Feel the Love: How Giving and Receiving Critiques Will Improve Your Writing
Suzanne Mcleod is the author of the Spellcrackers.com series. She lives in the UK with her husband and two rescue dogs and they all share their garden with a colony of pipistrelle bats.
Read on and win a signed copy of Suzanne’s new novel!
Thanks so much David for letting me stage a mini take-over bid in your corner of the web. It’s much appreciated *g*. Okay and now onto How to get your novel published! And a subject close to my heart – Critiques! If it wasn’t for me both critiquing and receiving critiques, I doubt I would be published now. I believe critiquing is one of the most significant ways you can improve your writing, and improve it quickly. And there are plenty of ways to go about getting feedback as you can see below.
But first what is a critique? [henceforth know as a crit since my little finger hates the letter q!] – Critting is where someone gives you their informed opinion on your writing, they should be able to tell you why they’ve made a particular comment, their comments should be constructive and if possible contain suggestions. A good crit should consider characters, setting, description, plot logic, pacing and dialogue as well as those nuts and bolts, spelling and punctuation. Becoming a good critter takes time and practice as does becoming a good writer. And critting isn’t all about the bad; it is just as important to point out what *is* working as well as what’s not.
Now on to the ways you can have your work critted. I’ve tried methods one through five and can recommend them. Six is something that needs to be thought about carefully, and seven is a definite no, no!
1. Join a face2face writers’ group
This is a great one, if you can find the right writer’s group. You want people who are prepared to comment with a good heart, which means with care, constructive comments and suggestions. You also want to join a writer’s group where the other writers take the work seriously. By which I mean they turn up, everyone writes something each meeting, everyone is prepared to listen to each and every crit and whether they agree or not, they don’t try to explain or argue but instead ask clarifying questions. And last but most important, the writers are not there for validation but to learn and improve.
2. Join an online writer’s group
This way works well by allowing you to receive crits from a wider variety of writers and has the advantage of being able to sit at your own computer. Each crit needs to be taken with a pinch of salt and some will be more helpful than others depending on the ability of the person critting. You also need to check how the group is run. Some groups send individuals’ work out to whoever happens to be next on the list, while in others, work is available to all and critters can choose what pieces to crit. Personally I like the second way best, it makes for a more enjoyable experience and you don’t end up critting something you find difficult to empathise with. Another plus of the online group is it can be a great way to find that special person or persons – the crit partner!
3. Crit partners
These are wonderful people who will grow to know your novel and your characters almost as well as you do. And their greatest asset is – objectivity! They are the critters who will tell you that character A wouldn’t say or do something you’ve made them do just because it fits the plot! And then they will kindly tell you what character A probably should do or say in that particular situation *g*.
4. Writing competitions that offer a crit of your entry
These are a great way of having a published author/agent/editor pass comment on your work. Yes, there may be an entry fee, but often this is the only way to gain such a crit. And there is always the chance of winning a prize!
5. Writing conferences
A lot of writing conferences offer the chance to either send your work to the conference speakers or offer it up on the day in a workshop for individual crits. This again can be a good way of having published authors/writing tutors/agents/editors give feedback on your writing. Do not confuse this with agent/editor appointments which are usually also available at writing conferences and are an opportunity to sell your finished novel [after you’ve had it critted and made it the best you can, of course *g*].
6. Paid critiques
If you decide to go down this route, make sure you do your research and pick the right person. Check out their credentials. Anyone can offer to crit your writing for a fee, and these fees can be expensive. If you do decide to go down this route, you need to check that the person critting your work knows and is aware of the current trends in whatever genre you are writing in and is/has been an industry professional. My personal opinion here is, if you really feel you want to do this, then only pay for a partial crit first, and see how helpful you feel this particular person’s opinion on your work might be to you.
7. Ask your mum/best pal/significant other/ dog to read it
No, this isn’t one of the good ways to get feedback on your writing [unless of course whoever it is happens to be a publishing editor in the field you’re writing in, then go for it *g*]. These are people who love you; they will not want to hurt your feelings and so will tell you what they think you want to hear. When you have your writing critted, you need someone who will tell you what they thought they read, which is something entirely different.
The most important part of any crit is to remember one thing – any comments on your writing are only one person’s subjective opinion and they are not personal. And just because one person disagrees with something you’ve written does not mean it needs fixed. Of course, if half a dozen critters come up with the same comment, then you should take notice. In the end critting is all about communication – it is the way for you the writer to find out if the story in your mind has made it past the page, and into the reader’s own mind in the same way you originally imagined it.
