“This is your writing. It’s important. I’m not advocating shoving yourself into the middle of someone else’s discussion or waving a red flag in the bathroom line, but put yourself out there.” ~ Becky Levine, in The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide.
One Sunday afternoon, it took all I had to get out of my house and into the car. It would be my first time, walking into a circle of strangers, sharing a short story that I had worked on for too long, putting my work and myself out there. Giddy and nervous, I worried I might talk too much or not at all. I wondered if I would leave elated or deflated. I was tempted to rest the fate of my whole writing career (what little there was of it at the time) on this two-hour experience, sitting in the basement of a mall at table with other writers. Luckily, the words of Becky Levine pressed on my conscious.
This is your writing. It’s important.
At some point in every Writer’s life, we enter into the critique zone. It’s inevitable and necessary, because, while most writing happens in isolation, our stories rarely succeed without others. So, we sign up and show up. And, some of us fret every time we traverse the stairs and walk into the room.
Critiques aren’t easy. Never mind the vulnerability factor, when our work goes under 
the eyes of our peers. Critiques take skill, in giving them as much as in receiving them. A couple of books I’ve read have helped me 
survive moments with my writing groups in one way or another: Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive by Joni B. Cole and The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide by Becky Levine. Both authors make clear that how we give feedback is as important as how we receive it, because we learn from each side of the experience.
In the writing group in which I participate right now, critiques happen on the spot. The author reads his or her story, and we listen, write our thoughts down in the moment, share our comments right away. I much more prefer to read a story, let it digest, and then give my feedback a day or two later. The challenge for me then is, while I know when a passage or a character bumps me, I don’t always know why. Not immediately. Enter Becky Levine again, this time with her excellent article in the February issue of Writer’s Digest: “Critique Your Way to Better Writing.” Becky’s insights in this article on giving and receiving feedback hit home for me again..
“…[T]hink about the elements that make up our projects…such as character, explanatory narrative, scenes, dialogue, description and voice. Pretty much every weakness in a manuscript is a weakness in one of the big elements….”
I might not be able to pin-point exactly what throws me off during a writer’s reading of one story at a single critique session, but I can go home and think on it, even after I’ve submitted my comments. Then, in subsequent weeks, I will be more prepared to offer valuable feedback.
“Home in on the story element that’s creating the problem. Then…analyze what is and isn’t working. The more you critique, the easier answering these questions will become – and the more those answers will reveal themselves in your own work.”
That happens to me all the time. The more specific I am with my feedback, in things as simple as dialogue tags or as complex as creating more tension (or stretching out that tension) in a scene, the more I return to my own work and see areas that need the same kind of attention.
Writer’s reciprocity in its most genuine form. We learn from each other.
If you’re new to a writing group, stick around. If you haven’t joined a group, find one (even a soiree of writing friends will do). Pick up a copy of Joni B. Cole’s book on Toxic Feedback and one of Becky Levine’s Survival Guide. Better yet, pop over to Becky Levine’s webpage. She’s soliciting guest bloggers to post on their writing critique experiences, and she’s offering up copies of her book in return. Even if you don’t have an essay to submit, you can still enter to win a copy of her book by leaving a comment on these guest posts.
Want to read more on critique groups? Here are some other blog posts to check out:
“Getting the Most from a Critique” Lisa Hall-Wilson (on Girls with Pens) talks about the tone of a group, setting goals, and strengths and weaknesses.
“How Writing Groups Can Work for You” Susan Bearman (on Write It Sideways) highlights two important points: make a commitment to show up consistently and don’t minimize how much you can learn from hearing the work of writers outside your preferred genre.
How about you? What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned by sitting around a table with other writers? Or, do you have a favorite book on surviving critiques?
“…[W]riting is a solitary effort, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one — and
that is the real gift of feedback” ~ Joni B. Cole
Christi, thank you so much for this! I just tried out a new group for myself, and they were fantastic (just, I decided, too far away!), and I kind of went through these feelings all over again, for the first time in a while. It IS tough, but it was such a good reminder that being pushed is absolutely necessary for me to get my writing stronger. And that I need to be critiquing in the genre I’m writing in, so I can DO that learning!
“…being pushed is absolutely necessary for me to get my writing stronger.”
Yes! And I’d say, being pushed in both directions. Giving critiques gives me almost as much anxiety as getting them. Still, I learn a lot about the writing process in doing them both.
Great post! And so true. Critique can be scary but it should be helpful. Ideally it can also be fun (really, trust me). I love my crit group. We blog about critique and the writing process at VivaScriva.com
Amber,
Thanks for stopping by. And thanks for mentioned the fact that critiques can be fun. Sometimes I take myself way too seriously when I sit down at those tables 🙂
Glad you mentioned your website, too. I’ll jump over there and take a peek around.
Christi, I don’t know if I can add a book on surviving critiques, so I will add my limited experience. Three writer’s groups in person, three groups on line, a collection of genre and bent, the reading of a piece in front of people, or the posting of a piece on line. It takes time and patience to find the right fit, luck to find the best reader, and wisdom to know when NOT to listen 🙂
Florence,
Yes! You’re so right on the listening and filtering part. Sometimes, we do run into readers who aren’t the best audience for our work, so those critiques might not hit on what we need to work on the most. Becky and Joni’s books both touch on this aspect as well. Thanks for that reminder!
I remember my first critique group experience. I too sat in the car debating with myself. Of course, I stayed and learned — both how to and how not to. Now, for the first time in three years, I’m without a critique group and it’s a little scary. What’s worse is it appears my previous betas will be unavailable when I need them. I can only keep writing and trust that situation will work out.
Hey, maybe the writing godmother will wave her magic wand over my completed MS and revise it perfectly! 😉 One can dream.
Linda,
I think you’re right to trust that it will all work out. I’m a big believer in just doing the next right thing and letting go of the results. And, if you find the godmother of writing? Put in a good word for me!
In the comment above, Becky says something that really hits home for me and my group critique experiences: And that I need to be critiquing in the genre I’m writing in, so I can DO that learning!
I’ve twice had the experience of writing in a genre that was unfamiliar to the group I was with. The feedback was minimal and not too helpful. Later I received critiques from other writers more experienced in that kind of writing who were able to give valuable insight.
As for the feedback I give, I worry over it every time.
Great post, Christi!
You and Florence are on the same page: you have to find the right fit. And when you do…that’s when the magic happens.
On giving feedback, I’m with you. But, the more I do it, the less I worry.