tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post8526093573907057650..comments2023-09-16T15:03:34.579+07:00Comments on Adam Heine: When Your Critics are RightAdam Heinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-67820492558875428282011-02-23T08:08:07.134+07:002011-02-23T08:08:07.134+07:00I've definitely had that, Elena. And you'r...I've definitely had that, Elena. And you're right. It's not our job to do everything they say, but to figure out why something's not working for them.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-37982449120995044982011-02-23T03:19:29.370+07:002011-02-23T03:19:29.370+07:00Sometimes the particular crit comment itself is wr...Sometimes the particular crit comment itself is wrong, but the feeling behind it is correct. What the writer needs to do is decipher where that feeling comes from and fix that bit.Elena Solodowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037029195682225565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-53834070429692687312011-02-22T20:50:27.704+07:002011-02-22T20:50:27.704+07:00@Matthew: I agree, especially about the chances dr...<b>@Matthew:</b> I agree, especially about the chances dropping to zero. Though I've found too many crit partners can be difficult too, but for different reasons.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-88451380600176082002011-02-22T18:20:47.590+07:002011-02-22T18:20:47.590+07:00You make an excellent point. And I think it helps ...You make an excellent point. And I think it helps to have your work critiqued by multiple people. If only one person points out a particular problem, there is maybe a 10% chance that they are wrong. If two people point out the same problem, that drops down pretty close to zero.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-28031471974074506042011-02-22T08:16:32.798+07:002011-02-22T08:16:32.798+07:00@K. Martin: Good luck with your first group! Humil...<b>@K. Martin:</b> Good luck with your first group! Humility is key, but it can go away with time. Hang on to it.<br /><br /><b>@Myrna:</b> It's so rare that CPs agree. When they do, you KNOW it needs fixing.<br /><br /><b>@Larissa:</b> Good to know I'm not alone either!<br /><br /><b>@Jen:</b> That's good advice. I know for me, I can't read critiques before I go to bed. Otherwise I'm too depressed (or my mind's too busy fixing things) to sleep.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-75997210436987543272011-02-22T08:11:00.653+07:002011-02-22T08:11:00.653+07:00@aspiring: I've definitely had that problem. T...<b>@aspiring:</b> I've definitely had that problem. The simple (but not easy) answer to that is "go with your gut."<br /><br /><b>@Susan:</b> THE SHACK had church buzz going for it too (and then got a x2 multiplier when other parts of the church started calling it blasphemy). That's a really interesting link, too. Especially for me, as I'm looking at which story to pick next.<br /><br /><b>@D.U.:</b> Definitely, hard as that is to get :-)Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-66472454087138588682011-02-22T05:58:48.523+07:002011-02-22T05:58:48.523+07:00Love this post. I'm terrible at taking critiqu...Love this post. I'm terrible at taking critiques. Saying that out loud sucks, but it's the truth. I take it all to heart. However after talking with Maggie Steifvater she taught me to let the critique sit for 3 days (or longer) and then go back. You'll be more level headed. Best advice I'd ever been given. <br /><br />I find that most of the time they are correct, however you still know how to fix it the best. It's still your opinion in the end. Just make sure it's the right one.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-19259304500405769212011-02-22T04:29:50.958+07:002011-02-22T04:29:50.958+07:00Excellent post. I totally agree, and I have had t...Excellent post. I totally agree, and I have had the same thing happen to me. :)Larissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-16586818821145714622011-02-22T04:23:23.362+07:002011-02-22T04:23:23.362+07:00Yes, and when my CPs agree on a problem, it's ...Yes, and when my CPs agree on a problem, it's easy for me to make the revision. But when they disagree, it's hard to know what to do.Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-62465580674467351812011-02-22T02:14:14.684+07:002011-02-22T02:14:14.684+07:00I'm going to my first ever critique group this...I'm going to my first ever critique group this week so this is great advice! Though I'm like aspiring_x in that I crave critique because I'm sure I could make my writing so much better. I'm definitely in the learning stage at this point, so I have no reason to think "my vision" is correct over someone taking an honest look at my first draft.Keriann Greaney Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584000678535698327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-28745653408633942362011-02-21T23:49:28.089+07:002011-02-21T23:49:28.089+07:00I think it's all about construtive criticism -...I think it's all about construtive criticism - that's what most authors are looking for. It's the only way to perfect your craft.D. U. Okonkwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12900694425526387930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-37316582601887566272011-02-21T21:34:22.886+07:002011-02-21T21:34:22.886+07:00THE SHACK is an interesting phenom - my mom read i...THE SHACK is an interesting phenom - my mom read it (because everyone else was) and she said it was ok, but she didn't understand what the fuss was all about. (My mom reads a TON and is pretty discerning). Yet, it's sold a gazillion copies. <br /><br />I think this speaks to the difference between story and medium - some stories like this touch some cultural zeitgeist and succeed because of that, possibly in spite of the medium.<br /><br />But publishers can't count on you tapping into the zeitgeist, so they require that you have it all going on - story <i>and</i> delivery. I would too, if it was MY money on the line.<br /><br />And the closer you get to the perceived "wide appeal" of the moment, the more likely publishers are to take a gamble on you. I thought <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/WritersDigest/status/39464659970949120" rel="nofollow">this</a> was an interesting take on trends.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-60714039715815122452011-02-21T21:12:58.577+07:002011-02-21T21:12:58.577+07:00hee hee hee! so true adam! i have the opposite p...hee hee hee! so true adam! i have the opposite problem with recieving critique. i know that i need to improve so much, that i take crits to heart... but then- sometimes crits contradict each other, and then i get all confused!vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.com