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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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5 points to consider when commissioning a professional critique

11/12/2017

6 Comments

 
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Although I have suggested that the creative writing industry exists as much for the tutors’ benefit as the students’ (as is often the case with helping relationships), I’m not against writing courses, mentoring and professional critiques. I’ve drawn on all three in my own journey to becoming a published novelist, and have a new piece on The Literary Consultancy website about how separate critical readings from members of their panel of experienced writers and editors helped shape my recently published second novel, Underneath. But these appraisals don’t come cheap. If you’re thinking of commissioning one, here are a few questions to ask yourself first.

Are you braced for the bad news?
 
You’ve poured blood, sweat and love into your baby to make it the best it could be. But here’s the rub: there are lots of other babies out there, some of them far bonnier than yours. If you want your progeny to prosper in the publishing marketplace, you need to first face up to its faults. As Gulara Vincent wrote in
receiving feedback gracefully, a frank appraisal of your writing can be hard to take, even when that’s what you’ve asked for. So make sure you are ready to receive what might be bad news, and have strategies in place for taking care of yourself while you let it sink in. If you are a relatively new writer, or an experienced writer working on a new manuscript, you might be better off with more gentle feedback from trusted allies initially.
 
What do you want from your critique?
 
Are there scenes in your manuscript which, when you read them, make you cringe? Is there a voice you’re not sure about or does your ending feel flat? Try to hone in your concerns and make them explicit in your application. This isn’t the time to hope your reader won’t notice you’ve fudged something. They might be able to offer suggestions for improvement or reassure you it’s not as bad as you thought. They might – probably will – throw up other problems you haven’t thought off, that’s the nature of this thing. Think of it as an opportunity to borrow a fresh pair of eyes or a mind not your own and use it to get what you want.
 
Do you need critique or an edit?
 
Terminology can be confusing: I’ve come across other writers blogging about edits for what I consider critiques. Others mention two types of edit: a developmental edit (which equates in my mind to critique) gives more generalised feedback to guide your next draft whereas a line edit focuses more on matters of style, presentation and grammar, which might be of more use at the submission stage. Again, it’s worth being clear what you’re asking for, although (as has been my experience) some can’t help providing a bit of one when you’ve paid them for the other.
 
Who do you want feedback from?
 
Not all critique services can offer a choice of reader, but they should nevertheless be able to accommodate some preferences. As a woman writing my second novel,
Underneath, in the voice of a man, I specifically requested critique from a male reader. Or you might choose a service on the basis of a personal recommendation, or that you admire that person’s own writing.
 
How will you use the feedback?
 
Just as giving criticism is a skill, so is making good use of the feedback provided. Ideally, you’ll find a position somewhere between dismissing what you don’t like (in which case, why would you have asked for it?) and taking everything on board because it comes from an expert (in which case, is this still your project?). There is a lot of wisdom in the oft-quoted advice to accept feedback that tells you what is wrong but reject advice on how to fix it. But sometimes inexperienced writers do need how-to-fix-it suggestions, just as some industry professionals can’t help giving more concrete advice than is needed. Although you can’t predict for sure how you will use feedback you haven’t yet received, it’s worth considering your general propensities in advance. For example, if you are
a people pleaser, you might need to remind yourself that this is just one opinion which you are free to use or reject as you see fit. If you tend to stick rigidly to your own point of view, you might need a reminder that you asked for this for a reason. Additionally, if you’re not sure how to make use of the feedback, you can ask others to help you decipher the report.
 
Are there any other factors you consider important? Do let me know if there are any I’ve missed.
 
Meanwhile, you can read about my reflections on
the critiques that led to the publication of my debut novel and the follow-up article on getting to my second published novel. For this month, I’m honoured to be The Literary Consultancy’s showcase author.

If you’re looking for this week’s 99-word story (of course you are) I’ve added it to the end of an earlier post that was just perfect for the theme: Does a ‘first draft’ video reflect badly on my published fiction?  
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Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
6 Comments
Charli Mills
11/12/2017 04:29:55 pm

Well done, Anne! I enjoyed learning about your use of critique at TLC. What a great organization to get connected with as an author. Yet, you wisely prepare others in your post here, as to what to expect, how to use critique, and what it is. I rarely use the term critique because the US academic and workshop track have me a shout taste for it. While I never suffered personally from critique, I saw it misused frequently as an abuse of power and how it deterred writers from writing. In business, I discovered that others had also discovered that business critique also did harm to employee moral. Thus, I learned about appreciative inquiry and specifically, StrengthsFinder which focus on what is working and how to make it better; and what a person's strengths are and how to develop them. In writing, critique is a part of two systems I think most authors after aware of: professional developmental editing and beta reading. The first is usually a hired editor who can help an author the way you were helped through TLC, and the second is asking for reader critique. Timing is important to both processes. Sometimes I think writers wait too long to do a developmental edit. And several can be employed (again, it's up to the writer to be clear on the feedback she wants). Beta readers should also be asked to read specifically, and giving them a list of questions can help. Great post, Anne and, of course I was looking for you 99 words! It wasn't lost, however.

Reply
Annecdotist
13/12/2017 05:52:13 pm

Thanks for adding your wisdom and experience, Charli. I think there’s lots of potential for misuse and bruising in any feedback system, and even those supposedly professional in delivering it don’t always understand the need to be sensitive. I don’t know a great deal about the Appreciative Inquiry model but I do agree it’s more effective to identify strengths and build on them. It’s also more effective in an ongoing relationship with feedback to the people giving feedback and enabling gradual increments rather than a feedback splurge.
I certainly admire and appreciate how positive you are in giving feedback on the contributions to the Ranch.

Reply
Steff link
11/12/2017 11:57:23 pm

Thanks for that insight, Anne. Getting professional feedback on my manuscripts is something I've considered again and again. I've had professional feedbacks on my short stories so know how to suck up the critiques. I found the best way for me to manage the 'pain' of critiques is to read it, put it down for a while, then read it again and again, aiming to be calmer on each re-read. I read the critique for one of my novels a couple of weeks ago (after three years) and found it very encouraging and I can actually appreciate it and see the positives included in it. Maybe it's because my confidence has improved over the years or maybe I'm less emotional about it, but I can definitely see the value and understand the advice given in a way I didn't three years ago. The thing that frightens me more about getting professional feedback is the cost! It actually makes me shudder. Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and have one for my current novel in progress, but at the moment, I'm hoping I'll be able to avoid it somehow. Fingers crossed.

Reply
Annecdotist
13/12/2017 05:41:45 pm

Good advice, Steff: read, put aside, repeat. Glad it’s getting better for you.
I agree, these professional critiques are very expensive and can potentially be avoided through peer review. I’ll be reaching a point soon where my WIP will be ready for other eyes and brains, so let me know if you’d be interested in doing a swap.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
14/12/2017 10:29:36 am

Hi Anne, Nice to see you showcased on The Literacy Consultancy. I like their professional presentation. It is a great way to "showcase" you and your book, and provide advice for other writers at the same time. Of course, I also was looking for your flash, and am going back for a read now. As I've said before - you are the queen of links! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
14/12/2017 06:35:26 pm

Thanks, Norah, you’ve been very generous with your journey around my blog today. I’ve been working backwards with my replies so think I’ve caught up. Yes, I was delighted to be featured by The Literary Consultancy and the post seems to have done pretty well on Twitter.

Reply



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