A Swift Kick
Kathleen Bolton on Mar 15 2010 | Filed under: CRAFT
Some of you who follow me on Twitter may know that the current project I’m working on for Working Partners is a horror novel for the YA market. I’d submitted sample chapters to them last year, was asked to revise, then asked to submit a lengthier sample in December. This week I received the revision requests back on that long sample.
Ouch. I’d been beasted pretty hard by the editorial team.
Not gonna lie, when I first skimmed through the comments, my heart sank. New scenes were requested because they weren’t feeling some of the scenes I’d developed, lots of notes to expand dialogue sequences, etc. My ego took a hit too because basically they are asking for a rewrite.
So I started with the line edits last week and expected to hate, hate haaaaaate the whole process of revising this story yet again.
But I’m a week into it, and surprise surprise. I am LOVING it. I feel like I’m in the writerly equivalent of the Biggest Loser where I’m being asked to push beyond my comfort zones. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m connected to myself as an artist rather than just writing words to move a scene forward.
I’m the kind of writer who’s not intimidated by feedback if it’s given by knowledgeable people. I got over feeling bad about critique a long time ago. Even so, I’m astonished to be enjoying this sort of writer’s bootcamp that I’m currently in. It just goes to show that things come along at the time that you need them to help you grow and become better in your craft. I certainly feel energized and eager to see where the story is going to take me now. I needed that swift kick in the keister.
Have you ever felt energized by a tough critique? Or do you prefer a gentler sort of feedback? Let us know your experiences in the comments.
Kathleen Bolton
Therese Walsh
Ann Aguirre
Porter Anderson
Brunonia Barry
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Anne Greenwood Brown
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Erika Robuck
Lydia Sharp
L Allen Stovey on 
Michaela on 
When feedback is given by a knowledgeable person – in the spirit of being helpful – I look at it as a challenge to use the suggestions and comments to make my writing better. If I don’t agree with some of the criticism, it gives me a chance to think about why.
.-= amy sue nathan´s last blog ..Pride without Prejudice =-.
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I love feedback…five hours after I swim through the embarrassment that my MS isn’t perfect. Then the Frankenstein feeling hits me and I truly realize “It’s alive!” more than I could ever imagine.
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The writerly equivalent of the Biggest Loser. Haha. Yes, I’ve been there. The first reaction is always to shrink back or get defensive, but we only improve by learning to love the burn.
Excellent post!
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..A Week of Randomness =-.
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I was in a tough short story crit group called “Boot Camp Keegan.” They did anon critiques. That takes the ego out of it and allows the critter to go at the text without worrying about the writer’s feelings. I learnt a lot from their tough, but honest crits.
.-= Lee Reynoldson´s last blog ..The Art and Craft of Fiction =-.
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I think your post highlights another thing us writers tend to do – angst over and dread the writing task at hand only to be pleasantly surprised when we finally get down to business. I would love to just skip over that dread feeling if I could!
.-= Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist´s last blog ..Jealousy and ugly feelings =-.
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Good feedback can be like someone switching on the light when you’re stumbling around in the dark. Yay for you, Kathleen, that you have the courage to face what that switched-on light shows!
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Were there multiple editors you could identify, one single editor, or anon edits? Was it digital or hardcopy?
I seem to need multiple editors to flush out different aspects. One editor does digital (print is achingly small, 2 do hardcopy which takes longer but seems more personal.
.-= Dina B´s last blog ..Dobermans =-.
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I hate facing rewrites. Especially after that particular scene/chapter/half the book has been rewritten before. It’s like looking at another mountain to climb. But once you start doing it, you realize your stronger from the previous hikes, your muscles can take more of a beating, and you have more perspective as you look around rather than stare firmly at the path in front of you–huffing and puffing and wondering if you’ll ever reach the summit.
What I love about a good critique:
a) Sometimes it reveals that my first instincts with a scene were correct and I was an idiot to over-write them or change them around.
b) Shows areas where I need to clarify for the reader. Sure, I’m picturing everything perfectly in my head but it doesn’t mean my vision translates well to the reader.
c) Finds those annoying typos and punctuation errors I’ve glossed over because I’ve read the manuscript too many times.
d) Reveals what is working. I can tell where my readers get excited about something, where a risk paid off or a character has bonded with them.
e) Reveals what isn’t working. Plot holes, lack of description (or too much), poor wording, etc.
I’m still working at recognizing the good critique advice from the personal (as in the subjective opinion of the person offering the critique.) But all critiques usually lead to a rewrite of some kind. I’d say 99% of the time the rewrite blows me away with how much better it has made the story.
Rambling aside, I agree with you completely, Kathleen. I prefer a honest and detailed critique over the fluffy stuff friends and relatives tend to dish out. A brief “This is wonderful” or “I really liked it” critique does nothing for me. And thanks for bringing up the topic. It’s something that’s been on my mind a lot lately.
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I think I need two attempts at facing a rewrite. The first 24 hours after I receive a critique, my ego and insecurities combines with the dread of rewriting and insists none of these people have any idea what they’re talking about. They just don’t understand what I was doing at all, and clearly I need to find more intelligent critiquers. I have learned not to talk to anybody during that time. ;p
I come back to it a day or so later, and it’s completely different. The feedback opens up a wealth of ideas and nuances that I realise were not-quite-there in the original, and I become totally enthused for recreating the story.
I find it interesting that while we’re always secretly disappointed that someone didn’t gush and say it was absolutely perfect (bruised ego), we’re equally disappointed when that’s all they do say, because that’s useless feedback, and we know the story’s not perfect. Critiquers can’t win.
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When I was in medicine, there was an acronym we used to describe valuable critique. IMO, it’s as valuable in writing as it was with patient interactions.
C – clear
O – owned
R- regular
B – balanced
S – specific
I can hear almost anything if it’s provided in the above spirit. What’s even better is if the deliverer can infuse the process with the expectation – explicit and implicit – I’ll improve. My manuscript might suck at the moment, but if there’s a spirit of hope in the critique, I’ll work at it until it doesn’t.
.-= hope101´s last blog ..Sandman Rubs Me the Wrong Way =-.
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Isn’t it interesting how differently we react to the same thing when we’re at a different place in our life / actually engaging in doing the thing we thought we hated? I am glad you’re enjoying the experience right now and I hope the results ROCK!
I am doing through a similar process right now; not as high stakes, probably, but I remember the sinking feeling when I first read the suggestions, and how differently even a hew hours later when I’ve had a chance to mull over the situation.
.-= Yat-Yee´s last blog ..Grab-A-Line Monday =-.
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Ditto what Rebecca said!
To answer your Q, like you I long ago got over taking criticism. That said, it can still be discouraging or disheartening, even if you know not to take it personally. I’m glad you ended up feeling revitalized instead! I think that’s how you know you’re a real writer. :)
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Where the “magic” happens =-.
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I definitely appreciate an honest critique from an experienced writer. I know I’m still learning so I try to soak up everything I can.
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Outlining 2.0 =-.
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The comments on this post are brilliant. I love our readers.
I think my response to critique is much like Sofie’s — a little bruise, then a determination to cull as much as possible from the experience. And Kath, you know I’m happy you’ve found your groove again.
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Wow, great post. I’ve always been nervous about submitting my work. Only a few people have ever really read my writing. It’s good to know what to expect if I ever make the leap to publishing.
.-= Liz H. Allen´s last blog ..Liz’s Pledge Update =-.
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Fantastic, Kathleen! I too am currently up to my eyeballs in editing my own galleys and it is strangely exhilirating. (Once I retrived my stomach from the floor and wiped away the tears of course.) That’s not to say that I’ve always been so “enlightened” by critique. There were plenty of dark days over the years when I felt numb and broken from a bare-knuckle beating by an agent or editor. Thankfully, I found wallowing pointless and preferred to get angry — the good kind of angry that gets you back at the keyboard determined to prove yourself an amazing writer and your work the best prose since Hemingway! (Hey, whatever vision works for you. It’s all good,)
http://www.barbaraforteabate.com
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I do like feedback, even if it’s critical. I’m not objective enough about my own writing, and feedback allows me to see from a different viewpoint. Sometimes I think the critique is not valid and I dismiss it, but usually a critique makes my writing stronger. I appreciate those who have a gift for critiquing!
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Squirrel Dreams =-.
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I prefer harsh critiques, even if it sometimes makes me feel like I have more work to do than I thought. That’s deflating.
Last night at my writer’s group, we read through two chapters from my wip. I thought one was more interesting than the other, but the entire group liked the other chapter much more…because there was conflict, the characters were engaged in conversation and activity. However, the chapter I thought was good enough to be read out to a group, well, I realized it was lacking a lot. I need to ramp it up, make it compelling and authentic. Thankfully, a couple of people in the group pointed this out to me, which was exactly what I needed to hear. Essentially, them telling me I have more work to do has inspired me/challenged me to do better.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..This means something! =-.
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Now I feel even better and stronger after reading all these comments. Lots of good advice in here too. It definitely helped when this morning I had to totally rewrite a scene. Thanks for weighing in, everyone!
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pushing through the wall is so hard but well worth it
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I remember once a friend of mine reading a chapter and saying, ‘This is ordinary. I’ve seen you write extraordinary, so throw this out and start again.’
I had exacly the same process – embarrassment followed by determination, followed by success. I’ve tried not to take the easy way out again. Which, now that I say that, may have some larger scale relevance to my current WIP…. Hmmmm.
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Following editorial feedback I tend to go through a day of hopeless wandering, searching for other creative outlets, and lamenting revisions. Then I’ll wake up , attack the manuscript with fresh eyes, and see the beauty and the genius of the suggestions.
Having a writing critique partner to whom I regularly submit has made a big difference in the way I handle the feedback. I’m used to it, I crave it, and I know it will make my work much stronger. I’ve also found a professional editor I work well with and trust completely. She’s worth her weight in dark chocolate.
Thank you for being so candid about your editorial process. Great post!
.-= Erika Robuck´s last blog ..Warm Ups: What Hemingway Reveals Through Dialogue =-.
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