Comments on: How to let your friends critique your novel

By: fritz freiheit.com blog » Link dump

fritz freiheit.com blog » Link dump — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:57:34 +0000

[...] How to let your friends critique your novel (Writing,Critique) [...]

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:30:14 +0000

Since BubbleCow provides professional feedback I tend to agree with what you say. However, the aim of the post was to give guidelines to writers looking for a ‘cheaper’ alternative.

By: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

Wendy Nelson Tokunaga — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:24:10 +0000

There is some good advice here but I don’t necessarily think it’s the best tactic to have “your nearest and dearest” act as critiquers. After receiving countless rejections from agents I found that what was most helpful in making progress was finding a manuscript consultant (usually a published novelist) that I paid to get honest and constructive feedback. I like the idea of a person looking at my work who doesn’t know me, has no agenda, and wants to bring me to next level. This is also why I think writers’ groups can only go so far. The longer you are together, the more people get to know you and your writing. The advice can grow stale, not to mention the fact that often writers in these situations are highly competitive with each other, which doesn’t always make for the most useful feedback.

By: lunch hour links for writers — 10/14/09 « helluo librorum

lunch hour links for writers — 10/14/09 « helluo librorum — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:26:31 +0000

[...] Over at the BubbleCow blog, Gary Smailes believes there is a time when you can get a good critique from your friends. He gives you six tips to get the most from your friend’s critiques when he tells you How to Let Your Friends Critique Your Novel. [...]

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:58:50 +0000

DOT – I think the question that springs to mind is – did the feedback help? This said I think you have taken the correct approach. Many writers forget that readers read books differently. They are not looking at sentence structure and plot development, they are just reading. It is important that a writer is fully aware of what they want from the critique. Do they want constructive criticism or to just hear the book is good.

By: David O'Connor Thompson

David O'Connor Thompson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:04:40 +0000

Every point you make is valid.

When I asked my three friends including my daughter to assess my work, I began by critiquing them in the sense I assessed what they could bring to the MS, i.e. what sort of literature they liked, did it marry with what I’d written; how courageous they were in terms of telling me something was terrible; and what their particular strengths were when it came to make a judgment.

My first reader I asked to give me a general critique in terms of the overall novel. Did it work? Did it hold together? Were my characters consistent? Was it engaging?

My second critic, my daughter, I asked to be brutal and underline anything she found that made her wince. She, I knew, would be the most fearless of my critics.

My final critic, who had no inkling what to expect and was an English Lit. tutor of thirty years standing, I asked to proofread the MS as well as give his judgment on the novel in terms of how it stacked up against other literary works, also as to whether he found it engaging as I know him to be very critical of a lot of contemporary fiction.

I handed my MS out to the three one at a time, correcting, adjusting and editing after the feedback of each.

The most important point you make, I believe, is the one where your stress the importance of the writer giving licence to their critics to criticise. Otherwise there is no point in conducting the exercise. Conversely by granting such, you must accept their comments, not with good grace as though it was some sort of punishment, but as a dialogue which, if explored, will improve your writing.

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:52:41 +0000

Debra – I think you are correct. My experience is that if you get feedback too soon in the writing process it tends to stifle the creative juices.

By: Debra

Debra — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:09:23 +0000

This is an excellent article on what to look for in a critiquing partner – there’s only one point I’d take issue with.

In my experience, those nearest and dearest will want to read your novel in progress but they’re often not the best person to critique.

And it’s a big ask – unless they are writers themselves I strongly believe it’s not fair on them. They’ll be full of mixed emotions – from surprise that it’s “really quite good” to not wanting to hurt your feelings.

I’d recommend finding a writing partner, either online or off. By all means let your friends and family read, but don’t expect them to come up with a detailed critique.