A good way to find local writing groups is through your local library, [or local authority adult learning - in the UK]. Another way is by joining the NANOWRIMO and connecting with those in your area – possibly even starting your own group.
Online writers groups can be found by searching on the web, one I recommend is the Online Writers’ Workshop for Science fiction, Fantasy and Horror . They offer a free trial.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and I hope you found the points useful. The best of luck to all who are still travelling along that bumpy road to publication. And I’m happy to answer any questions in the comments section.
The Sweet Scent of Blood is released tomorrow, but you can read Chapter One on Spellcrackers.com today.
I’ve read it. It’s smart, intriguing, and very cool!
And now…
IT’S COMPETITION TIME!
Suzanne will give a signed copy of The Sweet Scent of Blood to one lucky commenter here on How To Get Your Novel Published! Everyone who comments on this post will be in the draw. All the names will go into a hat at midday GMT on Friday this week, each one attached to a biscuit, and one of Suzanne’s dogs will choose our winner!
Comment below to enter the draw!
Tez Miller said,
September 3, 2008 at 10:49 am
Good news, Suzanne – Hachette Livre Australia has added The Sweet Scent of Blood to their database. Due to be released in November. You’ll have to remind me to take my camera when I go to the shops, just in case I happen to see it
RRP $19.99, which is a fabulous price – anything over $20, and I get wary 
Have a lovely day!
sidhevicious said,
September 3, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Congrats on your new release Suzanne! I’ll be looking for it here in Canada.
Great blog post as well.
Virginia said,
September 3, 2008 at 12:44 pm
COngrats on the new book! I enjoyed the post. I’m not an aspiring author, but I know a few of them who I could probably point over here.
Gareth said,
September 3, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Hey Suzanne (and David),
Some great points in the post however one of the other things that is worth addressing is in a similar league to paying for a Crit, its that old bugbear of self publication. Whilst many see these as two seperate area’s I tend to see them as a similar problem in so far as its dependent upon a number of things such as the person could see it as money for old rope and not have to do too much to just obtain a cheque.
As you’ve said research is the key and currently there are some cracking Writers Boards out there to get feedback from (for free I may add), I’d probably only suggest paying for a Professional Critique when you’ve polished the manuscript as far as you can after undergoing the trial by fire of other writers and you feel that what you’ve written is the best it can be.
Other than that what its just the other point that if one reviewer (or Crit Writer) has problems with a certain thing then its debatable as to whether to stick to your guns or not, if you get multiple people commenting on the same thing then its perhaps worth your time to have a reread and a think and check this POV out as it can be the difference between having something accepted and having it rejected.
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Hi Tez, that’s great, thanks for letting me know
Hi Sidhevicious, thank you, glad you enjoyed the post
Vicky said,
September 3, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Some really useful and interesting points Suzanne – writing and receiving criticism well is definitely an art of it’s own. Your comments about handling a critique and not taking it personally, but seeing it as a method of communication are particularly important, it would be terrible if one or two early negative comments on a person’s work completely put them off, as we might miss out on some gems in the future!
jeanie said,
September 3, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Thank you for this. I found you over at http://community.livejournal.com/urbanfantasyfan/
I’m still working on my first novel, but belong to several critique groups, both online and in person. I almost have the first chapter to the point where I am happy with it and plan on resubmitting it soon. I’ve learned a lot critting other’s works. Also, deciding what to listen to has helped me develop confidence in my own voice and take ownership of my work. It is hard at times not to get defensive, but that was good practice for what I know will come. How many careers have the type of rejection built in to it that we face in publishing?
For speculative fiction, I recommend Other Worlds Workshop: http://www.otherworlds.net/frameset.htm . They require in depth critiques to maintain membership. I’ve learned a lot critting there and reading other people’s crits.
Then there is the granddaddy of all speculative fiction online crit groups: critters. http://critters.org/index.ht
Both these are free and just require a few critiques a month to maintain membership.
Thanks for posting this.
and thanks for writing vamp stories. I can’t get enough. Nope. Never never.
Yolanda Sfetsos said,
September 3, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Suzanne, congrats on your new release and thanks for sharing such an informative post with us.
Have a great day!
