Tag: #Critique

Beta Readers – Another Step in the Process #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 21, 2923

Do you use beta readers? Have they been useful in improving your writing?

My books get seen by lots of eyes before I ever release them to the world. And some of the eyes are beta readers. 

But they are more than readers. I am part of an on-line group that critique each other’s works. Not the same people all the time, and some of them may read several selections and not stick around for an entire book. The setup can be both enlightening and frustrating.

Enlightening because it’s helpful to get fresh eyes on your writing in the middle of the book. If the new readers don’t get the gist of your story from a synopsis and the selection itself, it may indicate the plot needs tightened. If those new readers fall in love with the writing, it can be a great compliment.

Another benefit is that the site attracts users from a variety of skill levels, different writing types, and from around the world. So, while getting a variety of opinions, there is also the opportunity to learn from the stories that the others share.

The frustrating part is finding someone whose opinion you respect and they disappear after a few chapters. It’s the nature of the platform—people come and go as they have their own work that needs critiqued, and don’t stick around at other times.

What I don’t have are readers that I can send a complete manuscript to for general impressions. I’m not sure how useful that would be. It’s just not my style.

How about our other authors? Do they use beta readers? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

 

August 21, 2923

Do you use beta readers? Have they been useful in improving your writing?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Telling It Softly With Your Words #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Nov 14, 2022

How do you deal with negative feedback? Do you have tips for critiquing other writers’ work?

We all love those positive reviews. You know, those 5 stars that sing our praises. The words of encouragement from a beta reader or early critique that tells us how wonderful our draft is. We also know that sometimes the words aren’t so kind.

I’m lucky because the high school I attended pushed us to write essays and introduced us to the art of making revisions. As they were schoolwork, not personal writing, I didn’t feel a huge sense of ownership, and the changes the instructors requested were part of a grade, not a reflection on my writing.

So, when I first joined a critique group, the idea of revisions didn’t upset me. It was all part of the learning process—I was a novice and ready to learn from those with more experience. Luckily, it was a supportive group, with everyone helping everyone.

It’s not always like that. I’ve been in a group with a person who seemed to get a certain level of satisfaction at tearing down other authors, including me. It took me several meetings to figure out what they were doing.

How do I deal with that kind of person? Once I figure them out, I treat them with courtesy, but don’t take their criticisms to heart. However, I search for a kernel of truth in the critiques I receive. But I also try to remember that you can’t please all the people all the time. Still, it’s not all sunshine and roses—I have received feedback that stung deeply and took some self-reflection to get past.

I also try to avoid being one of those people. How do I do that? 

The most important thing I strive for in a critique is to point out the good as well as what needs improved. Does a particular phrase stand out? Does a plot point surprise me? A character seem to resonate? Let the author know. If I can’t find something good to say, I’d rather say nothing at all.

It’s the balance that’s important. When I’m critiquing, I make it my goal to encourage, and mentor, not criticize. Yes, I will note things that can be improved, but I try to do it in a way that it builds up the writer.

How do the other authors on this hop feel about negative feedback? find out by following the link below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Nov 14, 2022

How do you deal with negative feedback? Do you have tips for critiquing other writers’ work?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Picking A Beta Partner for Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

June 21, 2021

If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

I’ve been pondering this question all week. Through writing, I’ve met so many good authors either in person and on-line, that picking one is nearly impossible.

Then I hit my forehead with my palm in that classic gesture, because  I don’t have to pick. I already have several!

First up. I’d like you to meet Cornelia Amiri. Cornelia and I were matched through a Yahoo news group back when I was getting ready to publish my first book, and we’ve been beta reading and critiquing for each other ever since. I love her stories, which lean heavily on Celtic myths and legends, although she also writes steampunk, and science-fiction.. I’ve learned a lot from her stories! You can check out her books at https://www.amazon.com/Cornelia-Amiri/e/B002BLFENY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share.

I’m not an expert on Celtic gods and goddesses. And that’s good, because it allows me to concentrate on the story line. (Her shapeshifters are different from mine!) We’ve learned each other’s weak points and what we do well. She points out places where I can add emotion to my writing. I find places where her timeline is messed up. She finds phrases that I over-use; I find where the spelling of an archaic Gaelic name switches spelling in the middle of the story. We make each other better writers, and I appreciate all the help and encouragement she’s given me.

But there’s more! I belong to an on-line critique group, and there are a few folks there who I trade critiques with on an ongoing basis. Sure, the quality of the critiques varies, but even the bad ones give me insight into things that I can improve. I won’t mention them by name here because I don’t know their real names, only what they use on the site. One of the best parts about the site is that it attracts writers from all over the world. Not only am I getting suggestions from writers from varied backgrounds, I’m receiving suggestions based on different cultures. (and English usage- it threw me the first time I say quotations marked with a single quote versus a double one ( ‘ not “))

For the sake of the discussion, I’m going to call out one writer I’d live to work with – Jenna Bennett, author of the Savannah Martin Mysteries, as well as others. She’s a USA Today and New York Times best-selling hybrid author, publishing both with traditional publishers as well as indie with a knack for telling a good story. I think she’d be interesting to work with.

When I started writing novels, I didn’t expect it to lead to new friendships. Boy, did I have a lot to learn!

By the way, I’d love to work with the authors on this hop. But I can’t choose all of them, so I chose none. But to see who each of them chose, just follow the links below.

And, until next time, please stay safe.

June 21, 2021

If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter