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| Testing the waters of critique. It’s deep and luminous in there. |
Why is it easier for writers to see what’s not working in other writer’s work but not their own?
*Sigh*
This is why all writing needs to go through critique, because more often than not, writers may not be able to unlock the problems in their own writing. It’s probably because as writers, we are so married to what we wrote, we can’t see past it. Having someone who does not know our story look at it with fresh eyes is extremely necessary for all writing.
Take my “collection of anecdotes,” ahem…I mean my memoir. I know the memoir is mostly a collection of anecdotes, but they’re funny anecdotes. However, I also know that anecdotes alone do not make a memoir. At this point, I’m just not exactly sure how to fix it.
Organization and pacing is what’s needed according to Kate, my super Author Accelerator editor.
People come to memoir looking for personal connection with the author, she reminded me. Readers are looking for my progress as a human being and not just a progression of college courses. Just as in story, the protagonist needs to grow and change. I knew this, too, and in my memoir I certainly grew and changed. But it seems that I didn’t put in enough whys and whats and hows and a consistent overarching theme that affects the plot arc.
I have so much work to do.
But I need to help Kate understand that no one was abused or tragically died in the making of this memoir journey. Well, except for that shy and unsure mother who was afraid of her own intellect in the beginning of the memoir. The mother who emerged at the outset of this college journey is a more confident woman.
Or at least she was…until the critique of the memoir came back.
Does there need to be more substance in the memoir? For sure. How do I do it? Um…that’s what this next leg of the journey will be about.
This is when, my dear followers, I dry my tears, blow my nose, and consider and decide and revise. I haven’t even gone through the entire manuscript critique yet. I’ve only read the summary of the critique. I need to remember this will take time and lots of intestinal fortitude.
You have all been very helpful with your insight. Do you have any advice to share regarding these points?
Hi Victoria – Memoir I imagine can be so difficult … but I'm sure you will crack the code for your own Memoir …
Keep going – it's a book you want to write … all the best and enjoy Spring – cheers Hilary
Thank you so much, Hilary, for your kind words. I believe all writing can be difficult at times. Memoir is truth and it needs to be story as well to be interesting to the reader, so yes, it is difficult to write properly. Thanks for your vote of confidence. I needed it. And thanks for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note.
I wish you all the luck! I know it is hard to get your work ripped apart, but like you said, "Having someone who does not know our story look at it with fresh eyes is extremely necessary for all writing." They are able to see things you might not necessarily see. This helps! Good luck!
Thank you so much, Michelle, for visiting Adventures in Writing. This is true. The only way for a piece of writing to get better is to have fresh eyes look at it and offer advice. Thanks for your kind words. Always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing.
Having our work critiqued is often hard. I remember the first time I took writing classes and my instructor offered input. It was difficult at first, but I learned quickly that she was on target and trying to help me get better. Somehow that made it a whole lot easier – thinking about the polished result when I was finished. It's since been easier to keep that in mind. Wishing you well with your writing! 🙂
I agree with Karen. Being critiqued is tough. And just when I think my skin has grown thick enough, I'll read something from one of my critique partners or editor and feel that pain again. But that's okay. Just as long as we learn and move forward. That's the trick! You can do it. 🙂
It always hurts a little bit when a critique points out something we didn't do well. I still feel the sting after almost twenty novels.
Susan Says
Being critiqued is tough, I agree. Personally, I don't really listen to critiques, preferring to make up my own mind about movies, television shows and books. I mean, after all, critiques have their opinions and I have mine. You have a lovely blog, this is my first time here. 🙂
Hello again, Victoria Marie! So you're writing a memoir too! I'm working on a memoir of our family's time in Lansdowne House in Northern Ontario and maybe beyond that. You have anecdotes; I have letters and blog posts. I think you're further along in your process than I am. I shall have to check out your resources and past posts. Happy writing!
Sounds complicated and gutting wrenching as you pointed out. You will get done and be a better writer for it.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Good luck!
I always spend much more time on the rewrites.
Thank you, Karen. Critique is difficult. I guess I’m always hoping someone tells me how wonderful my writing is. Yet I always realize my drafts need work. I just can’t see the problems anymore. Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing and leaving your good wishes. They are greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Christine. I agree. No matter how thick I think my skin is, critiques can still sting. Then I wake up and start brainstorming how to fix the manuscript. That’s the hard part. Thanks so much for leaving your good wishes on Adventures in Writing. They mean a lot.
