Critique Groups
The responder in my previous post asked a great question about critique groups. I thought I would expand and make this point its own post.
NEVER send a submission to an editor or agent unless someone else has read it. There is no guarantee that you're objective enough to see plot holes in your book and you can't possibly see typos or punctuation issues. Trust me, when you read a book multiple times, your eyes can and will trick you.
Defining 'someone else' is another issue. The best 'someone else' to use isn't a family member or a friend who is not in the industry. No matter how well meaning these people are, they are not the most qualified people to give you a thorough critique.
What is left? A critique group or partnership with another author. However, as I posted below, be aware and very careful about who you choose. Sharing your words, your characters and your worlds is one of the most intimate kinds of sharing and this leaves you vulnerable.
Do not jump into just any critique group out of desperation to send your book to an editor or agent quickly. Approach it slowly and methodically. Make informed decisions.
Most of us have cultivated relationships with others in the Industry on the Internet. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Internet is the best or safest place to find a crit partner. Be aware of the anonymous nature of the 'net.
Also, be very aware that the Internet offers almost unlimited archiving. That chapter of your latest WIP that you sent to a newsgroup a year ago? It may still be searchable. Your words may be out there for anyone to see or adapt as their own.
Never post your uncontracted work in these venues.
Finding a crit partner
Industry mailing lists and author related message boards are an excellent place to start the process. Many authors post their need for a crit partner. Look for posters who seem to have the same outlook as you. Look for someone who has a positive email or posting voice. Read their archived posts and try to get a feel for them. Don't pick anyone too thin-skinned.
Compatibility
This is vital! If you are an author who has the time, energy and creativity to produce a book every other month and your crit partner only has the time to write a book a year, the relationship is bound to be uneven. Make up a short Q&A sheet. Fill these out together and discover if you'll be a good match. Define what you are looking for. Do you want what amounts to a content crit or an unofficial line edit? How many pages, on average, would you like to crit at one time? Do you want to crit by chapter or as the entire book?
Responsibility
A critique partnership is a relationship and requires responsibility from all involved. Do unto others and you'd have done to yourself and your work. Don't share details, emails or an author's work with anyone. Give the author a well-rounded critique. 'Great work' may sound good, but this sort of comment will rarely help an author grow. Return critiques in a timely manner and gently explain what doesn't work for you.
A good critique partnership is invaluable!
NEVER send a submission to an editor or agent unless someone else has read it. There is no guarantee that you're objective enough to see plot holes in your book and you can't possibly see typos or punctuation issues. Trust me, when you read a book multiple times, your eyes can and will trick you.
Defining 'someone else' is another issue. The best 'someone else' to use isn't a family member or a friend who is not in the industry. No matter how well meaning these people are, they are not the most qualified people to give you a thorough critique.
What is left? A critique group or partnership with another author. However, as I posted below, be aware and very careful about who you choose. Sharing your words, your characters and your worlds is one of the most intimate kinds of sharing and this leaves you vulnerable.
Do not jump into just any critique group out of desperation to send your book to an editor or agent quickly. Approach it slowly and methodically. Make informed decisions.
Most of us have cultivated relationships with others in the Industry on the Internet. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Internet is the best or safest place to find a crit partner. Be aware of the anonymous nature of the 'net.
Also, be very aware that the Internet offers almost unlimited archiving. That chapter of your latest WIP that you sent to a newsgroup a year ago? It may still be searchable. Your words may be out there for anyone to see or adapt as their own.
Never post your uncontracted work in these venues.
- To a mailing list with an open archive.
- On a message board that has an open subscribership.
- To a casual friend.
- To a fair-weather critique partner.
Finding a crit partner
Industry mailing lists and author related message boards are an excellent place to start the process. Many authors post their need for a crit partner. Look for posters who seem to have the same outlook as you. Look for someone who has a positive email or posting voice. Read their archived posts and try to get a feel for them. Don't pick anyone too thin-skinned.
Compatibility
This is vital! If you are an author who has the time, energy and creativity to produce a book every other month and your crit partner only has the time to write a book a year, the relationship is bound to be uneven. Make up a short Q&A sheet. Fill these out together and discover if you'll be a good match. Define what you are looking for. Do you want what amounts to a content crit or an unofficial line edit? How many pages, on average, would you like to crit at one time? Do you want to crit by chapter or as the entire book?
Responsibility
A critique partnership is a relationship and requires responsibility from all involved. Do unto others and you'd have done to yourself and your work. Don't share details, emails or an author's work with anyone. Give the author a well-rounded critique. 'Great work' may sound good, but this sort of comment will rarely help an author grow. Return critiques in a timely manner and gently explain what doesn't work for you.
A good critique partnership is invaluable!
posted by Crimson Ink @ 11:02 PM
2 Comments:
At 2:02 PM,
Tina said…
Thank you for this wonderful article. It has been a great source of inspiration.
At 5:54 AM,
Lena Austin said…
Thank you for your article. I will add that critiquing style is also vital. I, a published author, ask for a full critique --content, mechanics, everything. The whole ball of wax. That's also what I give. I can, and have, dropped a crit partner for sending me one word or one sentence repeatedly, even though I asked for more in-depth work.
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