To Critique or Not to Critique by Dyanne Davis

Hello RAW family.  I thought I’d switch it up and not talk about contracts for the moment.  That gets pretty boring even to me.  What I decided to talk about was being the member of a critique group, having a friend read your work and give a critique or have a stranger read it and do likewise.  As always what I write is my opinion and not a rule. So how about if we do it this way.  I’ll give you some good and bad points about critique partners.

There was a time I had three critique partners.  I think we helped each other to figure out plot points, things that weren’t working and how not to have constant talking heads or changing POV in midstream. On my second book, The Wedding Gown, all three of my critique partners pointed out to me that the secondary characters had stolen the book.  I was also aware of that but really liked the secondary characters so I sent the book in.  When Sidney, my editor received it she sent me a letter and told me exactly what my critique partners had said. She told me in no uncertain terms that Genesis Press contracted for a romance and not a relationship book about the brother and sister and that if I wanted the secondary characters to have a story then I needed to write another book.  I did.  Misty Blue.  Sidney was instrumental in taking it to the publisher. Since then my own personal needs for a critique partner have shifted.  I have Sidney. And two of my CP’s stopped writing.

I’m coming fresh off of a critique session that my local chapter does once a month.  I knew as I sat their listening to the writers give their loud and not always kind critique that I would write about this. The person being critiqued had furnished beforehand her very first try, her first chapter.  I watched her during the critique of her work and watched as her face became red turning a beet color as the critiques went on,  Once I even heard her sigh loudly.  I looked around wondering why no one else was watching her, why they didn’t see what they were doing to her.  I should say at this point in this article that our chapter motto is DO NO HARM.  Since a new member emailed me the next day to see how she could have her work critiqued I assume despite the clenching of my stomach for the writer being critiqued that the group did no harm. 

If you remember nothing else that I will ever say to you remember this: 

1. ALL writers no matter how well meaning, or how much they want to help another writer speaks from their own frame of reference.  They want you to write something the way they would write it. 
2. If you have a half dozen critique partners chances are you will have a half dozen opinions
3. Once a writer learns something, they are bound and determined that it is the only way to do it and will not rest until they cram this down another writer’s throat.
4. Critique groups can and have prevented writers from finishing the book because they are never satisfied with the first chapter.  Someone will always want you to do something that you had already done and another person told you to change.

Since nothing is all bad or all good it’s time I point out some of the good points of having your work critiqued.  Writers tend to read the missing words into their own work because the correct words are in their heads.  A person who has not read your work will not do this. They will be able to catch things. 

This is merely a suggestion.  Have a reader (non relative or friend) read your work and have another writer read it.  They will be looking for different things and will provide a broader perspective.  Treat information given to you like a buffet.   If it makes your stomach clench pass on it.  If it gives you an “ah ha” moment think about it more. If you have several critique partners and they all say the exact same thing…WELL then think about the suggestions seriously.

I began this article on a personal note and I will end it in the same manner. Several years ago one of the longtime multi-published authors in my chapter brought in several pieces of work and asked the group to critique them. Almost everyone ripped into the works, pointing out a dozen problems.  Luckily for me two of the pages I was given was work that I was familiar with by Amy Tan and Toni Morrison.  I mentioned that and was instantly shushed by the presenter. You have the picture right?  All of the pages were published work by well known and best selling authors.  The presenter was trying to prove a point.  Going into a relationship of having your work critiqued is a bond of trust.  The critiquer should be able to give an honest appraisal of the work with a minimal of, “I’d like to see you do thus and so.”  It’s not their book. If they want you to change your entire book because they don’t like what you wrote then they should write their own book.

Let’s not leave out the most important person in the critiquing process.  YOU, the writer.  Before you ask anyone to critique your work know where you’re heading. Be strong enough that a bad critique will not throw you off course and stop you from writing. In other words develop a thick skin.  There is no such animal as the perfect book and if you think yours is perfect you probably shouldn’t bother having anyone critique your work.  But if you’re having a problem and can’t figure it out and need a fresh pair of eyes you might just benefit from a critique partner.

Whatever you decide to do it doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind. That’s what writers do.  Keep writing.