E.M. Kokie's debut novel, Personal Effects, will be published by Candlewick Press in 2012. She is represented by Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary, a member of the Apocalypsies, and can also be found online at Twitter, Facebook, or hanging around the Absolute Write forums. Stay tuned for the impending launch of her website http://www.emkokie.com.
The Importance of Critique
by E. M. Kokie
Thanks to Marissa and Martina for inviting me to do a WOW Wednesday post.
This was surprisingly difficult to write. My path to publication seemed so similar to so many others - a lot of revise, query, revise, query, lather, rinse, repeat. But in thinking about my path, I realized that the critique I received along the way made it a little easier and a little less lonely.
Sharing my work in progress with trusted writing friends was the best decision I made. Joining a group of experienced critiquers helped push me to write so that I could submit something every time it was my turn to submit. Because I was getting effective critique as I wrote, my first draft was stronger than if I had been writing in a vacuum. Critiquing others' writing helped me improve my ability to self-edit. And something really great happened in the middle of all that critique - I began to trust my story and my ability to write it.
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Excellent breakdown of good critiquing! Lots of concrete ways listed here, and the best takeaway here for me is that critiquing others' writing helps improve the ability to self-edit. The more analyzing practice we get, the better we become at it--even on our own stuff! Nice.
wow- this is all really really excellent advice and so true. Great tips for successfully critiquing and being critiqued. Thanks for sharing!
Hey fellow Apocalypsie!!! What a great post and filled with sound advice. I especially like the part where you say to face the hard but accurate critique - I definitely had a few of those when I put my work out there in public contests.
Nothing beats an honest yet kind critique and I am definitely blessed to have two awesome crit partners...hello Christina & Susan ; )
Congrats M&M, for reaching 700 FOLLOWERS. Woo! You go, girls! (I just reached 50 and am celebrating this week with a critique giveaway--but WHOA, 700!!)
So glad the post rang true!
And if any readers are looking for some good critique, and to help a very worthy cause, there is an auction ongoing until December 4, 2010 to benefit author & librarian Bridget Zinn. Up for auction are manuscript and query critiques by a number of folks (including a query critique package I donated). Check it out ---> http://bit.ly/bridgetauction
And thanks again to Martina and Marissa for the opportunity to guest post!
Great post. You really hit on some nice things. :)