Intent
Intent.
I didn't intend to start posting about critiques, but . . . what I blog about is what I happen to be thinking about each morning. And this week two interesting things happened pertaining to critiques.
I heard from a friend of a friend asking me about publishing, and because of the dearness of the person who passed along my name . . . I offered to read and help if I could. My intentions were very good, because really . . . I love the person who mentioned me to this writer. I read the material with interest, putting other things aside to help. This person can craft a sentence and clearly knows his subject matter. There are some publishing things that . . . he could develop, and I tried to be as helpful as possible. We chatted a bit about writing--the whys more than anything. And I hope to eventually meet him and his wife for supper as they live not too far out west from me. In every email this person was a class act, and I tried to be the same. I consider it a budding writer friendship.
Intent. On both sides.
On the flip side, I was asked to read something. And the very long story is the writer has been labeled "difficult." I read the submission, which this writer feels is ready to be published tomorrow. And I got mad.
What was her intent?
In fact, my response was as rude as I tend to be. Which I suppose these days is not very. (Darn you, Buddhism!) But . . . yeah. In fact, I stopped reading on page 10 and threw my hands up and got downright angry. Then I skimmed to see if it got any better. Then I fired off a b*tchy email. Because here's the thing . . . if you have not read any new fiction. If you have clearly NO idea of what is being bought or even the most very basic (!!) elements of craft . . . why would you waste busy people's time? Ahh . . . wait . . . that's one more aspect of this. You see, I have had brand-spankin' new to fiction people be invited to join my writers' group. So that's not it. It's not that I have been at this a while and writer B is new. It's intent.
Approach every critique, every beta read as if YOU have something to LEARN (no matter your level of experience) not as if YOU are about to wow someone. If the latter happens, great. But the second read was for someone who feels she has nothing to learn. Her intent is to be rubber stamped to the top of an editor's reading list.
Intent.
If I spend my time critiquing only to have someone say, "Hmm. Well, I guess it's just not your kind of book"--why did you ask me to read? Most of you on this blog know me, and a healthy percentage have asked me to beta read. I have never turned anyone down. I read for people outside my genre. I may not know the latest in spy thrillers, say. But if I said, "This section here seems completely out of character and unsupported by anything you've laid groundwork for . . . " that has nothing to do with whether or not that's "my" kind of book.
Receiving criticism well starts with intent.
WHY do you want someone to beta read for you? It's time to get really honest with yourself. WHAT do you expect to hear? Genius offered me some criticism on my opening chapters of a thriller. He didn't quibble with the writing but where I chose to open it. He gave me TONS of food for thought. Go with a prologue (his vote), don't (my vote--or at least it was until he made a suggestion). In fact, I am STILL undecided, and I think GOOD criticism and the reception of it in the spirit of its intent helps you grow. I still don't know what the heck I'm going to open with, but I sure am not closed to the idea of doing something different.
If you respond to criticism by reacting, I think you went into it with the wrong intent. As I often say "BE" with the edits and critique for a bit.
Intent.
If your response is to say, "Well, five other people loved it . . . " WHY on earth are you still gathering beta readers? To garner more praise? So you can say TEN people loved it? You have just denigrated your reader, as if to say, "I had no intention of listening to your opinion unless you concurred with the peanut gallery.
Intent.
Is this to say that once in a while, a crackpot won't read your book? No. Sometimes, quite simply, someone else will have an outlier opinion. But it comes down to one word.
Intent.
What is YOUR intention?
Thoughts?
39 comments:
Having been the newbie once, my intent was to wow the world. Having been in this nine years, I just want to know if it sounds like I was blitzed out on LSD when I plotted a scene.
Back when I was in a crit group, thank goodness we had specifically spelled out what each of us wanted from our crits *before* we read one sentence. That made our crits all the more valuable and nobody wasted anyone's time.
marcia:
LOL! Sometimes I re-read scenes and think . . . what WAS I thinking?
