Blog Chain: Let’s Hear it for the Boy (and Girl)

Sometimes when I blog, I rack my brain for something to write. Thankfully, this round’s blog chain, is a topic I am very excited to write about. It comes from Sarah who asks:

“Do you work with critique partners? How did you find your crit pals, and what influence have they had on your work?”

Like others on this blog chain, I had mixed experience with crit partners and critique groups. There were those group members who balked at any feedback you gave them, but were free with providing COPIOUS feedback on your work (a lot of which was irrelevant–“Really? You’re having them eat THAT for breakfast?”). Then, there were group members who only came to group to chat–which would be fine if we were getting coffee or just hanging, but not in a situation where I was trying to improve my work. Then, I had those crit partners who critiqued everything based on Reader-Response Theory (meaning, their critiques consisted of commentary of how the piece related to their lives: “Shut up! I love Donuts for dinner too!”). And, of course, there were the crit partners who only wanted to tell you everything that was wrong with your piece, but not provide hints on how to fix or even expand upon their comments (e.g. “Confusing”, “Don’t like” “Sucks”). And, yet, I wanted to keep looking for someone who I could connect with. Where’s the Match.com equivalent for writers?? You know I’m on to something here….

And then I found out my first novel, INCONVENIENT, was getting published. My agent mentioned a group called the Tenners and the rest is history. Well, sort of. A few times, I complained about how I really wanted a crit partner, what could I do to find a crit partner, doesn’t anyone else out there want a crit partner too? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

At this point, Shaun Hutchinson sent out an e-mail (he probably got tired of hearing me whine), saying he was interested in starting a crit group and was anyone else on board. Me! Me! A few others wrote back too, but the idea of the group kind of fizzled. BUT, it connected me and Shaun, and he’s been my crit partner and someone I consider one of my close friends since (I think it’s been 1.5 years now? More?). Shaun has read numerous drafts of various manuscripts. He has given me amazing feedback on my new novel, PIECES OF US (out March 2012), and he’s been there to cheer me up when I’m feeling down or just listen or commiserate or find new ways to say “Wow, this writing thing sucks sometimes” (yes, there ARE many ways to say that. Really.). Having Shaun in my life as a friend and crit partner has been the best thing that has come out of this whole publishing thing. And I love reading his work too. Watching both our writing styles evolve has been so great, and I always look forward to talking with him about writing and other things. In fact, we’re sooo overdue for Skyping…

My other crit partner is my close friend Vinessa. Vinessa is a writer too and we met in a writing class 8 years ago. While we both put aside the books we were working on years ago, meeting each other was totally worth all the money spent on that class. Vinessa not only provides amazing feedback and catches thematic and grammatical things I miss in my work, but she and I are also very much alike. She understands how something writing related can affect other aspects of my life and how an issue not writing related at all can somehow turn into me going off about my writing career. She also has read a zillion drafts of INCONVENIENT, and while the thought of me reading another chapter for the umpteenth time made me nauseous, Vinessa would write me e-mails like, “Girl, where are the pages?? I want to find out what happens!” She read PIECES OF US in many of its stages too, providing line edits and amazing feedback. And she reads my work-for-hire books too. The girl is all kinds of awesome. And, after she gets back from her fantastic (read: I’m so jealous) European vacation, we’re setting up a time to write together weekly. Hurrah!

I’ve been reading posts of others on the blog chain who talk about having many crit partners, and I don’t think I want to go there. I do have 2 or 3 Beta readers who are willing to read my stuff, and I feel the same way about theirs, but it seems these relationships are more on an as-needed basis and that’s fine with me. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed, and I would feel horrible not being able to keep up with everyone’s works. So, for now, I’ll stay with my two peeps above. 🙂

For more crit partner love, check out Tere’s post from yesterday, and then go to Shaun’s post (yes, THE Shaun I wrote about!) tomorrow.

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