Critiquing – an about face. Seriously?

If you’ve seen past posts on this, you’ll know I have always been wary of critiquing and critique partners. Jeez, who am I kidding? I was convinced I didn’t want it and didn’t need it – not because my work was perfect (yeah, right) – but because the very thought of it terrified me. And yeah, I’m used to relying on myself and getting things done on my own, and I figured I could complete my journey to publication without it. It might have been a teensy, tiny bit arrogant :). It’s not that I worried about the feedback, but I’d heard all the nightmare stories about critique experiences. Trying to write and get published is hard enough, without having to deal with THOSE hassles and it all sounded very time consuming. And sending my work to some unknown person (who may or may not be a ‘good’ writer or know what they’re talking about) just so that they could rip it to shreds? Or tell me it was ‘fine’ or ‘great’ when it really sucked? Who needs that? But there was always something niggling at me, back in the dark recesses of my mind – every published author I had heard talk on this subject and nearly every aspiring author I had read/listened to – ALL had critique partners. Huh. It’s not that I thought they were wrong (OK, it may have crossed my mind), but for awhile I still thought I could do without it. Until recently. I got the courage from somewhere to give it a try. Again, I wasn’t worried about the nature of the feedback. I was more worried about being steered in a wrong direction and wasting valuable time. I was worried I’d get feedback and I’d be like ‘I have no idea what this person is talking about’. I was worried an obligation would be established in a relationship I wouldn’t want to continue and I’d have no idea how to deal with that. None of that happened and through it I realized some things. I can’t see my work with fresh eyes or in a new light once I’ve worked on it for so long. Only a new reader can do that. I can’t necessarily see structural issues, grammatical problems or even wrongly used words because I’ve read through it so many times. I can’t see gaps or poor transitions or even some inconsistencies because I’m so familiar with my own work. I’ve come to realize that critiquing can provide a whole other rich layer to a written piece. Imagine that? The trick is finding someone who has a similar style or writes in a similar genre and perhaps has strengths that complements your weaknesses. Easier said than done I know. I’ve discovered you can get a sense of someone in a very short span of time and you just have to trust your instincts. Plus, you can ignore everything they say if you want and perhaps try someone else. This trial and error process seems to be a pretty standard approach.

So, yeah, I guess you could say I’ve had an about face on critiquing because my experiences have all been wonderful, positive, valuable, enlightening, and enriching. I think my work will be better for it.

Fear ... and the writer

I was thinking this week about why it was that I hadn't completed my revisions yet. I mean, yes they would require some rearranging of my ms, but they're not major by any means. I should have finished by now, even with all the other stuff that's going on in my real life. I know I've been paralyzed by fear - fear that it will be off the mark, fear that I'll make it worse, fear that she'll hate it, fear that she won't give me another chance, fear that it'll result in a rejection. For writers and aspiring writers, you all know what I mean, right? Everything we do is facing and overcoming some form of fear. Forget about actually sending something we've bled and sweated off to an unknown editor or agent, just putting our words down on a page can be tough. I know all that and accept rejection as part of this journey and still I've been hesitating. Why? WHY? This morning it struck me. I'm also facing the fear of success. Yeah, success. You'll probably think I'm crazy, but what if she likes it, what if they offer to publish it? It's what I want, it's what I've been working towards, it's what I've been focused on, but it's a scary prospect because expectations will be built that I will have to live up to, and in reality, exceed from here on out. Do I really have what it takes? Can I really do it - not just this one, but the one after that, and the next and the next? Now, I feel like I understand my real fear. And these fears? All of them? They aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so I better deal with it and get on with it, because I do want to be a published author - bad.

What I've learned so far...

I was thinking today (substitute procrastinating when I should have been writing) about what I have learned so far on my writing journey. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it because I still learn every day, but I have learned a lot. Now, many of these things might be obvious to others and of course I don't profess to be an expert on anything, but thought I would share those that have been my ‘ah-ha’ moments so far:

• There's a hell of a lot of competition out there! There are many wonderful writers in varying stages of their careers all vying to be successful authors in this genre. Oh, boy! There is obvious awareness of those very successful, well known authors but the ranks of the newly published and aspiring have many incredibly talented writers.
• There are a lot of preconceived ideas about readers and writers of romance. BTW, I am not fat, ugly, unmarried or sexually deprived as one moron seemed to think was an accurate description of the women who read romance!
• Romance writers are BIG readers of romance. I’m not sure why this didn’t occur to me before. I transitioned from reader to writer as many have and continue to read. I don’t imagine I’ll ever stop but I've been surprised to learn how prolific some of the writers out there are in terms of reading. Where do they find the time??
• I’m not as crazy as I sometimes think. Other writers hear (their characters) voices too. Thank God for that one.
• Writing contests are not just for winning. I’m a competitive person and will be the first to admit if I enter a competition I aim to win. I’ve found the most value I’ve gotten out of a contest is to have been ripped to shreds in regards to the feedback I’ve received. Bring it on because I am a better writer because of it.
• Twelve months aint nothin in this industry. In fact, it’s a drop in the bucket when you’re talking about trying to get published if you take into account the publisher wait times and turnaround and the schedule to get published if you even manage to get a contract.
• You need a tough skin. If you don't have one, get one. If you can't then you have to learn how to take feedback and criticism in a way that doesn’t send you curling into the fetus position. You’re entering a career where this will never go away.
• Romance writers are some of the nicest people I’ve come across so far. Not nice as in ‘sugary sweet’, but nice in a ‘willing to spend their time, share their expertise and lend their support and encouragement when it’s needed’ way.

 

It's a Slump Day

I've never believed in writers block and those that talk about their 'muse' seem to me to be a bit airy fairy. Just get your butt on the seat. Sure, some days are harder than others. Some days the creative juices flow freely and you struggle to get all the thoughts and ideas down before they disappear forever. Other days it's just plain hard work. Today is one of those days. I've accomplished a good word count and what I've written is OK, but each and every word was an effort to lay on the page. I'm working on the middle of a book. For me, smack dab in the middle of the book is always the toughest. The hero and heroine and are in the nitty gritty of getting to know one another (really know one another) and beginning to show signs of growing as individuals and a potential couple despite some serious hurdles about to come their way. I could be overly critical but I am always worried it will feel like it slumps in the middle and it's a filler before the slide into the Happily Ever After. I'm hoping tomorrow I will sit down refreshed with new eyes and the big picture will became crystal clear again!!