Originally posted November 9, 2009.
I hope that title doesn't offend anyone. :) Everybody cool? Moving on.
I'm totally addicted to critiques. I love getting feedback on my writing. All feedback. Good, bad, ugly, whatever. Sure, sometimes, critiques make me feel like crap, but they're so awesome for showing me all the areas in which I'm sucking*. Then my mind starts churning, and I get all excited, because I know I'm becoming a better writer as a result. And therein lies** the high. ;) Just say no to crack, kids. That stuff is bad news. But critiques? They're all good.
So, what about you? How do you feel about critiques? Love? Hate? A little of both?
*This post reminded me of this commercial. It's definitely sucking. I love it! :) Critiques kind of feel like this, right?
**Does anyone know if that sentence is grammatically correct? (Ignore the conjunction starting the sentence. I did that on purpose.) MS Word is telling me it should be lays. The whole lay/lie business can be very confusing, but that sounds totally wrong to me (which could be because it's kind of cliche phrasing), and it just makes me think of potato chips.
I am totally addicted to critiques. I love getting feedback no matter how hurtful it is. It helps us become better writers, right?
ReplyDeleteI love getting critiques as well! It's a rare glimpse to see myself outside of myself.
ReplyDeleteI love getting crits. It's the only way I can improve as a writer. Plus then you really see how subjective it all is. I recently had my first paragraph critted by several different writers. One individual felt it should start with the last sentence in the paragraph (she was right, btw). Another pick a different sentence to start. Talk about confusing. ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL, I am a total feedback junkie. I've gone way past beta readers to gamma and delta readers. When my final deep revision is done, I'll be trawling for EPSILON readers. It's a sickness, but hey, writing does get stronger if you can learn which voices to heed and which ones to shrug off.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the grammar of that sentence, I think I'd reword it more like this:
"they're so awesome for showing me all the areas in which my work sucks."
THAT's the real key to benefitting from crits. YOU don't suck. Ever. Sometimes the writing could use work, though, and it's helpful to see where that work is needed. Right?
I remember this post from before. With the whole lay/lie issue. I struggle with that too. Anyway, I love an honest crit. I've come a long way because of my crit partners.
ReplyDeletelove, love, love them. Like completely dependent on them. And I love giving critiques, too. I think that improves my writing almost as much as receiving them.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm, crack :). LOL! It's true, though. I'm addicted to writer pal motivational blog posts, too. I love it all!
ReplyDeleteI want people to read my work. So in that sense, yeah, I want the attention. But the feedback isn't always so great. It often makes me feel frustrated, and then I start backpedaling and second-guessing my story itself, or the way I'm telling it.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess I like sending out my work for critiques, but hate getting it back. Lots of angst there.
Posting snippets on a blog and getting lots of "Oh, that's just great. I love it. You're so talented" - Now THAT's crack for me!
There comes a time when I'm not sure what I can do next without feedback, so yeah, I need crits like I need my laptop; I could write books without it, but it would take a lot longer and suck a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteI love critiques but I think they can be a dangerous drug if you don't know exactly what you're trying to accomplish with your work. Sometimes too many can make your head spin and if you try to accommodate everything, your work might end up a mish-mash!
ReplyDeletei, too, enjoy a good critique session. What's not to like?
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to get addicted to them. I need to find some more betas, but so far the ones I have are amazing. It's wonderful (and sometimes wonderfully heartbreaking) to know you are improving. And like Aubrie said, I like seeing myself and my work from another person's perspective.
ReplyDeleteIf you mean like, your heart is pounding as the document downloads and you hope they snarfed at that one line, then yes, crits are like crack.
ReplyDeleteIf not, then...
Yes! I crave them, need them, can't get enough of them - yet fear them, too. Perfect comparison. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I have a like/love/hate relationship with critiques. I love what they show me about my work, I like the fact that people will share their thoughts with me, but I hate people who don't know how to critique making harsh judgements that amount to nothing but bashing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little hooked on the critique too. Even if there was a rehab, I'd totally pull a celebrity and wiggle out of it. ;)
ReplyDeleteLoved the commercial! It's definitely sucking - that's classic. I'm not such a big fan of critiques though I know they're completely necessary and I'm so grateful to those who critique my work. It's just that I don't send it out until I'm sure it's the very best I can make it, and then it always comes as a blow when I hear all its faults. Totally necessary though, I know!
ReplyDeleteI love crits and I'm not afraid of the ugly ones either.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE critiques! Though it did take me a little bit of time to develop thick enough skin to handle the most brutal ones. But thank GOODNESS for them. I beg my CPs to be as harsh as possible =)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is important to remember is to make sure you choose the suggestions that make the most sense to you!!
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You're a March Madness Winner!!
I love crits too!!!
ReplyDelete