Comments on: A Swift Kick

By: Erika Robuck

Erika Robuck — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:05:40 +0000

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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By: Vic K

Vic K — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:47:40 +0000

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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By: thea

thea — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:32:25 +0000

pushing through the wall is so hard but well worth it

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By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:27:12 +0000

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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By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:14:17 +0000

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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By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:34:17 +0000

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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By: Barbara Forte Abate

Barbara Forte Abate — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:03:04 +0000

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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By: Liz H. Allen

Liz H. Allen — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:57:17 +0000

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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By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:20:58 +0000

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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By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:22:59 +0000

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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