"I think that we're all mentally ill. Those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better - and maybe not all that much better after all." -- Stephen King
Reading for Others
01/17/2011 10:43 Filed in: Writing
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” (Strength to Love speech, 1963)
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
On to all things writing --
I spent the entire day yesterday reading through a draft for one of my writing group buddies. This draft will soon become her second novel - I’m so happy for her! My friend is a talented and humorous writer. I thoroughly enjoy reading her work. Liking someone’s work is not enough, though, when the author is seeking feedback for improvement.
So, I find myself seeking my niche in the reading for others arena. What’s the best way to accomplish this task? How do I provide meaningful positive/constructive feedback? Me. Who am I to tell someone else what works and doesn’t work in their writing?
I’m first and foremost a reader! Second, I’m a writer - in the making, but a writer nonetheless. I guess those are great launching points for moving on to reading for critique. Critique sounds powerful and in a lot of instances brings negative connotation, if misconstrued. Constructive criticism is a step back from negativity. I prefer - feedback in terms of presenting a prevailing positive light. Critique makes me stand at attention. Feedback slides easier over the ego, right? Either way, the intent is to provide encouragement and guidance from an outside perspective in hopes the writer will improve their craft and output. Who wants to read a bad book? I don’t. Do you? With that in mind, how does a writer go about finding that positive feedback?
I’ve been part of this particular writing group since June 2010. Most of our communication is via our online Yahoo list, but a few of us do live here in Minneapolis. I’m learning as I go. Learning from the best and most earnest and sincere, in my humble opinion. I try to incorporate the information I learned from various writing classes as well as the myriad of articles I’ve read in writing magazines and/or online regarding writing critique methodology.
In the simplest terms, I strive to provide the type of feedback the writer asks for when presenting a manuscript or excerpt. For instance, the writer may want to know if the reader detects any “head hopping” - which means, does the POV (Point of View) remain consistent or does the writer start a scene in one character’s POV and suddenly jump (hop) to another character’s POV, etc. I’ve been guilty of head hopping in some of my work, it’s an easy habit to fall into if you’re not careful.
In order to keep myself on task when reading for someone else, I’ve devised a simple method. I write out the specific feedback the writer requested. Using a program called “Stickies” on my computer I write out all the questions the writer has asked to be addressed and save the sticky note to my desktop. Then I open the electronic copy of the manuscript and the sticky note side by side and commence reading. I’ve found this works well because I can jot notes specifically addressing the writer’s questions in the sticky note and consolidate the information at the end for an email synopsis.
I’m one of those people that tend to do the ‘editing’ type grunt work at the same time as addressing the big picture questions. I can’t read through a piece and disregard spelling errors or duplicate or missing words. For these pesky issues, I use the comments and tracking functions in whatever word processing software I’m working with.
For those rare instances when someone provides a hard copy instead of electronic manuscript or excerpt, I follow the same tactics using actual paper sticky notes and tracking the editing issues in different colored ink on the document.
I’m certain there are more advanced methods used by practiced/experienced editors and writers alike. My intent is to learn and apply knowledge as I go. I’m starting out simple and working toward complex. My main concern is to provide the information the writer has asked me for - I know I fall short, but with practice I hope to improve my skills. The patience of my group is a blessing.
The super writers I have the privilege of associating with are a mix of extremely creative women, one great teacher of the craft and each one very supportive of everyone else in the group. I’ve only been part of one other writing group here in the area and we didn’t last more than a couple of months. While it’s nice to be able to meet face to face, the online group I’m part of now has proven more effective, for me personally. I’ve learned so much and I know there’s so much more to learn. The journey continues.
For those interested in starting up a writing group, check out author Lori L. Lake’s article on providing positive and effective feedback and how to start and maintain a critique group. The article is well worth the time spent reading it!
Happy Monday! Write on.
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
On to all things writing --I spent the entire day yesterday reading through a draft for one of my writing group buddies. This draft will soon become her second novel - I’m so happy for her! My friend is a talented and humorous writer. I thoroughly enjoy reading her work. Liking someone’s work is not enough, though, when the author is seeking feedback for improvement.
So, I find myself seeking my niche in the reading for others arena. What’s the best way to accomplish this task? How do I provide meaningful positive/constructive feedback? Me. Who am I to tell someone else what works and doesn’t work in their writing?
I’m first and foremost a reader! Second, I’m a writer - in the making, but a writer nonetheless. I guess those are great launching points for moving on to reading for critique. Critique sounds powerful and in a lot of instances brings negative connotation, if misconstrued. Constructive criticism is a step back from negativity. I prefer - feedback in terms of presenting a prevailing positive light. Critique makes me stand at attention. Feedback slides easier over the ego, right? Either way, the intent is to provide encouragement and guidance from an outside perspective in hopes the writer will improve their craft and output. Who wants to read a bad book? I don’t. Do you? With that in mind, how does a writer go about finding that positive feedback?
I’ve been part of this particular writing group since June 2010. Most of our communication is via our online Yahoo list, but a few of us do live here in Minneapolis. I’m learning as I go. Learning from the best and most earnest and sincere, in my humble opinion. I try to incorporate the information I learned from various writing classes as well as the myriad of articles I’ve read in writing magazines and/or online regarding writing critique methodology.
In the simplest terms, I strive to provide the type of feedback the writer asks for when presenting a manuscript or excerpt. For instance, the writer may want to know if the reader detects any “head hopping” - which means, does the POV (Point of View) remain consistent or does the writer start a scene in one character’s POV and suddenly jump (hop) to another character’s POV, etc. I’ve been guilty of head hopping in some of my work, it’s an easy habit to fall into if you’re not careful.
In order to keep myself on task when reading for someone else, I’ve devised a simple method. I write out the specific feedback the writer requested. Using a program called “Stickies” on my computer I write out all the questions the writer has asked to be addressed and save the sticky note to my desktop. Then I open the electronic copy of the manuscript and the sticky note side by side and commence reading. I’ve found this works well because I can jot notes specifically addressing the writer’s questions in the sticky note and consolidate the information at the end for an email synopsis.
I’m one of those people that tend to do the ‘editing’ type grunt work at the same time as addressing the big picture questions. I can’t read through a piece and disregard spelling errors or duplicate or missing words. For these pesky issues, I use the comments and tracking functions in whatever word processing software I’m working with.
For those rare instances when someone provides a hard copy instead of electronic manuscript or excerpt, I follow the same tactics using actual paper sticky notes and tracking the editing issues in different colored ink on the document.
I’m certain there are more advanced methods used by practiced/experienced editors and writers alike. My intent is to learn and apply knowledge as I go. I’m starting out simple and working toward complex. My main concern is to provide the information the writer has asked me for - I know I fall short, but with practice I hope to improve my skills. The patience of my group is a blessing.
The super writers I have the privilege of associating with are a mix of extremely creative women, one great teacher of the craft and each one very supportive of everyone else in the group. I’ve only been part of one other writing group here in the area and we didn’t last more than a couple of months. While it’s nice to be able to meet face to face, the online group I’m part of now has proven more effective, for me personally. I’ve learned so much and I know there’s so much more to learn. The journey continues.
For those interested in starting up a writing group, check out author Lori L. Lake’s article on providing positive and effective feedback and how to start and maintain a critique group. The article is well worth the time spent reading it!
Happy Monday! Write on.