Giving and Receiving Critiques: Why bother?

By Natalie Bright

Part 1:

The story you are working on is important. It’s so important that you spend hours writing and rewriting, and even more hours thinking about the characters, the setting, and the plot. There is no doubt that it’s very real in your mind, but how it comes across to the reader might be a totally different experience than what you intended.

Books on Impulse

Books have become impulse buys, and surprisingly I’ve purchased more eBooks than I ever imagined. One click and it’s there, ready and waiting, and saavy authors understand how to make that purchase a no-brainer. I’ve discovered some amazing stories in a wide variety of genres, all affordable and effortless. I’ve also discovered many wonderful authors. Some with great potential, and sadly, some that I’ll hesitate to purchase again because of the typos and very basic story craft mistakes.

If you’re thinking about putting your work out there, I say go for it. Make certain that it’s the best that it can be. You can’t afford to have your name associated with something that is less than perfect. Writing is hard work, and an honest critique is essential to your career as a writer.

Where to Turn

The first step is to ask other writers where they go for help. You need an honest, unbiased opinion. I’ve talked to many authors who have had great success with online groups. You can find other writers looking for critique partners by joining your local writing organization, or inquire at local junior colleges or universities. I met my first critique group through the creative writing course which was taught by a NYTimes Bestselling author at our local university.

Today, more and more writers have found helpful critiques online, either by joining an online group which may involve thousands of members, or simply exchanging work via email with one or two people. Some local writing organizations have large scale critiques where everyone is invited to participate.

Give it a Whirl

Experiment with several different venues until you find the one that fits. You’ll be rewarded with a polished, professional manuscript ready for submission and you’ll discover definite improvement in your productivity level.  The very best inspiration is being surrounded by creative people.

Next week, in Part 2, we’ll discuss what you can expect from a critique.

Natalie Bright