Mentor Monday: How to Receive a Critique in a Group Setting

A while back, my Mentor Monday post offered advice on how to give a critique.  Today, I offer up suggestions on how to receive a critique.

•  Always bring a piece that has been buffed and polished to perfection -- to the best of your ability so far. If you haven't done all the work associated with this draft, we're certainly not going to put a lot of effort into it because we already know you can do better. Some may disagree with me on this, and probably there are exceptions to when this rule can be broken, but I think those times are rare. What do you think?

• If you have one (or two) things you'd like to get out of the critique, let the group know before they start reading. Do you wonder whether you've used transitions well or if the dialogue rings true? Give your readers a job to do. We love to help!. Expect that most of us will still comment on your piece as a whole or on other things we feel you need our (so totally) expert opinion on.

• DO NOT use this opening to give a lengthy explanation of or apologize for your work.  The piece must stand or fall on its own. We can 't emphasize this enough. Well, we could, but it would mean hiring Guido again-- and trust me -- you'd rather that we not.

•  Being the language-type folk we are, we'll have plenty to say. Jot notes. 

• In our collective experience, The Write Sisters find that it's always preferable to bring several copies of a manuscript for members to read.  It's just easier for most readers to absorb a piece by reading it. In some groups (ours for example), someone also reads the piece aloud.  Expect and encourage your readers to mark up their copies of your work and return them to you at the end of the session.  

• In general, make as few comments as possible during the critique of your manuscript. You'll have a chance to speak at the end.

•  As you listen, try to keep an open mind about what's being said. I think writers should own most comments for at least 24 hours. You may violently disagree with what a reader said, but by at least considering its truth you might learn something from it. If, after all that 'think' time, you still find it's a bunch of horsepucky, by all means, cast that little sucker aside.  

• Don't assume that all opinions are relevant or even good. Find voices you trust, and listen carefully.

• Understand your feelings of resistance to things your readers have said. Try something out even though it may be past your skill level or something you really believe won't work. What have you got to lose by just trying it out? Writing is fairly easy to undo. You could possibly be stretching and strengthening a writing muscle you didn't know you had.

• Don't be paralyzed by what may seem like an flood of negative criticism. There are times when the best of us feel hurt by comments. As long as they're not purposely mean, a comment is meant to help you be a better writer. If you're getting more negative responses than you can handle, ask your critiquers to tell you what they feel actually works in your piece. If your group tends to always focus on the negative, it may be time to find a new group.

• Try not to explain or defend anything you've written. Of course, there are exceptions to this as, for example, if a critiquer asks for an explanation or if you're trying to illustrate your thinking behind the way you wrote something. But be careful to recognize a fine line here. Remember, no one will accompany your submission to the editor's desk.

• Be gracious, and don't hog your meeting. It may be your group has no moderator to help bring your session to a close.  Do not let the comments go on endlessly (as they sometimes can . . .).  After a reasonable amount of time, thank everyone for their help, then promise yourself you'll use their advice to make your manuscript totally kick-ass awesome. Bring it back again when you have.

Mentor Monday: How to Critique in a Group Setting

• Remember the writer is a human being who is entrusting you with her work and her words. She's likely worked to whatever skill level she has, and wants an objective critique. Be sure you're critiquing the writing, not the writer.

• If you're new to critiquing, don't worry about your level of writing skill. It's all about how skilled you are as a reader. You wouldn't be in a writers' group if you weren't also a reader, would you?

• Listen to the critiquing voices you trust. What resonates with you? What are some of the things your fellow writers focus on?  What questions do they ask? Can you ask similar questions?

• Don't assume you have any superior knowledge about writing. Even the most inexperienced writer can teach you a thing or two about writing – if you're open to it.

• Listen to what the writer has said before you read the piece. An experienced critique group member will sometimes preface her work with a question she has about the manuscript or a statement about something she's struggling with. Focus on that, while also keeping in mind the piece as a whole.

• At first, pay attention to the way you feel about the entire piece rather than focusing on the specifics. A critique group is not a place for heavy line-editing. Notice places where you're pulled from the story or where the writing technique is more obvious than the content. What didn't sit quite right? What was confusing? It's only toward the end of the critique that the Sisters mention little nit-picky things, such as word choice, grammar, or punctuation.

• Don't feel the need to respond immediately after you read the work. Give it at least a minute for some thought. As the discussion begins, the conversation will develop naturally. You'll have time to chime in.

• Some groups insist on the sandwich model of critique – where the negative comments are sandwiched between two positives. The Sisters have been together for a long time, and are comfortable with who we are, so sometimes this doesn't happen. We're cool with that . . .

• Sometimes asking a question is a softer approach to critique, i.e. What did you want to accomplish with this paragraph? Why did you choose to write it this way?  How do you feel this paragraph moves the action forward? The writer's answers may help her discover something on her own.

• Don't speak with authority unless you have it. The Write Sisters have each been writing for children for 20 years, and we're still not authorities on the subject.

• It's not your job to rewrite someone's work.

• Consider your delivery. Sometimes many voices can feel like an attack. If you need to be the one to pull the group out of its feeding frenzy, don't hesitate to speak up.

• Some authors feel a need to answer every comment with an explanation. A gentle reminder to that person should be enough to get her out of this habit. After all, the writer won't be sitting there as an editor reads her submission. The work should speak for itself. If she insists on explaining, you must persist!

• Pick your battles, and remember that some authors don't want to hear about everything that's wrong with a piece all at once. Sometimes the author will discover the rough patches on her own when she goes back to rewrite it. Give the author hope so she can go back and revise with confidence.

• Mark up copies if the writer has provided them. If not, make notes as you listen. Don't be afraid to ask the writer to re-read something . . . or ask for the copy so you can read it yourself. In my opinion, critiques work best when the critiquers can see words on the page. The Sisters almost always bring copies for everyone. 

Next time: How to Receive a Critique.