A New Way to Find Critique Partners

I get a good bit of email via this blog asking me questions. And I have to say one of the most popular questions I get asked is--can you critique my work? This is closely followed by--where do I find beta readers/crit partners?


These are tough questions to answer because, well, on the first one the answer is usually no. For me to thoroughly crit one chapter for someone, I usually need 1-2 hours. Seriously. I'm detailed. You'll feel like you've had a proctology exam. And between blogging, writing on a deadline, being a mom and wife,  I just honestly don't have the time these days. I even had to leave my own crit group last year because I couldn't dedicate enough time to be an active participant. So now I just exchange with a few trusted betas when I can.

However, just as a sidenote and a shameless self-promotion, Kat Brauer will be auctioning off a crit from me over at Crits for Water in May. All proceeds will go to an awesome charity that provides clean water to countries where that is hard to find. Deets coming soon. But I hope some of you will bid on little ol' me.

*back from our commercial break* Okay, so I need to address the follow up question of--where the heck do I find crit partners? (Because you need them, you here? NEED them. Do not go submit your work without having beta readers WHO ARE NOT RELATED TO YOU, ARE NOT YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND ARE NOT SLEEPING WITH YOU give you feedback. Don't do it.)

In the past, I've referred people to message boards, I've done matchmaking here on the blog and on Twitter (rather successfully in fact. *waves at all the crit lovebirds*), but really my advice usually came down to "you have to network". Get to know people through writing groups, your blog, twitter, whatever.

But now there is a new option that I'm so excited about. Penguin has launched Book Country. This website is a new place for writers (and readers) to go to post parts of your work (only members can view it) and get feedback from other writers. It's social networking and critiquing all wrapped into one.

For any of you following Colleen Lindsey on Twitter, this is the Sekrit Projekt she was always talking about. I had the opportunity to see her speak about it a few months ago when she presented at the DFW Writer's Workshop, so I've been waiting with bated breath for the public launch so I could share the info with you guys.

I'm not going to go into how the site works (more info on that here), but the cool thing about it is this awesome genre map that lets you code your work on genre, heat level, and humor level. So people who are looking for what you write can easily find it. Also, it's a setup that forces give and take because you can't get crits until you give some. Love that.

And....it's free! Yay for that.

So go check it out. Maybe you'll find a crit partner match made in heaven. :) If nothing else, playing with the genre map alone is super entertaining.

So have you had trouble finding crit partners? If you have some where do you find yours? Anyone try Book Country yet? And if you're looking for a crit partner, feel free to put your genre and email address in a comment below--maybe this can act as some more matchmaking! 

What Makes A Good Crit Buddy?

Photo by Linzi Clark

I'm a lucky girl. I've had a kickass crit group, great beta readers, and friends (bloggy and otherwise) who have generously read for me and offered feedback. And what is always interesting to me is how different people can see such different things. That's why it's important to make sure you have a wide variety of people critting you (people who are not related to you, btw.)

Types of critters:

Partner

--This person invests in you as much as you invest in them. You exchange equally and you offer the entire gamut of feedback: line edits, plotting, characterization, story, pacing, etc.

--This is the person that you also go to for advice on writing career things

--I think having one of these is vital, but not everyone can fulfill this role because it takes a lot of time investment

Mentor

--This person is further on the path in their writing career, maybe they've already been published.  They can offer you guidance along the way.

Proofreader (Grammar Nazi)

--The detail-oriented English teacher type. She can spot a dangling modifier or misplaced comma from twenty yards away. She focuses on the trees, not the forest.

Cheerleader

--This reader sends your crit back with lots of smiley faces, lol's, and positive comments along with the negative things. They may not be as detailed as the proofreader, but they give you the confidence keep going. This is the person who will talk you off the ledge when you're ready to give up.

Whipcracker

--This person doesn't let you get away with anything. If you have deadline, she's poking you until you meet it. If you get lazy in your writing and try to sneak in a little telling, she will call your butt out.

Reader

--This person is not a writer but is a voracious reader. She is looking at the forest, not the trees.  This is also invaluable because SHE (or he) is your customer. This is who you are ultimately writing for.

Looking at this list, I definitely have had each of these in my beta reading ranks. As for my own style, I hope that I am a partner to my friends and regular beta readers. If I'm just critting somebody as a one off--then I'm more of a (hopefully) tactful whipcracker and reader.

So, how do you know you've found the right crit buddy?

A good buddy...

Listens to your suggestion and even if they don't always take them, they give them serious consideration.

Makes an effort to understand your writing and where you are coming from.

Gives as much as she gets.

Is honest--even when she knows it might be hard for your to hear

Doesn't just point our problems, but offers suggestions

Appreciates constructive criticism

Takes the time to point out what she loves, not just what's wrong (that smiley face here and there can go a long way when you've received a rough crit)

And beware the toxic crit parter, this person...

Throws up the defenses the minute you say something negative or suggest changes

Has a million excuses as to why your suggestions don't work--you don't understand their genre, you're not "getting" their point, etc.

Rarely implements the changes you offer.

Tells you what's wrong in your manuscript but doesn't offer help on what they think would fix it.

Only wants accolades. When those don't come, they get angry, pouty, or generally difficult.

Doesn't put forth as much effort on your work as you do on theirs

Tears apart your work without tact or helpful suggestions and if you get hurt, tell you that you need a thicker skin.

--There is a huge difference between "this sucks, I'm totally lost" and "this chapter may need a little reworking to make the plot points clearer"

Source: The Care and Nurturing of Critique Relationship

If this toxic buddy is in your life, fire them. You don't need that in your life. Writing is hard enough--don't add to your stress. Find good critters and move on.

CRIT GROUP MATCHMAKIING: Inevitably when I do posts on crit groups, people asks where to find crit partners because it can be such a hard thing to find when you're starting out and don't know many writers yet. I found all of mine online through blogging. But there are a lot of different ways--going to local writer's groups, social networking, etc. However, what I've done in the past is a little online matchmaking. 


SO, if you are looking for a beta reader/crit parter, put your info in a comment to this post: NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, GENRE, and what you're looking for, then people who match up with you can contact you. If you make a match, I suggest exchanging just one chapter first to make sure that your styles match and such. Good luck!

Alright, so what kind of critter are you? Do you recognize any of these types in your circle? Have you ever had a toxic beta reader?

 

**Today's Theme Song**

"Lipstick and Bruises"-- Lit

*This is a repost from November of last year.

Crit Groups v. Beta Readers: What Works For You?

If you stopped by on Monday, you saw that I am making an effort to streamline a few things in my life to free up more time for both my writing and my family. This involved the tough decision for me to cut down to MWF blogging instead of five days a week.  It also put another issue in my cross hairs.

So for about a year, I've been a member of the super fabulous Rumored Romantics critique group. The small membership has shifted and changed, but every person I've gotten to know through it has been an amazing writer and a great friend. I credit the big shift of "luck" I've had with my writing over the past year--contest wins, requests, and now an agent--in large part to the things I've learned being a member of this group.