E
This is very interesting.
I am annoyed by the small percentage of writers who can't handle their product being critiqued on blogs-- when they put their writing there in order to be critiqued.
I think you just explained the why-- since they don't intend to learn and grow through the process, they aren't receptive to feedback.
This makes me feel so much better about where I am as a writer.
I love bumping into writers on the internet. Last night I bumped into one in real life in the cafe where my critique partner and I were discussing our works. I couldn't figure out what was his intent when he approached us, and I am still curious.
Hi Heather:
There are--in my opinion only--certain objective criteria for a good critique. But the two-way relationship can only be launched with good intentions--on both sides. I.e., if a critiquer is intentionally snarky or condescending . . . that doesn't help matters. And if the receiver only wants praise . . . that doesn't help.
E
My intent? Gosh, when I ask for help, I am DESPERATE, lol. I'm completely lost and ready to do ANYTHING to make it better.
Still, if my adult students taught me anything, it's how to be a learner. I try to avoid telling someone what I think needs to be fixed beforehand (although, when I fail in that, I expect to be ignored), and I'm open to hear and try anything. If anything, I err on the side of being far too impressionable and assuming the other person is right without considering the alternative. Aside from the comma disaster, I think I've done everything an editor has said. Last week I didn't change a "he" to a "she" as suggested, which is a big step for me, LOL.
In order to have critique partners, I'd have to have everything finished and triple-polished before I brought it to the table, or else it would end up as something not me.
Natasha . . .
I'm relieved that I have an internal compass on some things . . . but when trying a new genre or something new, I can get pretty quicksandy.
E
My approach to intent has to do with the larger, lifetime-type goals. I have a sticky note over my computer that I put there almost 2 years ago now. It's one sentence, but it's my intention, because it lays out exactly what I want to accomplish.
So whenever I get annoyed by criticism, or defensive, or I feel like just hanging up my spurs and going home, it actually helps. I read it, and I think, "Oh yeah. That's why I'm doing this to myself."
As far as other people's intent, it doesn't really measure into my critiques. I just give my opinion. If people choose to use it, that's great. If they disagree, that's great (because who even says I'm right?). But I love, love, love meeting writers who are serious about it, and want to learn, and want to get muddy in the process. It's really exciting.
Lurker:
Well . . . when I email you WHY?!?!?! WHY!??!?!? Why do I do that this to myself?!?!?! it helps that you know my intent.
LOL!
E
First, I'm glad I was of help. My approach to critiques isn't necessarily to give "good" or "bad" responses, but to be more Socratic and ask questions of the writer. It's just my opinion, and my comments often reflect my values as a reader and writer, but I'm a broad enough reader (and voracious enough) to know that there are, ahem, more than one way to skin the cat (this is a disgusting image, isn't it?).
Second, I think people who get their fur rubbed the wrong way by the comments of people whose opinion they asked for are going to be in for a major shock when they try to get their work published, or even if they DO get their work published. Get published, have some people read your stuff, then show up at a book signing or a conference or book fair and try and deal with all the double-edged comments, thoughtless remarks, and downright criticisms of your book, your writing, your genre, your intentions, everything. I mean, there's nothing like moderating a panel of mystery/thriller authors and having members of the audience attacking mysteries and thrillers with a sort of "why do you guys write this crap? When are you going to write something worthwhile?" to make you realize that your friends were the easy way out.
Mark:
OMG . . . yes. WOW. I thought I was the only one.
I had a friend throw a dinner party for 40 people to celebrate Spanish Disco (my first novel) being published. It was a book group. The women were fabulous. But this ONE woman (who had at one point wanted to be a writer, but abandoned it) said, in front of everyone, "How can you tolerate being called a 'chick lit' [insert her PHYSICAL shudder here] writer?"
It was so rude to do to me. So yeah . . . critiques ain't all that bad. :-)
E
My intent, if I ever find a jiving with me CP, is to first learn, and second: I intend to one day see something, anything of mine, published, and I'm not a know-it-all, so I need a good CP.