Murfomurf said,
September 3, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I’m no fiction writer- just a part-time editor and scientific article-writer. However, I AM a voracious reader of several fiction genres and several of my friends who have degrees in literature are also big consumers of novels. People like us would probably make quite good free “critters” as we are widely read, have high standards for what we LIKE reading and are pretty well-versed in expression and grammar. WE KNOW a lot of the latest stuff that has been published because we tend to pass things around our group and shop for newies together. I’m sure people like ourselves could be contacted through good bookshops- we’d be the customers who always want the new stuff and come and give feedback to the booksellers next time we’re in! We will certainly give “The Sweet Scent of Blood” a read if we see it here in Adelaide, South Australia-I ‘ll be asking for it at Mary Martin’s Bookshop next time I’m there.
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hey, Gareth
that’s a great point you’ve raised. I think it anyone is thinking of the self-pub route, they really need to do their homework, not just on the money side, but from the pov of not having that professional editing eye being cast over their work. Both from my own experience, and from knowing a couple of self-pubbed writers (great writers and stories, I might add) it really can make a difference in adding that extra bit of polish.
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hi Viginia, great you enjoyed it, and thank you for passing the word out
Hi Vicky, yes, all crits need to be taken with that pinch of salt. And I’d always recommend starting with whatever is working about someone’s work first. And when it’s someone you don’t know and they don’t know you, a ratio of *3:1* on the *works:not quite working* is probably a good rule to follow. Thanks for dropping by
Hi Jeanie, totally agree, critting others’ works is one of the best ways to learn, and I’m a great advocate of read as much as you can if you want to write. Good luck with that submitting! and Yay! Vamps *g*
Hi again, Yolanda, great to see you here
clwhite said,
September 3, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Suzanne, congrats on the new book — I’ll be looking for it’s release here in the states.
Thanks for explaining the different pros and cons of each type to critque. IMO, I’ve found the online critique groups to be more helpful than the face2face ones — most of the writers in my area are of the geriatric persuasion and don’t understand why I’m so “dark and negative and like to write about demons and things like that”. I fear they’ll send an exorcist after me soon. My online critters have been much more helpful in that most understand the genre, and they take the time to break down my writing and point things out — good and bad.
I’ll definitely have to start exploring some more competitions, though. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks, David, for hosting this blog.
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Hi Murfomurf, great idea to get hold of early readers from the local bookshop, it sounds like a good way to get feedback once the book is as finished and polished as a writer can get it and before sending it off. Certainly something I’ll be pondering on for the future, thank you
And thanks for your interest in TSSoB 
Jenn Hollowell said,
September 3, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Great post! I would love to join a face2face crit group or writers group, but ther are NONE here. I’m living in the “country” where we don’t even have a grocery store.
So, my thought is, “why not create my own?” I fear this step, however, because I worry the only person who shows up will be … me. 
It’s important, though, to *see* a reader’s reaction, rather than read it on a screen. Your post has really made me realize this should come to fruition in the very near future.
Thank you for pointing me to this post, David! It’s VERY useful information that I will be passing on to my readers.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith said,
September 3, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Fantastic post and congratulations!
It’s wonderful to hear from writers who have done the hard slug and are getting their book out there. Finding critique partners and guides on this long journey can be challenging but every new writer friend we make is a true treasure.
Joan Kremer said,
September 3, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Hi Suzanne,
Congratulations on the publication of your first novel!! That’s got to be a great feeling!
As a writer and editor, I totally agree with you that critiquing is one of the best ways to improve one’s writing. While I’ve been in a face2face group in the past, I live in a rural area where I have to drive quite a ways to participate. So I absolutely love the opportunities available on the Internet for critique groups. Very soon at my writers’ center in the Second Life virtual world, we will be forming groups that combine aspects of both — face-to-face (as avatars), with voice enabled, but online so there’s no traveling — only logging onto the Internet. I will link to this article as one of the resources on critiquing: you express the key points very succinctly and clearly.
Best wishes on a hugely successful release!
Joan
P.S. David — thank you for having Suzanne as guest!
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hi clwhite, glad the post helped and good luck with those competitions. Thanks for the congrats on TSSoB and for dropping by
Hi Jenn, and starting your own group is a great idea – that’s how I found my face2face crit group and we’ve been together now for nearly four years and all of us successful in some way with our writing, which is fantastic. One of the advantages of a face2face is that everyone can *discuss* each others’ work as not everyone always agrees with others’ comments, which makes for some interesting meetings
Hi Rebecca, totally agree with your words on finding new writer friends, they are definitely a treasure, and thank you for the congrats. Glad you enjoyed the post
.
jamiemollart said,
September 3, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I agree, critiques are really helpful, I am a member of Litopia, with David and it’s great to get informed opinion about you work. More than that it’s rewarding to talk to other people about writing, because it is essentially a very solitary business
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 3, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hi Joan, thank you for the congrats and best wishes, and yes, it is a wonderful feeling *g*. The avatar, voice enabled critting sounds like a fantastic idea, and the internet is a brilliant resource for making such interaction between folk much more accessible. And it’s great that you enjoyed the post.