However, the way the group is structured, we do chapter by chapter critiques. You get one chapter of yours critted per week and you're responsible in turn to critique one chapter of someone else's. This is great for those who are writing as you get critted--meaning you write a chapter, put it up for crit, start writing the next chapter and so on.

I, unfortunately, don't work that way. I have to write a rough draft in isolation first. I can't be getting critiques on something I'm currently drafting--it screws with my process. I think Stephen King said in On Writing to write the first draft with the door shut--meaning only for yourself. Then once you're done, open the door and share it with others. I don't think that has to be everyone's process, but it's definitely mine.

So I write the whole draft, then I start subbing to the group. But the problem with that is--then it's going to take 4-6 months for the group to make it through the novel. I don't have the patience for that. When I'm done with a project, I want to sub like now.

So with this most recent project, I sought out beta readers and found people who could read my complete book and give me overall feedback within a few weeks. Then I revised and submitted. When Sara offered me representation, my crit group was only on my chapter 3.

Therefore, I made the decision yesterday to step out of my group. It makes me sad, but the structure of the group just doesn't work for my style. I think my ideal situation would be to have two beta readers I trust to work with on full manuscripts. However, I'll be forever indebted to those ladies for whipping me in to shape and teaching me so many things I had no clue about when I first joined.

So, the good news for you guys is that, if you think the structure would work for you (and it does work for many) and you want a group that will give you the level of detailed feedback writers yearn for, there is going to be a contest to fill my spot!

Lynnette Labelle will be announcing details in the next few weeks, but if you write romance or something with romantic elements (no YA), then start polishing the pages you'd want to submit for consideration. The ladies are fabulous--two contest winning divas and an author with a three book deal with Tor, so whoever fills the spot will be a lucky gal (or guy!).

Also, in unrelated news, I found out Exposure Therapy is a finalist in the San Francisco RWA's Heart to Heart contest!

Alright, so how do you prefer to get your work critiqued? Do you like having a crit group that can offer detailed line edits or do you prefer beta readers and global feedback? Do you get critted as you write or do you have to finish a project first?

**Today's Theme Song**

"My Way" - Limp Bizkit

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

The Query Critique Group

Photo by Deb Nystrom

We all know that critique groups and beta readers can be a great thing.  I have a fab critique group and have also met up with a few super awesome beta readers with this last manuscript (*waves at J. Leigh, who got through my book in record time and offered awesome input).  So I'm a big proponent of getting this kind of feedback.  I think it's the rare writer that can produce a perfectly polished manuscript in isolation.

However, what I never considered was the query critique aspect of things.  That letter, which we talked about yesterday, can make or break your chance with an agent or publisher.  I typically send mine to my crit group and get their opinion, which is uber helpful, BUT I didn't take into account that they usually know the story by the time they see the query.

At Queryfest, the agents suggested having separate people to crit your query--people who haven't read your story.  Your crit group may be great, but if they've already read your story, when they read the query, their mind is going to automatically fill in any blanks the letter may have.

I think this may have been the issue with a few of the queries they critiqued in the workshop.  You could tell the people knew how to write, but the summary was so confusing that we were left going, "Wait, what?"

So seek out others to run the query by, see if they "get" your story and are hooked by doing a cold read of that letter alone. Let them play agent.  Or, post on a site like Public Query Slushpile--I've always gotten solid feedback there as well.  If you find yourself having to answer questions and fill in the blanks for the people reading it, then you haven't conveyed the idea clearly.  Revise.

I've already taken this advice and hooked up with one of my new buddies I met at RWA *waves at Murphy* and it's been great to get an outside opinion.

So what do you do to get your query in shape?  Do you get it critiqued or just go for it?  Have you ever posted on one of the public sites to get feedback?  And feel free to put your email in the comments if you want to exchange query critiquing with others.

**Today's Theme Song**

"Selling the Drama" - Live

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Crit Groups: Godsend or Time Suck?

cartoon credit

A few weeks ago, my crit partner Lynnette did a post about advice a published author gave her.  I encourage you to read her post, but in a nutshell, this author friend asked her what was holding her back from finishing her book.  And she said time.  Like all of us, she has a lot on her plate.  Here's what her friend told her:

My author friend advised me to quit the crit group and focus on finishing my novel. He felt writers only need critique groups for validation or they get stuck in the land of perfectionism and never get anywhere with their writing.

Now, lucky for me, Lynnette didn't heed this advice and is sticking with the group because she feels the time put in is worth the gain.  But it is an interesting debate to ponder.

Personally, joining a crit group was one of the best things I did for my writing.  I definitely don't have a group of lemmings.  Sure they dole out smiley faces and lols, but they aren't afraid to give me an ass-kicking either.  IMO, it's impossible to see your own work objectively after being in it so long, so other eyes have been invaluable.  I think it's no coincidence that after I joined my group, my writing started finaling in contests.

However, I won't pretend that it doesn't take away time from my own writing.  When I'm in the drafting phase, it's really hard for me to put my story on the side to jump into someone else's with a critical eye.

If I could create a perfect scenario, I would set it up so that while I was drafting I stepped out of the group and concentrated on my story.  Then , when I had a complete draft, step back in and start exchanging crits.  (Unlike some, I work best with receiving crits after the story is done then getting them along the way.  Getting crits while I'm still writing the story muddies my thoughts a bit and can seize up my pantsing brain.)  But it's not fair to do the step in/step out thing because we're not all drafting at the same time.

So I make time for it because I think it's important and value those ladies' opinions tremendously.

But I'm really curious to hear your opinions.  Are you in a crit group or have beta readers?  Do you think what you get from it is worth the amount of time and energy you put into it?  And what do you think of Lynnette's friend's opinion--that crit groups are just there for validation and to make you obsessive about your work?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Somebody Told Me" - The Killers

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

What to Ask Beta Readers

Photo by Bilal Kamoon

Sometimes the hardest part about a a critiquing relationship is finding people to exchange work with in the first place.  Yesterday, I put the call out asking for beta readers and you guys were awesome.  Thank you to each of you who volunteered.  I'm beyond appreciative.

But now that I have readers for my book and am going to be beta reading in return, what's the next step?  What exactly do I need from them and they from me?  These expectations are important to set up before you exchange work.

One of the biggest issues is what level of feedback you are looking for. With my critique group, we want it all--detailed line edits, big picture stuff, repetitive words, whatever we can find (similar to what I give on Beta Club days).  This is great to get but is also a slow, time-consuming process.  To get through one book that way can take months.

For the new betas I connected with yesterday, I'm going to be asking for global feedback.  Did you like it?  Did it make sense?  What parts lost your interest?  Did you fall in love with my hero, connect with my heroine?  Did anything make you want to beat your head against the wall?  Were you invested in the story and the characters?  etc.