I sure in hell don't want to look like a complete and utter idiot when I submit to an agent, and you touched on this subject: I don't want to waste an agent's time with drivel - if they're going to take time to read my stuff, then I want it to be worth their while before rejecting me.
On the other hand, there was a time I was super defensive about my work. I entered an RWA chapter's contest, and the judge (a well pubbed author) commented that the name I chose for the main character wasn't sexy. If that were my intent, then maybe I'd have chosen "Rex" or "Les Testosterone." Perhaps I was going for the paradox...anyway, it scathed me so much for so long that every comment received thereafter caused my defense mechanism to go into overdrive.
I'm not so sensitive these days. Of course, I've stopped entering contests...
P.S. Love Mark's reference to the Socratic approach. I think the open ended question prompts a person to think before the "shoot from the hip" reaction.
Damn good post Erica.
So often your posts send me off on tangents in my comments. I sometimes wonder if you sit there reading them and think "She's so random." LOL. Well, here's another tangent. Today's post brought up two lines of thought.
First, the importance of discernment. I rarely turn anyone down if they ask me for critique. What I've learned is the importance of my discerning their intent so I can give them what they want. If all they want is praise, then that's all I give them and I save myself hours. If they want my insight, then I'll put everything I can into the critique. I too feel angry when I've discerned intent incorrectly and spent hours on someone who INTENDS to ignore all critique. Usually though, it's at myself for not asking enough questions up front.
Second, beware of levelers. Leveling is all about intent. Whether out of envy, competitiveness, need to win, low self-esteem, incompetence, or whatever, some people seek to bring you down (below them). They get creative too -- critiquing your critique for punctuation and grammatical purity, nitpicking your MS to death, reciting obscure "rules" they heard at some conference that you have broken, etc. A leveler's intent is always to reduce you and your writing rather than raising the bar of excellence and encouraging growth.They are clever little deceivers, though, and and it's often quite difficult to figure out exactly what it was about their critique that left you with a sinking heart and wondering why their sugar coated pat on the back knocked the breath out you.
Intent.
Kath:
I find that sort of non sequitor edit or critique to be more a reflection of the critiquer than the writer.
E
Thanks, Realm! And I got your book. AND ONE WORD: Wow . . . . . . .
E
Beth:
Never once have I thought your comments randome. And I never heard the term leveler before, but noy do I know those people. It was such recognition when I read your comment. Yes. I have fielded, over the years, more emails from worried writers who said they went to x conference and were told this or that . . . that to ME sounded off the wall, but I think it was just this sort of situation you describe.
E
A WOW from Erica Orloff pleases me on various levels! Thank you!
This was a very thought provoking blog for me today and I had to step away before I commented.
I think it is the responsibility of the critiquee to inform the critiquer of what they want out of the critique.
Recently, I switched genres, romantic suspense to middle grade, and finished my first MG story. I sent the story to some beta readers for input. I think my original intent was to see if I was on the right track with the switch--the big picture items. Yes, my readers caught some stuff I thought I'd shoved under the carpet, but the lump gave it away and I had to fix it.
On the critiquer side of the coin, I had a writer request that I crit her query letter (rrright . . . I'm she-who-doesn't-get-requests-from-query-letters, and you want ME to give my opinion??) Anyhoo, she wanted a query that would make agents sit up and take notice. Uh, I offered ways to clean and order the query so it made sense, but there was nothing I could contribute that would guarantee an agent would request her material--besides I HADN'T EVEN READ HER STORY, just the query. I thought it better to step away at that point.
If I ask someone to read a manuscript before it is published, I figure I chose the person because I respect his or her opinion, and what the person says about it is intended to make the book or story better. I take the person's words seriously, though I don't always follow all of them.
After publication, I figure you paid your money, you have the right to your opinion.
I asked a male writing friend to read my wip, and the main reason I asked him is I had a male MC and knew I needed a male perspective.
