so much care and time and we're so invested in them. They are part of us. But we have to be able to stand back and accept that no matter how much we want them to be, our MS's are not perfect. They all have flaws...even multi-published authors who bring in six-digit advances.

I truly believe you will never ever get anywhere in this business unless you can accept the fact that no matter how many years and tears you have put into your novel, it will need fixing. We are too close to it to see it's flaws sometimes. That's why every writer needs support, whether it be a writers group that meets in person or online or even just a critique partner who can lend some advice. Another set of eyes to help point out holes and grammar and tiny little inconsistencies. And if you do reach your publishing goal and land a super agent and sell to a big time NY publishing house...guess what?? You will still need an editor, maybe even two or three, to help you fine tune the story and make it the best it can be. (Though even then, it will still not be perfect.)

So now I'm only left to wonder what to do with those parents who think their child is an angel and mine the devil, ready to corrupt their perfect little darling. Don't think they'll take too kindly to some critique on that one.

Critiques by a fellow blogger???

I have come across several bloggers who have offered critiques to their followers. They did the critique, gave their thoughts and posted them on their blog. I think this is awesome for the blogger offering it....any feedback is so helpful. Sometimes we need a fresh eye to read it after our writers group has read it a zillion times. And also very brave for the writer...we all know how hard it is to put yourself out there.

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing something like this here on my blog.

Now I don't consider myself a professional editor by any means, but I've been told my by writers group members that I am good at giving feedback for fiction. I've been through the editing process for my book and have learned so so much.

So...what do you guys think???

Should I give truthful reviews????

I love to read and try to do it often....though time for it is limited to maybe a 1/2 hour or so before bed. I've had an account on Goodreads.com for quite some time now (Are you on?? Look me up and we can be friends!!) So anyway, I really love reading other people's reviews on books I've read and seeing their take on them. I always write reviews on books I read and I'm truthful...from a reader's standpoint and also a writer's standpoint. I point out things that confused me as a reader and also things that could have been better, in my humble opinion, as a writer....things like plot and such.

But after this last book, and giving it only a so so review, I started wondering...is this something I should be doing???? As a writer who is just starting out, should I be writing negative things about my fellow writer's books???? I am never nasty in my critiques, but I'm truthful. If I didn't like something, I say it. But the last thing I want to do is damage future bonds with fellow writers.

My book is not published yet, but when it is, I am fully prepared for some negative criticism.....it's inevitable. You can't please everybody. And I wouldn't want anyone to lie to me.

How closely do you follow the feedback you're given???

I thrive on feedback...whether it's my writers group or my friends. I am lucky that I have a good group who gives me honest critique...even the friends. They understand that smiling and saying they love it if they don't does not help me one bit. So I sincerely appreciate their comments..and the time they take to read my stuff!

But I wonder, as the writer, how much should you take to heart?? I have learned to take all critique with a shaker of salt. Everyone has a different opinion..one reader could love something (and truly mean it) while another hates every word. The hard part is weeding out and using what is useful to you.

I have gotten some invaluable info from readers...like just the other day..my character has blue eyes, but he's Mexican and most likely a Mexican would not have blue eyes. The thought never occurred to me...I just like writing about blue eyes, there are so many pretty words to describe them. The most enticing word I could come up with for brown was 'chocolaty eyes'. Yummy...but not so much sexy or intriguing....as opposed to cerulean, which I used to describe the eyes at one point. I'll have to save cerulean for another hunk.....

Anyway, my point is that sometimes I get some great great feedback and it kinda slaps me in the head and I have a 'duh' moment. And other times, I am just not sure what to do with it. My last piece, one reader loved the ending just the way it was while another wanted more at the end. I liked leaving it as is...not spelling out the happily ever after...it is most definitely implied though.

How serious do you take reader comments?? Do you make all the changes they suggest, or not at all if you don't agree??

I take them all seriously and do give thought to every one, but in the end...it's my story and I have to be happy with it.