But as I was thinking through my questions, I searched to see if they was something more organized and ran across the questionnaire below.  I really like the structure of this one, although I will be tweaking a few things. (Don't worry betas, I won't be asking if the love scenes made you hot.  I don't need to get that personal, lol.)

Now, I'm pasting this in because the author said on the site to feel free to share, so that's what I'm doing.  You can find the original copy here.  Hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Is it BORING?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Does any part of the story Drag?
• Are their parts that you skipped to get to ‘the good part’?
• Do I over-inform anywhere?

Did you Get it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Did you understand every phrase / term I used?
• If someone unfamiliar with this world or genre read this, have I explained enough for them to understand everything?
•  -- Did I forget to mention that someone was demon-possessed, half angelic, or had mystical powers?

Love Scenes?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Do any of the love scenes seem overly cliché? (Or overly sappy?)
• Were the love scenes too fast, too slow, or too frequent?
• Did you have to reread any part of the love scenes to understand who was doing what?
• Did any action in the love scene make you cringe?
•  -- Was your Comfort-Zone line crossed?
• Did it make you hot?

Do the scenes FLOW?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Does one scene lead logically into the next?
• Is there enough downtime between intense scenes to allow it to build to the next?
• Did the actions & positions flow smoothly from one to the next, or did they jump as though something was skipped?
• Were the Flashbacks smoothly integrated to fit onto the current scene -- or did they seem plopped in, like a chapter that was in the wrong place?  

Is anything VISUALLY Confusing?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Can you SEE every action clearly?
• If you went there in real life, would you recognize the places?
• Did you have to reread any part of the action sequences to understand who was doing what?
• Could you SEE what the characters looked like clearly?
• Did I forget to describe their Clothes, their Hair, their Eyes, any other distinctive feature that pertains to a specific character?

During DIALOGUE scenes…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Could you SEE what the characters were DOING while talking?
• Could you SEE where the characters WERE while talking?

Did the Characters WORK?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Do the characters ACT realistic?
• Does the Dialogue sound realistic?
• Do their reactions seem logical & realistic?
• Could you feel the Emotions between the characters?
• Did the characters seem IN CHARACTER?

• Who did you like best and WHY?
• Who did you hate and WHY?
• Who got on your nerves and WHY?
• Does any one character get in the way of the STORY?

By the way, if you want more on beta-ing relationships, check out Justine Dell's blog.  She's done a whole series this week on her relationship with her beta, including sharing samples of their crits.

Alright, so I'm curious how your beta relationships work?  What expectations do you have for each other?  Do you seek the details or the global?  Do you give them questions upfront or do you wait and just ask follow-up questions when they're done?  Also, how'd you find your betas?

**Today's Theme Song**

"You Get What You Give" - The New Radicals

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Ingredients of a Great Crit Partner and a Matchmaking Session

Photo by PoppyPrint (click pic for link)

Looking for a crit partner?  Then, you're in luck, I'm doing matchmaking today (see bottom of post).  And if you already have a terrific group, what do you look for in a beta reader?

So as most of you know, my group is currently holding a contest to find our new member.  Today is the last day to enter, so if you're interested, be sure to apply on Lynnette's blog.  We're going to have a serious challenge picking the winner(s) because the entries have been strong, but we're excited.

But as I started going through entries, I got to thinking--what exactly am I looking for most?  First, I'm obviously examining the person's skill level.  I think it's important that the members of a group are all around the same stage because if you mix beginners with the more advanced--everyone ends up frustrated.

But beyond that, what other things?  If the writing talent is equal, what other things make someone a better fit?

Here is what I came up with.  I'd love to hear what you look for as well.

Voice
--I'm a bit voice-obsessed.  If I'm not feeling your voice (or there is a lack of voice), then I'm going to dread spending months critting the story.  That's one of those things that's hard to help someone fix.

Concept/Genre
--Just like anyone else, I have my subject and genre preferences.  My group only accepts those who write romance or have romantic elements in their stories.  However, even within those parameters, there are subgenres I'm more drawn to than others.  For instance, if you story is a high fantasy with romantic elements, it's probably not going to be my cuppa.

Humor
--You don't necessarily have to write funny, but if the person seems to have a good sense of humor, that's a plus.  This writing thing can be tough at times and nothing makes me feel better than sharing a laugh with my group.  I have trouble connecting with people who take themselves and life too seriously.

Honest
--Critting is about honesty (delivered with respect and tact).  I expect my partners to hold my feet to the fire if something isn't working for them.  On that same note, I want someone who will take the time to point out what they liked because, hell, I've got a tough skin, but I crave positive feedback just like anyone else.  So if I made you laugh--tell me--if I made you groan--tell me that, too.

Professional
--Now I don't mean the person needs to be formal.  God knows some of the conversations we have on our chat loop are far from professional.  But what I mean is someone who is serious about their writing and commitments--they turn their crits in on time (or send a note saying why they couldn't that week), they don't share my work with others, etc.

Insightful
--This may differ for some people, but I appreciate a critter who doesn't just say what's wrong, but offers suggestions.  Sometimes it's hard to see things because we're so close to our own work.  So I love it when one of my buddies says, "Hey, the pacing is a little slow here, maybe move this scene over here" or "this seems to start too late, maybe back up and start from this point instead."  Those are my smack forehead moments--like, wow, why didn't I think of that?  That makes so much sense.

So those are my wish list items, I'm looking forward to hearing what yours are.  But first, I've had a few people reach out to me who are looking for critique groups or beta readers (but didn't write romance to apply for my contest), so I thought I would do a little crit matchmaking again.  I've done this in the past with some success, so hopefully this helps a few of you out again.

CRIT GROUP MATCHMAKING

If you are looking to form/join a crit group or are looking for beta readers, please put your information in the linky box below.  Include your NAME AND GENRE in the name section AND leave your contact info in the comments section so people know how to reach you.  Then if you see others pop up in your genre, you'll be able to click on their name and contact them through their blog or look for their email address in the comments.

I'll leave this open for as long as needed so people can sign up in the future as well

Alright, so what do you look for most in a crit partner?  Do you think it's important to match up genre and skill level?  What lessons have you learned from crit relationships that didn't work out?  


And remember, if you sign up above, leave your contact info in the comments.

**Today's Theme Song**

"Somebody to Love" - Glee Cast Version

(player in sidebar, go ahead, you know you want to listen)

Critique Group Contest: Romance Critter Needed!

As I mentioned earlier this week, my online crit group is in need of a new member. My crit partner Lynnette Labelle is heading up the contest, so if you are interested in entering, please make sure to follow the directions below (DO NOT email your entries to me.)

Just a bit about us:

Three members (Lynnette, Gwen Mitchell, and me).

What we write: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, and Sexy Contemporary Romance.

The group's personality: We're tough in our crits (see my Beta Club days for examples of my critting) but all feedback is delivered with respect and love. Everyone in the group is super supportive and we lean on each other to get through the tough parts of this business. It is a warm and friendly group, and when I won this very contest and joined last year, I instantly felt welcome.  Fair warning: If you do not have a sense of humor, you need not apply.