When I got his comments, my first thought was f--------------ck. He pointed out a TON of things that no one else had, things that took a lot of time to resolve, and I am so happy I asked him to read it.
I'm also a big fan of the open-ended question. To me, that's one of the most valuable aspects of critiquing.
I thought about asking you to beta, but I figured you were too busy...
I recently asked a friend to beta my book. My intent was because I was too close to the story and had worked on it for so long that I couldn't see the forest for the trees. And she gave me awesome criticism and notes back.
I don't mind criticism especially from friends. I'd rather hear it from a friend than from an agent or publisher tossing my book aside.
Great post Erica!
My intent is to be honest and gracious at all times. I use that intent in life too.
Love your blog :)
magolla:
Funny . . . my first attempt at a thriller, I went through one draft just seeing if there was a story. Draft # 2 was to follow the conventions of a thriller and fine-tune the writing. Draft #3 will be the final . . . see what remains. I totally hear you on that.
E
Joe:
GREAT way to make that discernment.
E
Melanie:
For YOU???? Never too busy. or even if you want to flip me the first three chapters.
xo
E
Nadine:
I'd WAY rather hear from my critique partners about my gaping hole than after it gets sent.
E
Melanie:
Also . . . I really think if you write as another gender (in terms of POV) you have better have a beta from the opposite sex. I cannot TELL you how much Lurker Monkey and my other crit partner (a guy) have caught.
E
Thanks EriCan.
And I believe there is ALWAYS a gracious way to say even the most painful of opinions.
E
Erica, I'll keep that in mind. :)
And yeah, my male beta pointed out things like, ohh... the MC chatting in the bathroom. His comment: "men don't do that."
Point taken.
Simple
I want to give the people insidemy head a chance to speak. To do this, I must become a better writer in order to hear there comments, questions, and life stories better.
The passion is there, the ideas are there, but I stil have plenty of growing to do, so I'll just take my time and get my ducks in a row, I would love to have my current project published when I'm done, I'm pretty sure it'll happen, but not with out a good revision and some helpful input.
I'm in love with my words. For the first bit. Then I hate them for awhile. Then I start to get real and need feedback because I'm ready to work on my craft.
When I first started getting critiques, I didn't know I was going to get slammed (with good stuff, btw). I was still in love with both my words and being a writer. I also had no idea what a critique would be like. But I learned. Luckily, the first thing I learned was to keep my mouth shut during a critique so I could learn and not defend.
One of the main reasons I don't ask people to read for me is that I don't have much time to reciprocate. So I'm very picky and choosy about what I ask for and when. Which is not a bad thing.
And I sit on a critique, especially if I don't agree with it. Eventually, I will.
I figure there's a learning process involved in everything, even the giving and receiving of critiques.
Another very interesting post.
Intent does make the difference between a crit. that Really hurts or one that just hurts. maybe?
And how do you Really determine the Intent of the person giving the crit. ?
Of whether it really is about the writing or it's really about something personal or crit. they felt you gave them?
Two thumbs up for Beth's "Leveler." I love the phrase and WOW have I ever met a few in my life.
Hi JT:
I better be on your short list for beta reading. :-)
E
Sarah:
I was once in a very large critique group (20+) and you signed up to read maybe twice a quarter. This was OK, but there were two or three who would defend EVERY SINGLE point. Then I was in a group that allowed ZERO discussion. You took your critiqe in silence. I think the best of all worlds is a group of mature critiquers who allow some discussion but check egos at the door.
E
Jude:
Definitely true.
E
sgchris:
That's where I think it's like a relationship . . . like any relationship you feel is worth saving or working on, or staying in. You put in the time so you can eventually discern stuff like that. I think a "cold" beta read is good--it lets maybe someone you don't know so well have a reaction to reading your stuff completely cold. But a crit partner has that "partner" word and it takes time to find the right fit and develop the trust.
E
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