Learning to be Humble
I found my first critique group through a Writing Center and decided to try it out. The head of the group, Mike, was a published author and editor. No one else in the group was published. But they were my readers, so if they didn’t like my work, other readers wouldn’t. All were fiction writers, but a mix of genres. Mystery, Sci Fi and Fantasy, and General Contemporary Lit.
It was my turn. I read the first ten pages of the novel I was so proud of. I looked around the table. Everyone’s head was down and they were scribbling furiously on the pages. Comments were generally kind. Good start, interesting premise, great setting. Some helpful criticisms included: Too many adverbs and adjectives, verbs too passive, not enough tension. I understood and agreed with these.
Then it was Mike’s turn and I knew everyone had, indeed, been kind. He hit me right between the eyes with, “You write a lot of reports for work, don’t you?”
I blinked and swallowed. It was my first lesson in “show don’t tell.” I knew this, didn’t I? Well, no. I had been writing in a vacuum with no feedback.
Now I knew. The first ten pages didn’t work. What about the other 290? Could I handle going through this every week? Let me tell you, it was difficult at first. Every week I went home after the group and just about cried (okay, cried) looking over the scribbles all over my pages.
But I started taking their comments seriously and began making changes. I would revise the chapter the group read and the next, so when I brought it to them, they could see some progress. By the end of the 300 pages, I had, well, my first draft.
My skin had hardened. I didn’t cry as often. I stayed with this group for about five years then moved to another. The head of this group is also a professional writer and editor. I’ve read three books with them now over ten years and find each of them incredibly helpful in pointing out areas that need help: writing better descriptions, jazzing up my characters, and because I love history, reining in my tendency to overload on “reader feeder.”
Every time I bring in a chapter, one that I think is ready to go, the group points out how it could be better. Besides the usual grammar, punctuation, et al, they help me work out the big broad brush ideas. In one book, I completely changed the ending based on their suggestions.
Occasionally a new writer would enter the group. They, like I, thought they had the next Pulitzer. But many of them couldn’t handle criticism well. Ha! They would argue and try to justify why they were right and we were wrong. They left quickly.
If I haven’t proved to you that critique groups are absolutely invaluable to any writer, here are a few other reasons. I’ve never been in a support group, but I think a critique group is similar. You no longer feel isolated or alone. You can bounce the craziest ideas off the group and they don’t snicker. Usually.
Writer, Jeanne Gassman added a benefit of critique groups in our LitPow discussion: “Good critique groups can also be valuable networking tools. They provide information about publication opportunities, contests, conferences, etc.” Amen to that, Jeanne.
Another fellow writer on FB, Robb Grindstaff talked about a critique group of mixed-genre writers. “I learned about world-building from the fantasy writers, a very helpful skill set even if you write contemporary, real-world fiction. I learned how to build suspense from the horror and mystery writers. I learned how to increase emotional tension from the romance writers.” Well-said, Robb. I found the same to be true.
Remember the first criticism I received? My book sounded like a report not a novel? I was vindicated one day not too long ago, when my boss at the museum was reading one of my reports and said in all seriousness,“This sounds more like a novel than a report.”
Yahoo.
Making oneself vulnerable to feedback from others is always cause for heart palpitations. What I learned from my own writing groups is that while many who participate are new writers, most are quite voracious readers. Just as the characters in a novel, each adds a layer of color and richness to the discussion that evolves over the duration of the group. Each participant grows in her ability to deliver constructive criticism . Not all can give constructive criticism and not all can receive it. Those who can go on to become better writers.
Hi Margaret,
That’s beautifully said. Maybe you should blog too!
Lynne
Excellent post. We’re starting us a writer’s group locally, and I’m looking forward to all the help I’ll receive from other authors…
Hi Jean,
Thanks so much. I look forward to hearing how your writer’s group goes. Best of luck!
Lynne
Critique groups are not for me Lynne, as I am a rather solitary writing soul. However, I will probably gain from your experience as I received my copy of Time Exposure in the mail yesterday. Have wrapped it up as a Christmas present to myself!
How lovely, Pauline. I like that – a Christmas present to yourself. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll do the same!
Thanks so much for your support. Enjoy the holidays!
Lynne
Pauline, me too. Writing is a very solitary endeavor, not a team sport. However, once written, the input and feedback of other writers and editors who can give some solid advice and suggestions is invaluable. Otherwise, how would I know it’s any good at all, or how to improve it, or where the weaknesses are? The goal of writing something is that eventually it will be read by readers, so starting with a small group who can provide that intelligent feedback and critique helps improve the end product for the ultimate goal of reaching an audience.
Thanks, Robb. I agree. A critique group can provide invaluable input, but you must have the right group. The next logical question is, how do you find that right group? I had some difficulty finding mine. It takes time away from writing and a few frustrating experiences with groups of unlike-minded individuals. In the end, it’s well-worth the effort.
Lynne
I actually have two websites and a third one I am starting but I am actually writing this about critique groups in reference to my writing. I have tried a couple and haven’t really gotten anything out of the groups. One asked me to leave because I had too much backstory. Another, we never got off the ground after a non-committal it was nice response. But now a friend that I had, he has always been their in the nitty gritty telling me it sucks, cut this out, you need to re-write this. He doesn’t do it now. Now he too is non-committal. I don’t like the non-committal answer. I didn’t like the harsh critique either. But I preferred that to what I was given otherwise. My problem is finding that in a group of other writers. I haven’t found that too date. It does bother me a little. I have been given compliments about my writing and told that the authors whose books I review appreciate what I do. And for that I am grateful. But I still wish to have a good critque group.
So I hope you don’t mind but this is a request in your blog for those authors who write mystery or even if you don’t that would like to join a critique group, I am looking for those to join. Please post an email to the above website (www.teribelle.wordpress.com_) or if not to that one go to (www.yasminejameson.wordpress.com) and I will get back to you. Thanks a bunch.
Hi Nicole,
Sorry to hear you’ve had such bad experiences with critique groups. Where do you live? Perhaps someone reading this can make suggestions for a group in your area.
Thanks for reading this and I wish you the best.
Lynne
The trouble I’ve had with critique groups is that the pace is slow, slow, slow. Which makes sense. But I’m trying to write a novel a year, which is hard to filter through a typical critique group. I’ve had much better success with very small – three or four person – groups where participants were willing to commit to 50 pages, or there-a-bouts, per week. My share of that – say 12 pages per week – gets my novel reviewed and critiqued with some re-critique of revisions in less than a year. Now that works for me!
Hi James,
Very good point and I know just how you feel. I’ve had the same trouble. When I want to submit my book to a contest with a deadline, let’s say, and the group hasn’t finished critiquing, I’m tearing my hair out. It’s usually at that point that I hire an editor to move forward more quickly. My group consists of five right now and we seem to get through ten pages each week with no problem. Unless it’s someone’s birthday or a holiday or some interesting news that requires conversation outside of the critique. But we’re all social beings and that’s part of the game. Thanks for your comment.
Lynne