Why would you trust us to crit your work?  Gwen and I have recently placed in RWA contests and both of us would be considered RWA PROs (if we’d fill out the forms).  Lynnette is a certified copy editor and proofreader and is in the process of starting up her own online manuscript editing/writing coach business.

Alright, interested? Here are the rules (pulled directly from Lynnette's post):

Are you a romance writer looking for a critique group? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Rumored Romantics has an opening and we’re going to fill it by hosting a contest starting TODAY! Isn’t this exciting?

Note: Regardless of whether or not you’ve entered one of the critique group contests before, read the information below as some things have changed.

The details:

• This contest is only for romance writers of adult fiction who are seeking a critique group.

• All entrants must be 18 years or older.

• Entries should be 2-3 pages from an unpublished manuscript, double spaced, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman. Anything beyond 3 pages will NOT be read.

• This is a three part contest. Part One, a 2-3 page writing sample, is open to all contestants. Finalists are selected to move on to Part Two. During this stage, the finalists will be asked to supply a longer writing sample and critique a short piece, which we’ll provide. A select few will continue on. In Part Three, the remaining finalists will critique a longer sample and fill out a bio/questionnaire. Sound like a lot of work? It is. Sorry about that. All of the above is necessary in order for us to see that our writing and critiquing styles are compatible with yours.

• Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing and critiquing, but we aren’t expecting perfection. Please send us your best work without external help. We want to see how well YOU write and critique, not your critique partner or professional editor.

• All entries for Part One of the contest are due by midnight Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

• One entry per person, unpublished work only.

• Send your entry in the body of an e-mail (She will NOT open anything with an attachment) to: lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com

• You should expect an e-mail from Lynnette confirming I received your entry. If you haven't gotten one within 24 hours, check the e-mail address. Note: her name is spelled with two n's. LyNNette. If you don't spell it correctly in her e-mail address, she won't get the message.

• The first round of finalists will be announced on her blog and notified by e-mail some time during the week of May 2.

The PRIZE:

• Membership for one lucky writer to a small, online, romance critique group*

• Note: Rumored Romantics is looking for someone who is willing to critique at least ONE chapter a week. Chapters are no longer than 20 pages double spaced. So, the most your minimum required critique would be is 20 pages. To be clear, you’d only have to critique one chapter a week, not one per member. However, everyone is encouraged to participate as much as they can.

If you have any questions about the contest or Rumored Romantics, ask away.

*We reserve the right to not choose anyone if we don't find a good fit for our critique group.

Hint #1:
You must write adult romance, BUT we don’t actually want to read the sex scenes or romance scenes in your story (at least, not for the contest). You’ll have better results if you show us a piece that represents how different your work is from everyone else’s. Get it?

Hint #2:
When you submit your entry, it doesn’t have to be a complete scene. Don’t stress yourself out trying to find a 2-3 page scene in your manuscript and don’t cut important parts of a scene to make it fit. In fact, if you cut the end of the scene, we might be intrigued enough to want to read more. Hook us and you’ll have a great chance of winning.

Hint #3:
Here’s how we're going to read the entries. We’ll copy and paste from the e-mail into Microsoft Word. If the font isn’t Times New Roman, 12 pt, we’ll change it to that. If it’s not double spaced, we’ll modify it. Once the entry is formatted correctly, anything beyond three pages will NOT be read.

Good luck!  And please, if this doesn't apply to you, but you know someone who may be interested, please spread the word via blog/twitter/facebook.  I'd really appreciate it!


And if you aren't entering, I'd love to hear how you found your crit group members?  And what do you look for most in a member or beta reader?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Invitation" - The High Violets

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

How Do You Handle Critiques? (and a call for Volunteers)

Getting feedback is a necessary part of this business of writing.  I didn't realize the true meaning of that when I first started--I thought my mom loving my first novel was more than enough.  :)  But as we've discussed before, your mama isn't a valid beta reader.

So we go out and we find critique groups or send our manuscript out to beta readers, then we brace ourselves for the feedback.  We know what we want to hear: "You're fabulous, this is ready for submission, you don't need to edit a thing."  But usually the crit is decidedly less stellar (unless it's from your mom.)

So when the tough feedback comes your way?  How do you handle it?  Do you get angry, down on yourself, blame the critiquer, want to give up and go back to your day job?  Or do you breathe through it and look at the feedback as a gift for you to work with?

I've gotten a range of reactions when giving critiques to others's work.  I admit I'm a tough critter.  And I usually warn people of that before I offer to read their stuff.  But of course, people usually say, "Bring it on, I want honesty."

In some cases, that's true.  I've critted for a number of people outside my critique group and most have been awesome about receiving the feedback (including Tina Lynn whose twitter comment to me inspired this post.)  I've also gotten the stunned reaction--the "oh, okay, eighty crit comments on ten pages, um thanks."  Which I take to mean the person is either ticked off at me, dismissing my opinions, or really just needs time to soak the feedback in.

We each have our own way of dealing with those emotions that flood us after hearing the negative feedback.  Some of us tend to direct our anger and frustration outward--being defensive, getting angry at or discrediting/dismissing the critiquer--she doesn't know what she's talking about, this isn't her genre, and anyway, her work isn't that fabulous either.

 Others direct it inward--blaming themselves--I'm never going to be able to do this.  I suck. Why do I even bother?  Most of us tend to lean toward one pattern or the other--and this goes for life in general, not just for this specific situation.  Type ones get mad, type twos get depressed--same emotion just directed in a different way.

I am definitely a type two person.  I blame myself, wonder if I'll ever be good enough, yadda yadda yadda.  I've very rarely been frustrated with the critter themselves.  But either type can learn something from the other.

• Type ones need to take a breath and reflect.  They need to look for the truth in the comments, absorb the responsibility for the mistakes they may have made, and direct the frustration into determining which changes they think are valid and which ones they are going to ignore.  And most of all, do not be rude to the critter.  They took the time to give you honest feedback, which is not an easy thing to do.

• Type twos need to realize that a crit is just an opinion.  Sure, there is probably truth in most of what someone says, but not everything they say is cardinal law.  If type twos aren't careful, they'll end up flipping their story upside down every time they get a different crit trying to please everyone.  You have to remember that it is ultimately your story.  Make sure you pick and choose which advice you want to go with.

Okay, so related to this topic, I wanted to ask if anyone would be willing to be critted here on the blog?  This would mean you submit your first few pages and I offer a crit in a post along with getting feedback from commenters?  Obviously, this takes some bravery, but also means you could get some invaluable feedback from a bunch of talented writers (a  la Public Query Slushpile or Miss Snark's First Victim).  Everyone could also learn from each other on what to look for in a crit.  

If you think this would be a valuable tool, then let me know in the comments.  If you are willing to submit pages to get that critique, also let me know.  If you don't want to do it in the comments--just email me (click the little blue @ symbol under my picture.)

