![]() Joining my first online critique group gave me the boost that I needed to start writing again. It felt great to be critiquing and to be critiqued! My only regret is that I wish I had created new stories at that time. Because I was in a new group, I chose to get fresh eyes on older manuscripts. Looking back, I see the importance of challenging myself to keep writing new material. Speaking of critique groups, I will share a bit about listening to critique partners. If this sounds preachy, please know that I AM speaking to myself! But I'd like to share my experience and advice, TAKE OUT THE DOGS! In a manuscript that I am currently working on, I wrote in a pack of wild dogs to create tension in the story. About 50% of the critiques said to take out the dogs. They were too scary for young kids. I resisted. Instead, I tried replacing the word "wild" with hungry, mangy, and dirty. I even added a puppy! I felt the manuscript was in pretty good shape. But there was still that nagging, it-can-be-better feeling. I was not able to revise at that time. It needed space. So I put it away for a while. Later, after several more critiques, I experimented with adding a sibling, changing the POV, and adding metaphors. Through this process, the dogs miraculously disappeared! They really weren't necessary! My story went under a significant transformation. Now, I feel it. My manuscript is submission-ready! TAKE AWAY Listen, even if it's advice you don't think you will need. Try a new approach. Take out the dogs! Or, as they say, kill your darlings!
5 Comments
Greg
2/3/2021 11:01:20 am
I'm glad you resisted the suggestion to take out the dogs! I love dogs!
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Jen
2/3/2021 11:06:42 am
I know it is beneficial to listen to feedback from others but it can be very difficult at times. I find that sometimes I need to sit with the feedback and try to figure out where the other person is coming from with their feedback.
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Lindsey Aduskevich
2/3/2021 11:10:40 am
Moni,
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Stephanie F.
2/3/2021 12:26:39 pm
Your dogs are the cutest!! I just got back from taking mine for a walk!
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2/4/2021 07:14:56 pm
Moni - this is a wonderful story - I'd love to hear more about how the dogs transformed into baseball :)
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