tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post1140380777634696556..comments2023-10-27T00:42:05.512+13:00Comments on Books and Writing: After the CritiquesSherrylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04405534589743973581noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-22984765713209449252008-06-20T11:52:00.000+12:002008-06-20T11:52:00.000+12:00I think it depends on the kind of group you're in....I think it depends on the kind of group you're in. I'd rather work with a group of writers who are experienced in workshopping and are looking at issues of craft and providing good suggestions to solve problems (which comes from experience as a writer dealing with this yourself). But you are also right about the benefits of a good reader or two - especially if they read in your genre and are familiar with what that kind of story needs from a reader's point of view.<BR/>I know with my children's stories, especially picture books, that the most useful comments come from those who have studied picture books and understand what they need to do. Someone who doesn't know that can still offer some feedback, but it's not as useful overall.Sherrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405534589743973581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-37062112354162400792008-06-20T11:14:00.000+12:002008-06-20T11:14:00.000+12:00Maybe I'm wrong, because I'm not involved in such ...Maybe I'm wrong, because I'm not involved in such groups but I feel it's like intermingling roles: writers and readers. I don't think that writers make good readers (even if writers always read a lot). I prefer to focus on a small "team" of good readers I know, and who don't write. No chef cook for other chefs, they intend better comments from expert mouths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-67465124603104533512008-06-18T13:13:00.000+12:002008-06-18T13:13:00.000+12:00Kristi - that's exactly right! In a group, you get...Kristi - that's exactly right! In a group, you get everyone picking up different things, and they all come to the work with a different perspective. The hard bit is working out what is helpful to the work and what is not.<BR/>It helps to know what people's biases are, too. But it also helps when everyone in the group is genuinely concerned with craft. Nothing worse than someone who says, "I don't read that genre so I have nothing to say." You can *always* comment on characterisation or setting or plot.Sherrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405534589743973581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-35594691152665156152008-06-18T11:19:00.000+12:002008-06-18T11:19:00.000+12:00My critique group is a widely diverse bunch of wri...My critique group is a widely diverse bunch of writers, and they almost always say different things too. But as you said, some are global commenters (seeing the overall picture and where the arcs don't work) and some are detail people ("Would a girl that age from that background REALLY say that?"), and some are just good question askers ("What's her motivation here?" "Why is he noticing that particular stuff in the room and not this?") We agreed a long time ago that we get our best critiques when we pool all the comments because we all catch different things. A critique group is almost a necessity these days, I think, now that editors no longer have the time to write those detailed critiques to you.Kristi Hollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480214912307187314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-70483679711110939762008-06-16T09:40:00.000+12:002008-06-16T09:40:00.000+12:00Difficult? Stephen King is a lucky man! Most of us...Difficult? Stephen King is a lucky man! Most of us have spouses who just say, "That's nice, dear."<BR/>I would love an ideal reader who told me exactly what was wrong and how to fix it in my writing. I suspect everyone would! I'd tuck her away in a cupboard and bring her out whenever I needed her.<BR/>I think one problem though is that your ideal reader is not an editor who is going to buy your book. I have heard stories of agents (good, knowledgeable agents) who have made their writers change things in their books that the editor/publisher has hated and changed them back again.<BR/>Maybe the ideal reader is simply that person who can help you bring your book up to its fullest potential? Without trying to make it into their book?<BR/>What do others think?Sherrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405534589743973581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727653.post-3845501766861658982008-06-16T09:32:00.000+12:002008-06-16T09:32:00.000+12:00Stephen King explained (in "On Writing") how he ne...Stephen King explained (in "On Writing") how he needs an "ideal reader" to check and validate his writings. And luckily, his ideal reader is his wife! He knows that if the book is OK for her, it would be fine for the rest of mankind! There is no "market" or publishing strategy, but simply a way to focus on satisfying 1 ideal reader.<BR/>This approach is quite *never* mentioned in blogs and books about writing techniques. Maybe because it's *very* difficult to find an ideal reader...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com