Alright, so back to the original topic, which camp do you fall in?  How do you handle a bad crit?  Have you ever had anyone get upset with you over a crit you gave them?  
 
 
 

**Today's Theme Song**

"Say It Ain't So" - Weezer

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

Sifting Through Opposing Feedback

Photo by engineroomblog (click pic for link)

First, thanks so much for all of your nice comments and congratulations yesterday.  You guys are the bestest!

Now, because I had the opportunity to review the judges' comments and revise my submission before sending it along to the editor, I spent the entire afternoon yesterday obsessing over two paragraphs.  Last night, I finally hit the point of mostly happy with it and went ahead and sent it in.  If I looked at it any longer, I know I would have ended up changing too much.  The entry got me to the finals, so I'm trying to go with the ain't-broke-don't-fix-it (well, don't fix it too much) mentality--a philosophy that is hard for me to embrace at times. So I have officially let it go and am giving it over to the Fates at this point.

But as I was going through the judges' comments and emailing back and forth with my crit group to get their input, my head started to swim.  It's amazing how subjective this whole writing thing is.  One reader will point out how much they love something, then another one will say I totally blew that part.  

When I threw out options to my crit partners, each had different opinions of which version I should go with (and gave completely valid rationales behind why there opinion was such.)  I'd read one of their suggestions, and be like, yes that makes so much sense.  But then I'd read another's opposing opinion and her reasoning, and be like, damn, that makes total sense too.  Gah!  

So it makes me wonder, how do you know which advice to take and which to toss? Ultimately, I went with what had the best "feel" to me when I read it out loud, but believe me, I agonized over every freaking word.

So how about you?   When you get opposing opinions that all make sense, how do you determine your course?  

 

**Today's Theme Song**

"Brain Stew" - Green Day

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

Why Your Mama Doesn't Count as a Beta Reader

As I was watching American Idol this week, I realized that the contestants on the show are much like writers trying to get agents or publishing deals.  We all have a dream, we all believe we have some level of talent, and we want to impress the people that can help us realize our dream.

These people go on the show, wait in impossibly long lines (slush pile) then present what they've got to the judges (agents) for about a 1% chance of being successful.  So when I'm watching the show and see contestants walk in so hopeful only to open their mouths and sound like a dying cat, I always wonder why these people went through so much trouble?  Don't they know they're terrible?  I mean this guy seems honest in his surprise (sorry this is not from this season, couldn't find a good one yet on YouTube).

But time and time again, we see those contestants break down in tears, exit the room, and run into the arms of their genuinely astonished friends and family.  Inevitably, the mother is murmuring, "They don't know what they're talking about, honey, you're wonderful!"

And herein lies the problem.  If the only people you ever sing for are your family and friends, you're not getting any true help.  They aren't lying to you necessarily--they just love or like you and are looking for the good in you.  This is the same thing that happens if your only beta readers are your mom/friends/co-workers.

ANYONE who has any obligation or loyalty to you in real life is going to see things through rose-colored glasses.  You have to look at what the person has to lose by giving you a harsh feedback.  For instance, if you're writing YA and your friend's teen daughter offers to read your manuscript, she is already set up not to give you a negative opinion.  You are her mother's friend and an adult.  She's going to want to please you.

So, I know I'm probably preaching to the choir, but do not send your work out to agents before you've found  unbiased beta readers (including people who are writers, not just readers) or joined a crit group.  (I'm speaking from experience with novel #1 here.)  Otherwise, you may end up getting the same reaction from the agents that the judges gave the guy in the video above.

Yes, there are some people who are born with some amazing innate talent and nail it the first time with no help.  BUT they are the exception--and if you've watched the movie He's Just Not That Into You--remember that most of us are the rule, not the exception.

So give yourself the best possible chance for that agent to fall in love with your work.  Getting a crit can be terrifying the first few times, but wouldn't you rather hear negative feedback from a fellow writer than blow your opportunity with your dream agent or publisher?  Your manuscript might just be a few critiques away from amazing--give yourself a chance to reach that.

*steps off soap box*

--Alright, you only have until tonight at midnight (central) to enter the "win a crit" contest (are you getting tired of me reminding you yet?), enter here if you haven't already.--

**ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BETA READERS OR CRIT GROUP?**

I've noticed a few of you have left comments this week that you are looking for a crit group.  So in addition to regular comments, feel free to leave a "personal" ad for what kind of crit group or beta readers you are looking for and leave your email address so that others who may match up with you can contact you.

So am I the only one who jumped the gun on her first novel and queried before I had unbiased beta readers?  When did you decide you needed to join a crit group?  Who would you want as your literary agent--Randy, Simon, or Cara?  


 

**Today's Theme Song**

"I Honestly Love You" - Olivia Newton-John

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Structuring a Critique Group Online

Cartoon credit: Inky Girl

I've mentioned my online crit group on here a number of times and many of you have asked how it's structured or set up.  So I thought it may be helpful to discuss how ours works.  Keep in mind that crit groups can take on any number of structures and set ups.  This is just what happens to work out perfectly for me.  There is no "right" way to do it.  So it's important to figure out what works best for you and the members of your group.

First, I want to say that Lynnette over at Chatterbox Chitchat set up our group, so the credit on this set up style goes to her.  :)  But I have found this structure really efficient, so I figured I'd pass it along.

One of the most important things is to set up rules and expectations up front (and stick to them).
--We have a document that actually outlines these things.
--Just like with anything else, if you're super lax about expectations, people will eventually slack.  It's human nature, lol.
---Our rules:

• Each person is responsible for critting at least one chapter a week (not one per person, just one.)
• Make sure you check the database (more on that below) to see whose critting what, and pick the chapter you crit based on who hasn't gotten a crit yet that week.
• Delete the person's work off your hard drive when you're done.
• Don't share anyone's work with anyone else.
• If you can't crit that week, let someone know, and make it up the next week.

It can help to have a designated leader.
--This is very helpful.  This doesn't mean the leader has more power than anyone else, he or she is just a goto person for different things.  Lynnette has taken on this role in our group.  If we can't crit, we email her.  When the group had spots open for new members, she led the search for a new one.

Choose what genres you're going to cover.
--Some groups are totally fine being mixed genre, but I find that harder to work with.  My group does all romance.  There are different subgenres--romantic suspense, paranormal, contemporary--but all adult romance.
--This eliminates issues of people who are not readers of your area not understanding the components of your genre.  For instance, a sci-fi person may not understand why romance has to have a happy ending.

Try to find members who are not too far apart in skill level.
--If you have brand new beginners with seasoned veterans, people can get frustrated.  (The beginner because they are getting torn apart and the veterans because they aren't getting enough valuable feedback.)
--It's okay to have some variance in skill, just make sure people aren't on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Alright, now a few technical aspects...

We have our group set up through Yahoo Groups.  This website has been very helpful in keeping things organized.  It also provides you with a group address so you can email your members and everyone sees the email and can respond to them--which means you can have conversations on the email loop.  This aspect is almost as helpful as the crits themselves.  You have a sounding board at your fingertips.

