tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post8045040898815332428..comments2024-03-29T00:39:54.374-04:00Comments on The Alchemy of Writing: Got a Devil on the Right Shoulder and an Angel on the LeftBryan Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-8288308757943275542009-08-10T13:42:40.906-04:002009-08-10T13:42:40.906-04:00You make a good point: fault identification is dif...You make a good point: fault identification is different from the resolution.<br /><br />Five people may point out the saem problem, but offer five different solutions. Or one ill-advised solution, as your example of a cliche illustrates.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-87329605531857988942009-08-10T13:17:42.669-04:002009-08-10T13:17:42.669-04:00I appreciate the different angles you’ve presented...I appreciate the different angles you’ve presented for receiving a critique. I’m awaiting feedback on my novel from my first ever, fellow-writer-beta-reader. I’m not sure what to expect, so this is quite timely for me. Thanks for adding this link on Rick Daley’s post at Nathan Bransford’s Blog.J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-3187786177484622622009-07-30T16:52:53.646-04:002009-07-30T16:52:53.646-04:00JaxPop,
Meshing well with the others in the group...JaxPop,<br /><br />Meshing well with the others in the group is important. Not that you have to be buddy-buddies, but your styles of reading and critting have to function well together (avoid antagonism, etc.). I think the two keys are a) being honest, and b) being tactful. I see lots of people do one or the other... but you really need both. If it's not honest, it's sort of pointless. But if it's not tactful, the point won't make it through the writer angst.<br /><br />I try to be honest on the faults... and honest on the virtues. And do it all, hopefully, in a friendly, tactful way. And I also try to make it clear that this is just my subjective opinion, not the universe pronouncing judgment. Seems to have worked out fairly well so far. Of course, if you see my bullet-riddled corpse show up in the paper one of these days...Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-25905085778134609912009-07-30T15:31:48.856-04:002009-07-30T15:31:48.856-04:00Should have mentioned - It was not my work being d...Should have mentioned - It was not my work being discussed - I was only observing.David Ebrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037059701518103541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-69445381129439155182009-07-30T15:30:19.156-04:002009-07-30T15:30:19.156-04:00New here so I'll be brief n' get outta the...New here so I'll be brief n' get outta the way. Never joined a crit group - not 'cause I was afraid of criticism but because, there's no way I could critique someone's work without feeling like a creep. <br /><br />I attended ONE writer's group meeting. Seemed like everything said was pompous & consistently negative - with lots of not-so-subtle venomous jabs (accompanied by sad eyes & sympathetic smiles). <br /><br />Nice blog by the way. See Ya.David Ebrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037059701518103541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-63398809513866278272009-07-29T15:51:22.248-04:002009-07-29T15:51:22.248-04:00Bonnie,
Yeah, I think it was important for me, to...Bonnie,<br /><br />Yeah, I think it was important for me, too, learning that there were always people who weren't going to like my writing. There's no way around it. You look at the most successful novelists in the world, the ones who sell in the millions... and the number of people who abhor them are legion. I mean, Rowling, with her mind-boggling sales... but thousands and thousands and thousands of people <i>hate</i> her stuff. I think it helps to come to grips with the inherent subjectivity of the act of reading. I know it helps me keep an even keel when appraising the reactions and comments of readers.Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-44437042663911957952009-07-29T09:24:39.655-04:002009-07-29T09:24:39.655-04:00I agree completely that you need to look at the un...I agree completely that you need to look at the underlying problem -- assuming the comment is more substantive than, "You spelled 'substantive' wrong in the first sentence." <br /><br />I used to drive myself crazy trying to write something that all three people in my then-crit group would love. At some point I realized that no book existed that would please all three of them. Even odder, most of the time when they all agreed that something was wrong, if I made that change and then had them read the same section later, they would all universally hate what they had previously said they wanted. <br /><br />I learned a whole bunch of stuff from this. <br /><br />Like, no matter how much effort you put into making your words precise, your images reinforce, your themes clear -- somebody will manage to misread it. Often repeatedly. <br /><br />And that no matter what I write, somebody's going to hate it. <br /><br />And last but not least, there are some people who, if they ever say, "Wow, I love your stuff, I totally understood everything!" I will know I have failed completely and utterly as a writer.....Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895569211498067204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-82393124804569159412009-07-28T18:19:20.586-04:002009-07-28T18:19:20.586-04:00Good spin on critiques. It is always nice to hear ...Good spin on critiques. It is always nice to hear how others interpret your writing.Triciahttp://dfmil09.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-39168823705006476282009-07-28T12:19:52.942-04:002009-07-28T12:19:52.942-04:00Bryan, yay, you posted it! Cool. I'm glad yo...Bryan, yay, you posted it! Cool. I'm glad you did - you make good points here, and actually changed the way I'll look at critique.<br /><br />Besides, anyone who disagrees with Stephen King's On Writing is a friend of mine. :)<br /><br />Triple scoops with fudge sauce and marshmellows on their way, pronto!<br /><br />Good job on avoiding the terrible and hilarious consequences, btw. Don't worry though, I'll just save it up for next time. Heh, heh, heh :)Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-59835561908066934632009-07-26T20:28:49.177-04:002009-07-26T20:28:49.177-04:00I got a crit back today. She added a coda to the ...I got a crit back today. She added a coda to the end - "A few months later they ..." <br /><br />At first I was shocked and appalled. I can't introduce a new question on the last page! But now I've realized that she simply found the ending unsatisfying. Back to the drawing board.<br /><br />Sending some ice cream your way. I won't wait up for the 691 page rebutal. ;-)Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513482264195697450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-56952063142621864762009-07-26T19:47:17.763-04:002009-07-26T19:47:17.763-04:00What? Me? Need editing for length? Preposterous. J...What? Me? Need editing for length? Preposterous. Just allow me to properly format my 312 page rebuttal...Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-87596525157509224072009-07-26T17:38:17.504-04:002009-07-26T17:38:17.504-04:00For you, Bryan, I'd say cut the section ;)For you, Bryan, I'd say cut the section ;)Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-34401390533831716282009-07-25T13:03:45.183-04:002009-07-25T13:03:45.183-04:00Hey, I'm all about the thinking. :) And, of co...Hey, I'm all about the thinking. :) And, of course, ice cream. Hey, it's summer.Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-90968891011956243052009-07-24T17:13:18.798-04:002009-07-24T17:13:18.798-04:00You have many good points here. I'll go back ...You have many good points here. I'll go back to my old crits and look at the *point* where the crit was made, with the comments secondary. If anything was noticed, then I need to smooth it out or clarify. Or, at least, think very hard. :-) Thanks!Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513482264195697450noreply@blogger.com