The Great Critique

Giving and receiving critiques on your writing is one of the most helpful and necessary parts of the process. I value my critique group beyond any other writing tools I have. They let me know what works and what doesn't, when something I thought was crystal clear is not, and when my characters are acting out of character. They offer encouragement and cheerleading.

Not only has constant critique made me a better writer, it has made me a more professional writer. When I receive notes from agents, editors, and other professionals, I am able to receive the notes with a professional calmness. I don't get defensive. I get revising.

I hope everyone who writes is able to find a group or a few trusted beta readers who can offer valuable critique, but I know that there are quite a few writers in our SCBWI region (Utah and southern Idaho) who may not even know any other writers in their community. Or perhaps they don't know how to get a group started. Or have never critiqued anyone else's work and feel inadequate.

That is why we started a region-wide event called The Great Critique. We give you the opportunity to meet with other children's writers in your area and critique away. On one day, August 9, we all meet throughout the region, helping each other become better writers (and illustrators--they get to participate as well!). During the summer, you'll receive excerpts from manuscripts by the others registered in your area. You'll read them, prepare comments, and then meet in August for live critiquing. And if you don't have a meeting close by, we offer an online location as well. This event is FREE, and we hope you take advantage of it.

In addition, if you wish to have a critique from a publishing house editor or an agent, you can register for that through our web site. And for an extra bonus, you can get a professional query critique.

You'll find all the details on our registration page. So there are no excuses. Sign up NOW. Registration is open until June 15.


by Neysa CM Jensen
your regional advisor for SCBWI
(I live in Boise, Idaho, but don't hold that against me.)

Receiving Critical Input

By Julie Daines

I had to interrupt my regularly scheduled NaNo to post a link to this fantastic article on the StoryFix blog. Every author or writer needs to read this great advice on accepting criticism, and choosing which criticisms to accept. 

Do it now.

Hurry!

Publishing Myths

You don't have to listen to anyone else when they suggest changes to your story.

When I first began writing, I was assured by other aspiring authors that I should always do whatever I thought best for the story. That others were welcome to provide suggestions, but that I didn't have to take them.

If you want to get published, you don't rely solely on your own opinion.

As I've surfed through the many, um, interesting works on authonomy, I've read many rants from potential authors, where they've adamantly refused to change anything about their writing.

I can only imagine how agents feel when they've spent hours reading a manuscript and making suggestions, only to hear that the author didn't agree. Yes, it's our perogative not to change our own work, but did we actually try implementing those suggestions? Almost every time I've gotten feedback from an agent or editor, I've tried it out and discovered it made me sound much more brilliant than I really am.

An author friend of mine (3 published works) always advises me to make the changes agents/editors tell me to make. Yes, it stings to know my manuscript isn't perfect, but if I take a day or two to think about it, I almost always end up agreeing with the suggestions.

What do you think about making changes based on agent's/editor critique?