In the yahoo groups, there are two folders set up for each member--a "to do" folder and a "done" folder.  For instance, the Roni To Do folder is where I upload my chapters that are ready to be critted.  Then, the Roni Done folder is where the members upload their crits of my chapters.  So if I go in my Done folder, I'll see all the chapters that have already been critted and I can download them to see the critique.

To keep track of who is critting what and to make sure everyone gets  a crit each week, we have a database set up in yahoo as well.

Okay, that's a little hard to see, but basically it has our names along the side and top--grid style.  So my name is second from the bottom, if you scan horizontally from my name, this shows that I critted for three different people (the names at the top) that week.  We designate this by code: (novel title initials) Chapter #, date, then either C (for currently being critted) or D (done and uploaded for viewing.)

So if someone had critted Wanderlust chapter two, it would look like this: WL Ch.2  D 1/13.  Now if someone goes in the database ready to crit, they will see that someone has already done one for me this week, so they will find the person who still needs one and enter that they are critting their chapter.  For instance, in the pic above, you can see that the person on the far right end hasn't received any crits yet that week.  (For the record, she had nothing uploaded that week to do, so that's why she didn't have any.  Otherwise, other people wouldn't have gotten multiple crits before she got one.)

There is also a handy dandy box you can check when you upload someone's chapter that automatically sends an email to everyone to let them know the chapter is now available for viewing.  That way you don't have to constantly check the database to see if people have finished critting your work yet.

Lastly, and most importantly, remember that in any critiquing relationship, all members need to treat others with respect and kindness.  Give tough feedback if it's called for, that's your job.  But don't be rude, tear people down, or make fun of anyone's work.  Also, be sure you know how to take a crit.  Don't get all defensive and fussy when you get back feedback you don't like.  Honest feedback is a gift, treat it as such.  We're all in this together.  :)

How about you?  Are you in a crit group?  How does yours work?  Have any tips for those trying to put a group together?  What have you seen gone wrong in a crit group--how did you fix it?

**Don't forget, the win a 10 page crit contest is still accepting entries until Friday.  Click here to enter!**

**Today's Theme Song**

"Perfect Situation" - Weezer

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Contest!!!! And The Techie Post About Critting

Photo credit: Inky Girl

Before I get to today's post, I want to announce a new contest.  In honor of my focus on critting this week, I am offering a critique giveway!

Two winners will receive either a detailed critique of their first ten pages OR a query critique from me (winner's choice).  These crits will be private and not published on this site.  Now, I don't claim to be a professional editor, but I am a very detailed critter and give honest feedback, which I hope will be very helpful to whoever wins.

Alright, so here are the rules...

• You must leave a comment on TODAY's post
• You must be a follower (If you are not currently, you can join now.)
• If you are already a follower, you get one extra entry (+1)
• If you tweet about the contest (just hit the retweet button at the bottom of the post) or post it on your blog, you get an extra entry (+1)
• No non-fiction (except memoir) or poetry please.
• Comments will be cut off at midnight (central time) Friday night Jan. 15.
• Winner will be announced on Monday's blog!

Good luck to everyone!  I look forward to reading the winners' work!

Now for today's post...

I do not pretend to be technically savvy.  I occasionally have a moment where I feel I've conquered some html thing that I thought I wouldn't figure out (like my fancy label section in the sidebar).  However, I thought it may be helpful to review how my critique group uses Microsoft Word to crit.  I know many of you probably already use these features, but for those of you who don't, I hope this proves useful.

In Microsoft Word (2007 version is what I'm using), there are these handy dandy review features.  So when you open your document, click on the tab at the top that says "Review".

This will bring up the options to "Track Changes".  Select this option.  It will now track any changes you make to the document in a different color.

Now when you make changes in the document, it will look like this (click on picture for bigger view):

Now for those things that you can't just correct inline, you have the comments feature.  To the left of the Track Changes button is a button labeled New Comment (see first picture above).  Make sure your cursor is at the point in the document where you want to make a comment.  Then press the New Comment icon.  A little bubble will appear out to the side where you can type your comment.  You can also highlight whole words, sentences, or passages, then hit comment and it will attach the comment to whatever you highlighted.

And remember this feature is great for pat on the back comments as well as critical ones.

So these are the basic features I use.  In addition to the review features, I also use the normal highlight capability to denote echoes.  I don't bother making a comment each time I see a repeated word, I just highlight each one to bring it to the person's attention.  An automatic comment will also appear in the sidebar since you are tracking changes. To highlight the word, just highlight the word with your cursor, then a little box will pop up, select the yellow (or whichever color you choose) option. (Click on pic to see bigger)

A few other time savers are coming up with abbreviations your crit buddies all know to put in the comment section:

SDT = Show don't tell

HD = Hidden dialogue (or buried dialogue)

awk = awkward

??? = What in the heck are you trying to say here?

And smiley faces and LOL's always work well too.

Alright, I'm sure that was as clear as mud.  I definitely don't need to quit fiction for technical writing.  :)  If any of you have questions about any of the above, feel free to ask them in the comments and I'll try to not confuse you further.

Now, for the purposes of the contest, please leave in your comment the number of entries you qualify for (if you're tweeting it, posting it, a follower, etc.).  If you do not want to enter, but want to leave a comment, just let me know "no entry".  Thanks and good luck!

**Today's Theme Song**

"Get the Party Started" - Pink

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

What Makes a Good Crit Buddy?

I'm a lucky girl. I have kickass crit group, a great beta reader, and friends (bloggy and otherwise) who have generously read for me and offered feedback. And what is always interesting to me is how different people can see such different things. That's why it's important to make sure you have a wide variety of people critting you.

Types of critters:

Partner

--This person invests in you as much as you invest in them. You exchange equally and you offer the entire gamut of feedback: line edits, plotting, characterization, story, pacing, etc.

--This is the person that you also go to for advice on writing career things

--I think having one of these is vital, but not everyone can fulfill this role because it takes a lot of time investment

Mentor

--This person is further on the path in their writing career, maybe they've already been published. They can offer you guidance along the way.

Proofreader (Grammar Nazi)

--The detail-oriented English teacher type. She can spot a dangling modifier or misplaced comma from twenty yards away. She focuses on the trees, not the forest.

Cheerleader

--This reader sends your crit back with lots of smiley faces, lol's, and positive comments along with the negative things. They may not be as detailed as the proofreader, but they give you the confidence keep going. This is the person who will talk you off the ledge when you're ready to give up.

Whipcracker

--This person doesn't let you get away with anything. If you have deadline, she's poking you until you meet it. If you get lazy in your writing and try to sneak in a little telling, she will call your butt out.

Reader

--This person is not a writer but is a voracious reader. She is looking at the forest, not the trees. This is also invaluable because SHE (or he) is your customer. This is who you are ultimately writing for.

