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After writing the first couple drafts, every writer eventually comes to conclude that they can no longer edit their work effectively. For new writers, this often is interpreted as my WIP is finished, but more experienced writers know better.
When you reach this point, it isn't because you've done everything possible to make your book as good as it can be. No, more times than not, this point is reached when you've been working on your WIP for too long—when you know the story, the characters, the words far too well to make any substantial edits.
Just to clarify, this happens to every writer. Reaching this point doesn't mean you're a bad writer or need more experience or anything to that effect—it just means you've been working hard on your project and you need a break. You need to find some beta readers and critique partners.
Writers, especially new writers, often like to skip this step for various reasons, but if you truly want to make your book as good as possible, if you really want your WIP to reach its potential, you need to find some good critique partners.
As the creators of our story, we can only see so much—we're too close to the WIP to recognize plot holes that an outside reader will see instantly; we've been over the words too many times to recognize the weaknesses that permeate our writing. It invariably happens to every writer—even the professionals use insight from outside eyes to improve their WIPs, because for writers, critique partners are not optional. Not if you want to make your book as good as it can be, at least.
A good critique partner will take a chapter you thought was fully polished and hand it back to you with enough red ink to set the bulls running.
A good critique partner will gently point out the weaknesses in your writing, so that you can be aware of them moving forward and work to improve.
A good critique partner will show you the worst of your manuscript, but they'll also show you the potential behind your story, the life sitting just beneath the surface that with a little work you can release onto the page.
I won't pretend that critiques are easy—they can often be emotionally and mentally exhausting, and many times will make you want to crawl under a rock with your inadequate manuscript held tightly against your chest. But good critique partners will set you on the right path to improve your story, and with enough hard work on your part and insight on theirs, your WIP will be ready for the big leagues.
So get out there and find some critique partners. You'll be glad you did when you have a new and improved manuscript on your hands.
Do you use critique partners and/or beta readers? Why or why not? If so, have they been helpful to you?
28 comments:
I agree. They really aren't optional. I use them and couldn't do without them!
So very true.
Very, very true! They point out the worst things and give suggestions on how to fix them; they point out the best things and tell you how to make them even better. My WiP would not be HALF the story it is without the edits from my critiquing partners.
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They're a truly invaluable part of the process, particularly when they aren't afraid to be completely honest with you about your work. Good critique partners are worth their weight in gold!
That it is. Thanks for stopping by, Susan!
Agreed! You learn not only about your WIP from critique partners, but about your writing as well.
I have a CP and my mss are seen by numerous beta readers. I couldn't imagine submitting to agents without their feedback. The toughest part is the conflicting feedback, when both sides have valid reasons for their suggestions.
I agree about the importance of having a Critique Partner. But it's equally important to choose that person VERY carefully. You really want someone who knows how to write. (I'm an ex-journalist -- and so is my best CP.) You also need someone who isn't going to pussy-foot about problems/errors. (That's where working with an ex-journalist comes in handy.) And, of course, you also need to be able to keep your own ego in check.
Yes! Find readers, lots of them. Then determine where they're right (and they are most of the time), and apply it. Critters are your stories only hope.
This is actually kind of perfect for me. I just have a this 20 page excerpt to a friend to revise since I'm sending it to a contest. It's actually a bit painful to know there was so much wrong with it, but I need to understand that when I get it back I'll be able to fix it and I'll become better.
Plus, I really want to win the contest :D
I guess I've always been in need of thicker skin, though. I struggle with criticism way too much for someone who wants to go into this business.
Writing is extremely subjective, so it's certainly not uncommon to receive conflicting feedback. In the end, it always comes back to you—the writer—to determine what feedback to incorporate.
Great points, Daphne! Having critique partners or beta readers is useless if they're too nice or too inexperienced. And a dose of humility certainly helps swallow those good critiques.
They certainly are incredibly helpful. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, E.J.!
Couldn't agree more! I've learned more from getting AND giving critiques than all of the books I've read combined.
Excellent point! It really is an eye-opening experience for both the critiquer and the writer getting her work critiqued.
My cp lives on the other side of the country- since we never give critiques face to face, I think it's easier to be honest. I know she has experience and continually works to improve her craft- a great quality in a cp. Finally, she's good about asking questions, getting me to think instead of just saying "this needs to go!". It's great to have a balance of honesty and sensitivity in a cp.
I've always heard a lot about critique partners, and I'm definitely going to find some when I'm anywhere near that stage. I've had feedback on a couple of scenes before, and I found the help was tremendous.
I can't imagine going without my critique partner. We just can't see everything on our own. But I'm also careful about how many people I let see my work. Too many cooks spoil the pot kind of mentality. :-0
Feedback from beta readers and critique partners is truly invaluable. I definitely recommend it!
I absolutely agree, Susan. Thankfully, you don't need dozens of beta readers and critique partners to get a good critique--you just need a couple of good crit partners who know what they're doing. :)
I've recently found two rockstar crit partners and it was one of the greatest things I've ever done. They are so supportive of my work and really understand how to give feedback in a way that isn't rude or mean, but firm enough so that I know what's definitely, inarguably, not working.
That's fantastic! Supportive yet tough critique partners are the best kind.
I work with a crit group and I wouldn't be without them. They catch all the silly mistakes and plot holes that you don't notice when you're too close to (inside) your WIP.
Having just finished my latest, I'm now going to try a beta reader or two as well, after a 1st edit, as the other guys have seen it throughout its development and I feel a fresh set of eyes will catch any lingering issues.
This is my 4th novel, and I know how influential the group has been on the development of my writing and vice versa: 7 of us in this group and all published in one form or another since joining :)
Optional?
Definitely not.
Sounds like you have a great crit group system going! Having a set of fresh eyes (and perspectives) can also be extraordinarily helpful from time to time, especially in the cases, as you mentioned, where your crit group has seen your project develop. I wish you the best with your search for beta readers! ^_^
I've been writing for a long time, but I'm planning on starting the exciting (and somewhat frightening) process of looking for critique partners once I finish my current WIP. I know you have multiple critique partners, and I was wondering how many. Is there a minimum/maximum number of critique partners you'd suggest? Thank you in advance!
Hi Maggie! I have three main CPs, and I recommend you stick with odd numbers (that way you always have a tiebreaker if your CPs disagree on something). I also have betas and other people on deck and I talk about my process in this post. I hope that helps! :)
Thank you so much! I'll make sure to keep that in mind! ^.^
You're very welcome! Good luck! :)
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