Yes, Susan, but isn’t it great to learn of these problems before publication. That’s what I’m trying to convince myself. Thanks so much for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note. It’s greatly appreciated.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Linda! That is true. Obtaining feedback on your writing is someone else’s opinion about it. This is why writers need to be wary who reads their newborn stories before publication to be sure the readers are competent, experienced writers/editors whose knowledge writers hope will better their manuscripts. Again, thanks for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note. It’s greatly appreciated.
Hello and welcome to my Adventures in Writing blog. It’s always wonderful to connect with a fellow memoirist. Thank you for your kind words. I hope you find previous posts helpful in your journey to write your memoir. I’ve found the resources mentioned here very helpful in my memoir journey. Please let me know what I can do to help. Thanks again for visiting Adventures in Writing.
Thank you so much for your kind wishes here at Adventures in Writing, Juneta. They are greatly appreciated. Yes, if I can find the words to revise, the answers to the questions, I will become a better writer. Thanks again for stopping by.
Hello, Jennifer! Always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. You know, I also seem to spend more time on rewrites than I do on the initial story. Thanks again for your good wishes. They mean a lot.
I think we miss so much that's not working in our writing because we have the full vision inside our heads. I'm always surprised when a critique partner calls my attention to something as "not clear" when I know exactly what I mean. How dare it not be clear to the reader. Oh well, it has to be dealt with, and I do, and it is clearer after that. Thanks for the post.
I had to smile. We get so close to our work that we can't see the forest for the trees. Having a good critique partner is essential.
This is so true. It's why all writers need critique to help make their writing/story as clear as possible. Thank you so much for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note. It is greatly appreciated.
Isn't it though. And I'm still on the lookout for that special "good critique partner." There comes a time when I need to send the manuscript off for another opinion to see what's not working and for guidance on where to go from here. Thanks for your comment. Always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing, Lynda!
Getting critique is so important because it is hard to see things in our own writing. Sometimes it can be hard to hear the critique at first, but after the initial "pain" it is usually possible to figure out ways to make the changes we need to make. Wishing you the best of luck!
~Jess
I agree. Critique is a necessary part of writing. After the initial "pain" of honest critique, I do eventually settle down into revision. I hope I can find the right words and structure to mend my manuscript. Thanks for visiting Adventures in Writing, Jess, and for your good wishes. They are greatly appreciated.
Critiques are so very important. It's too hard for writers to be subjective with their own work.
On memoirs. I once read one self-published by a woman who had the best descriptions, the most lovable characters, and an underlying page-turning subplot about what was in this secret chest the woman got from her mother. The rest of the book was tied together anecdotes from the woman's current life- her daughter going to college, the onset pf menopause. The usual.
But, inside this trunk was a packet of letters between the woman's parents. I, being the fiction junkie that I am, expected to hear the grandma had an affair or something scandalous. Enjoyed the book all the way to the end, still waiting for the epiphany- then nothing. The last letter was a dud. There was no big revelation.
Now, we can't always have a big revelation in nonfiction, but I think the author could have hit a home run with this book if she'd even just made the connection that there was no mystery in her family. They were steady, stable and a exciting as sliced white bread, and that was all right.
There needed to be a point to the story. That theme English teacher's are always making student find. I realized then, teachers weren't just torturing us to find the theme- that is the sprinkle of salt every story needs.
That's my very long-winded way of saying, I think a compilation of anecdotes is great- as long as they're is a point. Erma Bombeck did it, but there was always a flavor of it's okay to not be perfect feel to the anecdotes.
This is absolutely right, Elizabeth! The whole reason for memoir is to make a point in your personal stories. Erma's anecdotes were hysterical. Lord knows I'm not perfect. Neither was my college experience. Thank you so much for this, Elizabeth! Always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing.
Hello Victoria!
You have to keep going because this is the book of your heart and you need to do it!
All the best my friend!
Nas, you are music to my soul. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this pep talk. I so needed it. Always a pleasure seeing you here at my Adventures in writing blog.
You are welcome 🙂
Victoria, I sent you a message via FB.
Thank you, Nas. I always appreciate your comments. I'll stop over to FB and read the message.
Happy IWSG Day. I hope you worked out your Ms and are feeling better about things. Happy Writing
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thank you so much, Juneta! I am an Insecure Writer for sure. I'm thinking about my memoir manuscript constantly. But what I need to do, is open the manuscript and dig in exclusively to be able to move forward. Thanks for your vote of confidence. And thanks for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog. Always a pleasure seeing you here.