Looking at this list, I definitely have each of these in my beta reading ranks. As for my own style, I hope that I am a partner to my crit group and regular beta readers. If I'm just critting somebody as a one off--then I'm more of a tactful whipcracker and reader (<-this is fair warning for any of those who take me up on the offer at the bottom of the page.)

So, how do you know you've found the right crit buddy?

A good buddy...

Listens to your suggestion and even if they don't always take them, they give them serious consideration.

Makes an effort to understand your writing and where you are coming from.

Gives as much as she gets.

Is honest--even when she knows it might be hard for your to hear

Doesn't just point our problems, but offers suggestions

Appreciates constructive criticism

Takes the time to point out what she loves, not just what's wrong (that smiley face here and there can go a long way when you've received a rough crit)

And beware the toxic crit parter, this person...

Throws up the defenses the minute you say something negative or suggest changes

Has a million excuses as to why your suggestions don't work--you don't understand their genre, you're not "getting" their point, etc.

Rarely implements the changes you offer.

Tells you what's wrong in your manuscript but doesn't offer help on what they think would fix it.

Only wants accolades. When those don't come, they get angry, pouty, or generally difficult.

Doesn't put forth as much effort on your work as you do on theirs

Tears apart your work without tact or helpful suggestions and if you get hurt, tell you that you need a thicker skin.

--There is a huge difference between "this sucks, I'm totally lost" and "this chapter may need a little reworking to make the plot points clearer"

Source: The Care and Nurturing of Critique Relationship

If this toxic buddy is in your life, fire them. You don't need that in your life. Writing is hard enough--don't add to your stress. Find good critters and move on.

**Okay, so in a few days I may be looking for a few "readers" for the first fifty pages of my romance, Wanderlust. As I mentioned, I'm entering a few contests, and even though it's been through detailed critting already, I'd love overarching opinions on those contest type questions (i.e. Do you want to read more? Does the voice shine through? etc.)

You don't have to be a writer, just a reader (preferably of romance). But if you are a writer, I will offer something in return: either a detailed crit of your first chapter (up to 15pgs) or an overall opinion of your first 50pgs.

If anyone is interested, email me (click on the email button at the top right of the page). If I get more than three offers, I'll just pick three at random since I won't have time to crit more than that. (Warning: my story contains some four letter words, so if you're offended by that, please don't apply.)** REQUEST NOW CLOSED--Thanks to all those who offered to read for me! You guys rock. :)

Alright, so what kind of critter are you? Do you recognize any of these types in your circle? Have you ever had a toxic beta reader?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Lipstick and Bruises"-- Lit

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Crit Group Matchmaking

It seems that I've had a number of people lately asking me about crit groups. How did I find mine? Do I know of any that have openings? Where would I recommend hooking up with one? Beyond telling people how I found mine (online through a contest), I didn't have many answers.

So I thought I would help the critter-less writers as best I can by doing some research and some matchmaking.

Face to Face Groups

How to find one?

• To find these you need to google your city and terms like writers group, critique group, etc.
• Also, whatever your genre is, go to the national organization website (i.e. Romance Writers of America, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and see if they have a local chapter. Your chapter will probably have information on groups that meet in your area.
• Attend writers' conferences in your area to hook up with other writers and network.
• Look for ads at local bookstores, coffee shops, etc.

What to expect?

Each group will have its own rules and structure. However, typically members read chapters at home and arrive to the group with comments already prepared. Or, work is read out loud, and critiques are given on the spot.

Online Groups

How to find one?

• Create your own (more on that later)
• Network with your blogging friends to see if they know of any
• Join one of the critique websites/communities: Critique Circle, Critters Workshop, search Yahoo Groups (I have only used Yahoo groups, so if anyone has other suggestions or has experience with an online workshop, please list it in the comments).
• Volunteer to exchange beta-reading with blogging friends. If you find you connect and enjoy critting and being critted by them, consider putting together a group.

**I would suggest that you only post your work on a site that requires membership and passwords. Don't publish your stuff for free for all the world to see.**

What to expect?

I can only speak from my personal experience. In my group, we are responsible for critting at least one chapter a week (not one per member, just one). We obviously try to do more when we can. We also try to make sure that each member gets at least one crit in return per week). Chapters are posted for download on our yahoo groups page (it's members only so only we can see it) and then we crit in Word (using the comments and review features). Once we're done, we upload the critted chapter for the writer to review.

Things to keep in mind for forming or joining a crit group:

• Make sure that there are some rules and expectations set up. Lack of structure is not your friend in this type of situation.

• You need to enjoy the genre that the other members are writing. If you never read horror but you join a group of Stephen King wannabes, you're a) not going to enjoy critting them if you don't like horror b) aren't going to be effective at critting if you don't know anything about the conventions of that genre and c) may not get effective critiques in return if they aren't fans of your genre.

• Try to find a group that contains writers of varying levels of experience (but not necessarily extreme disparity). Put a group of beginners together and it will be like the blind leading the blind. The other writers don't necessarily need to be published (although it's great if they are), but find some that have studied the craft and already learned from some mistakes. On the other hand, put a newbie with a bunch of established authors, and the newbie will probably be torn to shreds and the experienced writers will tire of reading work that isn't close to being ready.

*One suggestion I have regarding this is have potential members submit samples of their writing to you (if you're starting a group). Gauge what level they are at and if they will fit in your group.

• Most importantly, make sure you are ready to truly be critiqued. If you are just looking for a group to tell you how awesome you are, don't join. Being critted and critiquing others is HARD. Your hackles will rise the minute you get that document back with red marks all over it. If every time someone says something negative, you start with the "yeah, but" then you're probably not ready.

Hey Baby, what's your sign, er, genre?

Alright, so now for a little matchmaking for those who are out there on their own. If you are someone who is looking for an online crit group, then consider this your match.com today. In the comments section, please put that you are looking for a group and include the genre(s) you write and your email or website link. Once I have a list, I will post those singles looking for a group and you can contact each other.

Also, if any of you have an already established group and are looking for members, then please post that in the comments as well.

As for everyone else, what has been your crit group/beta reading experience? Do you have any sites that I missed? Any more tips to share? What was your reaction the first time you received a tough critique?

 

**Today's Theme Song**

"On My Own" - Les Miserables Soundtrack

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

WIP Wednesday & Thoughts on Beta-Reading

So I'm cruising along the editing train. I've made it to the halfway point in first round revisions with my romance. Woo-hoo. :) I will have a lot more to do once my critique group goes through it, but progress is progress. I did not meet my goal of writing a query letter for book two. I started, got frustrated, then put it away. *sigh* Why are these letters so darn tough? I'll keep it on my goals for next week.

