tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post8499555971781696527..comments2024-03-28T12:40:14.627+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: Two Pronged Attackmooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-50937076262393597402011-11-28T04:33:22.482+00:002011-11-28T04:33:22.482+00:00yes, this is why CPs you trust are absolutely esse...yes, this is why CPs you trust are absolutely essential. and why you also need to learn how to say no to reading for other people if you don't love their writing. hard lesson.Christa Desirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15614441465633549710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-48871920737688237512011-11-25T13:58:37.556+00:002011-11-25T13:58:37.556+00:00You are right! As writers we have a lot to gain f...You are right! As writers we have a lot to gain from our critique partners. We can take the good comments along with the bad comments, our stories growing as a result from it.Maeve Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788413883600771145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-67789648464201328762011-11-24T02:13:18.449+00:002011-11-24T02:13:18.449+00:00Too true. That was a lesson I learned the awkward ...Too true. That was a lesson I learned the awkward way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-84247309555820629502011-11-23T14:50:21.608+00:002011-11-23T14:50:21.608+00:00This is why I never let relatives read my blog. I ...This is why I never let relatives read my blog. I know blogging is different from short stories or novels, but they always come up with a)sickeningly sweet things to say or b)think I'm weird for writing about books by authors who've been dead for more than a hundred years. It's hard to find someone who can give you their honest opinion about something. In this case, opinion = criticism that might sting a little but can actually help.Darlyn (Your Move, Dickens)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00979296421309409564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-1166915101097067082011-11-23T10:07:42.527+00:002011-11-23T10:07:42.527+00:00@nutschell-letting go of that attachment and focus...@nutschell-letting go of that attachment and focusing on improvements was a bnig step for me too.<br /><br />@Rachna-having people you're happy to listen to no matter what they say makes a big difference, I think.<br /><br />@Melissa-it's also important to appreciate where the critiquer is expressing an opinion and where they're offering technical advice.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-37564482754442603082011-11-23T07:33:49.548+00:002011-11-23T07:33:49.548+00:00Editing content can be a real minefield. I think p...Editing content can be a real minefield. I think part of the process of developing into a good writer is learning good critique from bad. Of course, it's equally important to be able to take something from the critique and improve while also remaining true to your story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-19148260943006379302011-11-23T02:48:47.584+00:002011-11-23T02:48:47.584+00:00Earlier I was very possessive about what I wrote. ...Earlier I was very possessive about what I wrote. After I got my two lovely crit partners, I am eager to show them what I wrote and get their feedback as I feel they come up with fabulous criticism that enhances my story.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-68692083173378684952011-11-22T22:52:28.851+00:002011-11-22T22:52:28.851+00:00I never really saw the value in critique sessions ...I never really saw the value in critique sessions until I attended my very first one. Now I try to go to as many critiques as I can. As writers we get too emotionally attached to our work. Having other writers read our work with totally editorial (and fresh) eyes certainly helps improve our writing. <br /><br />nutschell<br />www.thewritingnut.comnutschellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967710710805174781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-51563127241682870182011-11-22T18:21:26.874+00:002011-11-22T18:21:26.874+00:00@nancy-I always appreciate any effort to offer som...@nancy-I always appreciate any effort to offer something constructive, but often that's the hardest thing if you're not sure what the writer was going for. <br /><br />@Abhishek-that's why it helps to have someone else read it. And also why it can be so very painful.<br /><br />@Alex-even spotting a small typo is a step in the right direction.<br /><br />@Mary Mary-thanks.<br /><br />@Rusty-I supect a priest would know more about satanic erotica than you might suspect...<br /><br />@McKenzie-that's a good way to approach it. I do a lot of online critiquing and it can be hard to tell where in the process they are. You can also run into soem very sensitive characters, so it can be a bit of a minefield.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-87201745910636273632011-11-22T17:30:58.478+00:002011-11-22T17:30:58.478+00:00If I know I'm editing a fairly early draft, I&...If I know I'm editing a fairly early draft, I'll do more of a conceptional edit. My edits mostly include a lot of questions, comments on confusing bits, and things that I like. <br /><br />However, if it's a later draft, I often just critique the writing. Later drafts are usually pretty good anyway.McKenzie McCannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707799179783394809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-79446084047080642372011-11-22T16:57:37.050+00:002011-11-22T16:57:37.050+00:00Brilliantly stated. I think number 2 is really tou...Brilliantly stated. I think number 2 is really tough. I mean, maybe I shouldn't have given my Satanic erotica novel to my priest to critique in the first place. But assuming I didn't make that boneheaded a mistake, it can be almost impossible to figure out if what I have to say is worth telling... what if I just want to entertain you, and not speak about the ethical arguments of eating meat.<br /><br />A good critique partner should at least know the story you're trying to tell, and let you know where your story didn't convey the ideas you wanted it to. Hopefully, they won't judge you on whether or not they agree with your statement about the world.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-8547500955913404362011-11-22T16:42:39.355+00:002011-11-22T16:42:39.355+00:00I feel every writer needs to have a good, honest c...I feel every writer needs to have a good, honest critique group in place. But not one with so many people, otherwise the clashing of minds and ideas will only confuse the writer (too many cooks in the kitchen is what one of my critiquers says). It's also a good idea to have beta readers who aren't necessarily writers, but know what it takes to have a good story. They won't necessarily point out all the grammar issues, but if they've spent most of their life reading then they will know what needs to be in a good story. Very insightful post!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88712587354262066962011-11-22T15:53:49.814+00:002011-11-22T15:53:49.814+00:00That makes sense. How can someone comment or make ...That makes sense. How can someone comment or make suggestions if he's not sure what's really going on or where it's going?<br />Although I'll take the nit-pick items as well. Any help I can get...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-45416816604955803272011-11-22T09:13:31.759+00:002011-11-22T09:13:31.759+00:00The problem with me is I never figure-out what wen...The problem with me is I never figure-out what went wrong with my story!!<br /><br />I so love what I have written that I never wanna change!!! LOL!!<br /><br />We are holding a writing challenge .. kindly consider joining<br /><a href="http://becomingprince.blogspot.com/2011/11/tuesday-writing-challenge-one.html" rel="nofollow"> Another Author </a>Abhishekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633374524540097827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-37170159459900905322011-11-22T00:40:37.374+00:002011-11-22T00:40:37.374+00:00Even the most discouraging critiques have been ben...Even the most discouraging critiques have been beneficial for me. It is sometimes hard to hear what the reader has to say, but as a reader, they are usually valid in some sense. The hard part is to give feedback that is constructive. Don't just say what's wrong, but also how you think it might be made better. More than anything, you can't make everyone happy so don't even try. It's way too subjective. Writers are readers, so we know that.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.com