Hi Jamie, yes, talking about writing to others that understand! A definite plus point that one
thanks for dropping by 
Deirdre said,
September 3, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Congrats on the publication. Wandering off to add it to my wishlist.
Interesting points.
Maria said,
September 3, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Okay, I’m slathering my dog biscuit with gravy to better my chances. Yeah, I know what dogs like.
)
>>any comments on your writing are only one person’s subjective opinion and they are not personal.
Absolutely! A mentor of mine once told me that when I crit, I am critting the work, not the author. That’s always clung to the back of my mind. When I crit, my commentary focuses on the story.
I won’t say: ‘You should do this.’ Or. ‘You did this wrong.’
Instead, I’ll try to word it constructively.
Such as: ‘Have you considered trying —?’ Or. ‘I love how you did ‘this’. Would it work if you do it here as well?’
Good critters are like doctors. First do no harm.
)
This sounds like it was written by someone who has been in the trenches, Suzanne. Good job! And many congrats!
I will be sure to give you a shout-out on my blog tomorrow. All the best!
Renee Sweet said,
September 4, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hey Suzanne! (Hi David!)
Super congrats on the release. I’ve got my fingers crossed to win a copy here, otherwise I’ll be pestering Ms. Mahoney to mail me a copy from the UK.
Thanks also for this great post. I’ve been grabbing up opportunities to critique others’ work for a while now, never sure if I was doing a proper job of it. Looks like I was doing all right but your post has given me some things to consider for my next read through.
Karen Wester Newton said,
September 4, 2008 at 3:56 am
I’d like to pass on another observation about contests. Because contests often require a limited set of pages plus a synopsis, they are a wonderful way to practice writing concisely (got to get that key scene into the first 12, 15, however many pages) and to practice writing a synopsis. In many ways, a contest entry resembles the kind of partial m.s. you might send to an agent, but you can send it to the contest first and get feedback on it, which most agents are too busy to give. Also, some contest have “celebrity judges” (usually editors and agents) who read the final round of entries. That’s a wonderful way to get noticed and/or get feedback.
Alexandra said,
September 4, 2008 at 5:15 am
ah thank you for face2face I had never heard of the site
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 4, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hi Maria, thanks for dropping by, and for your great comments. The dogs are sitting expectantly waiting *g*
J.K. Coi said,
September 4, 2008 at 12:53 pm
This sounds like a great book! Congratulations on your first sale. I look forward to seeing it on the shelves
elizaw said,
September 4, 2008 at 5:55 pm
There’s also a great new site I found– http://critpartnermatch.ning.com/
Basically, it’s like a dating site, but to match up different writers to compatible crit partners instead. It’s only three weeks old, and it has nearly eighty members. Go check it out.
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Hi elizaw, great tip, I’ll definitely check it out. Thank you
Hi J.K glad you like the sound of it
Hi Alexandra, pleased I could help
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 4, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hi Karen, Some very good points there and well worth knowing. As you say, contests are a great way to hone your submissions. Thank you
Hi Renee
Great to give you some tips, hope Karen doesn’t blame me for them though *g* and thank you for the congrats 
Hi Deirdre, thanks for the congrats and the add to your wish list. I hope you enjoy
scifiguydotca said,
September 5, 2008 at 1:30 am
Great advice. I’m not a writer but I am a blogger. Best wishes for the book ! If I get the opportunity I will review it at http://www.scifiguy.ca hewre I have been specializing in paranormals of late. Cheers !
Suzanne McLeod said,
September 5, 2008 at 9:16 am
Hi scifiguy, thanks for dropping by and the best wishes, hope you enjoy the book if you read
and great site!
James Tuck said,
September 6, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Good blog. I have been looking for a good writers group. This was most helpful. I look forward to picking up your book.
David Bridger said,
September 6, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Hi, James. Thanks for turning me onto Susan Tedeschi. I saw her name on your site and I’m listening to her now. Wonderful!