For those of you not in a critique group or a beta-reading exchange, I highly recommend it. Even a few weeks in, I find my critical eye strengthening. Things I would have glazed over and not noticed before are not popping out to me as I read through my manuscript. In addition, I've learned a few new rules that I wasn't aware of (more of that in another post.) It also means I'm getting tougher as a beta-reader/critiquer for others. So those of you who I'm beta reading/critiquing for, don't take it personally if more comments are popping up on your chapters than before. It's not you, it's me. :)

I've also found that each beta-reader has their own pet peeves that they consistently point out. I think I'm obsessed with flow. The comment I find myself making most often is "awkward, reword". I hate making this comment because it sounds vague. There isn't one thing I can point out that's wrong, the sentence just makes me stumble when I read it. It's a rhythm thing. My rule is I make note of it if I falter on the sentences in both read-throughs. Hopefully, I'm not pissing off my buddies with this incessant comment, lol.

*Note: I'll be heading to Louisiana tomorrow to visit family for a long weekend, so I won't be around the next two days. I'm going to try to figure out auto-post, but you probably won't see me commenting on your own blogs for the rest of the week.*

So how is your WIP going? Do you have beta-readers or critique group? What pet peeve do you always point out when critiquing?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Cry" - Kelly Clarkson

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

**This song doesn't match the post, but I saw Kelly in concert this past weekend and loved this song. Thought I would share.**

Got Awesomeness?

Agent Janet Reid recently linked to an article about confidence by Toni Causey. This article really hit home for me. I suggest you read it, but the gist is that confidence is a choice. Many writers feel that we won't have confidence until we have (insert appropriate goal--an agent, a publishing contract, a best seller, a second book, a series, etc.).

The hole in this plan is that there will always be something else we can tack on to that goal. "I have an agent, but what if my book doesn't sell." "I have a book published but what if everyone hates it." You see, we can always come up with something else to postpone confidence. Part of this is good--it drives us to continue to improve. However, it can also be detrimental.

If we lack confidence, it will show in our writing. Just like if you show up to a job interview and you don't believe in yourself. As a management recruiter, I saw this all the time. People would be so nervous and would start apologizing in the interview. "I don't have a degree, but..." "I know that company I worked for isn't top tier, but..." "I know this position is a little beyond what I've done, but..." It would drive me crazy. If you don't act like you could do the job, I'm not hiring you for it.

So if our writing says to the reader "I'm not sure if you're going to like this or if this story is worth reading", the person will shut the book and fire you. Now, I do want to say that overconfidence will show too. Nothing is more annoying than someone who talks about how awesome they are all the time. (Usually, these are the people who are decidedly un-awesome.) But a little confidence goes a long way.

I will say that I struggle with this all the time. I'm not confident by nature. My mother used to tell me all the time that if you walk into a room thinking you look good, other people will think you look good too. I'm not sure if that always works, but I see her point.

I went into my new crit group with that lack of confidence. When they selected me to join in the first place, I was surprised. Like, really, me? You liked my writing? Then I started reading their chapters and was like, darn they're good. They are going to tear me apart!

To my relief, I started getting feedback from them on how much they are enjoying my story (along with valid criticism, of course). I was shocked and so excited. But then after reading that article I realized, I shouldn't only feel good about my writing when I receive outside validation. I need to choose to feel good about it. I work hard at what I do. I try to improve my writing skill every day. And for that, I have the right to be proud.

So don't apologize in your query letters for not being published, don't send your chapters to your beta readers with disclaimers on how you "know this isn't great, but", and pat yourself on the back when you write a scene you're proud of. It's okay.

So how do you feel about your own writing? Do you have confidence or are you constantly apologizing? How do you push through a crisis of confidence?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Self-Esteem"-- The Offspring

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

WIP Wednesday & Award

It's that time of the week again. I feel like kind of a slacker because I'm now in revising mode vs. writing mode so I don't have a word count to report. However, I have done a first round revision on five chapters of my romance so that I could submit them to my crit buddies. So I feel pretty good about that.

I also have been doing a lot of critiquing for others which has been a nice break from staring at my own words incessantly. :) Critiquing is hard work and being critiqued can be painful, but I think both sides of it are invaluable learning experiences. Hopefully, we will all come out the other side stronger writers.

This week I think I'm going to attempt to draft a query letter for the romance. The novel is, by no means, ready to be sent into the world, but I want to have that letter done and waiting once I'm through with revisions. Last time I waited until the end and my brain was so fried that the query letter seemed beyond overwhelming to write. I'm hoping *crossing fingers* that this second query letter will be easier. The story is WAY more straightforward than my YA. No supernatural, no mythology, no world building. So we'll see. I have a feeling I'll still end up half-bald with hair-pulling.

So now for an award. Lazy Writer and Anna C. Morrison have passed along the Splish Splash award to me. This award is for a dazzling blog. I'm so excited to find out that my little site dazzles. I'm like a vampire, oh wait, that's sparkles, never mind. :)

Thanks ladies! Both of their sites received the award as well, so if you haven't checked them out, I highly recommend it.

And now to pass it on. I'm picked five people that I read regularly but that I haven't passed along an award to yet.

1. Dawn at Plotting and Scheming

2. T. Anne at White Platonic Dreams

3. Tabitha Bird at Books, Bubs, and Writing Blabber

4. Mandi at Smexy Books

5. Weronika at Weronika Janczuk

So how's your WIP going? (Feel free to leave a link in the comments section for your WIP Wed. update.) Is anyone else going through the critiquing stage right now? What are you critters catching that you totally missed?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Misery Business" - Paramore

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

Okay, so only the title works and not the lyrics when referring to querying, but it's a good song anyway. :)

Work In Progress Wednesday #4

*wipes sweat off forehead* Hallelujah. I just fixed my internet. After spending my entire evening on the phone with Time Warner (fun times), I went to bed and still had no internet. This morning, nothing had changed. So I've spent the last two hours playing with buttons and functions I shouldn't touch and lo and behold--internet! I have no idea what I did to fix it (something about DNS servers and IP addresses, who knows), but I'm not complaining.

Okay, so now for good 'ol WIP Wednesday. The one benefit of having no internet yesterday was that I was able to finish the rough draft of Wanderlust. Woo-hoo! It's a thousand words shy of where I wanted to be, but I'm a layerer. When I revise, I add words vs. cut, so I don't doubt that it will get to where it needs to be during revision. Therefore, I'm going to focus on the fact that I was able to type THE END. :)

As for the other manuscript, it is now with two agents. I sent out my newly revised query letter a week or so ago and received a request for a partial! :) So that means one agency has a full, the other a partial. I'm sure it will be a decent wait to hear back from either of them, but I'll let everyone know when I have more info.

This week has also been a good week for contests for me. I won a three chapter critique from Once Upon a Crime, so I'm excited about that. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. And I also was selected for a spot in a romance critique group, Rumored Romantics, over at Lynnette Labelle's site Chatterbox Chitchat. I'm really happy about becoming a member because I have been wanting to join a critique group for a while. Hopefully, all these things will help me grow as a writer.

So I think that's it for now. I'll be spending my day doing some beta reading and critiquing since I was sans computer yesterday.

How's your WIP going? Feel free to leave a link for your WIP post in the comments.