About Crits in the Workshops..why or why not?

[Merry]

I just saw a thread about a story that hadn't been read or commented on in the sci-fi section...then I lost the thread and since I had other comments on the subject I just thought I'd start a new one.

Sometimes I've noticed a story will get missed from time to time and let me say right off, I know it's not something that happens on purpose. It's happened to me, too. When it does I take into consideration these realities...

1) Everybody is busy. I'm even writing this from my day job. (Just happens to be luncht time.) So there's a chance something could slip by.

2) Sometimes I purposely don't have much to say about a story or don't comment at all because I don't 'get' the writing. But that doesn't mean everyone will be equally befuddled. There was a story up this year a number of people really enjoyed, but the way it was written, I was like, "Huh?"

But that the question came up at all means we should take a little more time to check out the workshops. People work hard and it takes guts to post something. Even if you don't consider yourself a super-grammatically perfect, wunder-bar critiquer, you can at least give an opinion. Did you like the story? Why or why not? That sort of thing. Any information like this is very helpful...and it's all about the help, baby!

I know with the story in question I had just been scanning the index and hadn't seen any activity from that side...but...duh...it wouldn't have hurt to actually go into the sci-fi workshop and check! sorry about that!

Okay...back to work!

[pajarita_deDios]

I'm with you Merry. I try to get in as many critiques as I can in the workshop, but sometimes I don't get to them all. I know what it's like when you don't get a comment for a while though, it's unnerving, and you keep wondering what's wrong with the story that no one would even bother to point it out. I'll defintely be trying harder when it comes to the workshops. Good thread Merry.

[Merry]

Thanks pajarita! I do want to add though, that if you are the recipiecnt of a crit, remember people took the time to read and write a bit about your stuff. Remember school yard manners, say please and thank you...and one more thing. If someone gives you a crit you don't like, don't argue and try to explain why the way you wrote is the way it should be written.

May I tell you a story? A few weeks ago WG did a crit on a novel I'm working on in the private crit groups. I have been having all sorts of problems with this story, but it's one I really want to tell. His advice amounted to going back and changing the whole direction one of the story lines was going. I wrote a response that I later discovered made him think I was angry about it, but no. I was mostly having brain jam over all the changes I was going to have to make and how not-up-to-the-challenge I felt about it. But I thought about what he said and made the changes and the story is going very well now, many thanks, WG.

And I think that's what 'combative' crit repsonses are for the most part; it's you dealing with the shock that your baby really might need to be changed.
Be prepared to send someone milk, cookies and possibly Chinese food...LOL!

[righter1]

Thanks for the friendly reminder, Merry! I personally feel I've been derelict because I haven't spent much time doing crits because I've been too busy, too tired... And for about 3 months this year, I was in a complete funk with personal stuff and couldn't write a paragraph the whole time!

And, I have had stuff go a few weeks without having a crit done on it... I can see people have at least read it, so I wonder what's up with that? Did I offend someone? But, that couldn't be the case, because I was sure I'd be warned if something was unacceptable! :)

So, thanks again. I should make a point to do a crit at least a couple times a week, if for no other reason but to keep my editing portion of my brain in gear! :D

[Merry]

Naw, most of the time it's people going through the same things you're going through. well, maybe not exactly the same, but people come home tired, get n funks and they might read but....Let's face it, there was about 8 or nine months last year when A LOT of people, not just at CW were down in the dumps. Another thing I tend to do and I know a lot of folks do this...is I'll stay with one story or try to, so I can concentrate on what that person is trying to do. BUt then you end up missing other stories that might be just as good.

One time I saw you had posted a story and I thought, Ah, righter doesn't need my help, I know it's good already. Which, duh, why post if you didn't at least want an opinion.

So who know what normal to goofy reasons are behind why people do or don't critique? All each of us can do is our best. And remember to read and comment on stuff!

[P.K.mama]

Great topic! I only have a short amount of time that I can use the computer in peace. I have found since joining this group, that I have to budget my time. I so enjoy reading other peoples work that I soon found all my computer time was being eaten up. So now I have to keep reminding myself that I need to write as much as I read. lol It's hard stop reading all the great writings here and work on my own. Does anyone else have that problem? As for posting and wondering why no one has commented I understand. It took me forever to get up the courage to post, then it took me another day or so to log back on for fear of what I would or wouldn't find. Ha! Ha! My daughter just found a website for teen writers, I have told her that she shouldn't post if she couldn't handle what others might say about your work. Isn't that why we ask for help? So that you can learn from others? Just a thought.

[Keith Wallis]

It's hard stop reading all the great writings here and work on my own. Does anyone else have that problem?Guilty. It's a great excuse for inertia but it lumps heated coals onto writers block !!

[Merry]

Keith...you have such a way with words!

You know what else? I would encourage people to take a look outside their fields of writing interest. For instance, I usually haunt the fiction workshops, but last night I peaked into the private non-fiction group and found two posts by Hannah that hadn't been touched, but they were both really good! Quite inspiring! And I had to wonder what other gems have slipped past. SO as time permits, it pays to check out 'the other guys' now and then. never know what you'll find!

[Tarin]

I only have a short amount of time that I can use the computer in peace. I have found since joining this group, that I have to budget my time. I so enjoy reading other peoples work that I soon found all my computer time was being eaten up.

Totally commiserate! CW eats up my computer time too. But it's so addictive!;)

[righter1]

One time I saw you had posted a story and I thought, Ah, righter doesn't need my help, I know it's good already. Which, duh, why post if you didn't at least want an opinion.


Gee, Merry, thanks for the vote of confidence! The problem is I don't know it's good! :rolleyes:

[cpbookworm]

I often don't have much time to be on the net, and have a number of things I want to do while I am on. For example, it has been 15 days since I was even on the net.

[Merry]

Gee, Merry, thanks for the vote of confidence! The problem is I don't know it's good! :rolleyes:


Exactly...so yes...you write good!

[Emma]

I'm not giving my critics for several reasons:
1) I'm a new member on this forum
2) I think I have no right to criticize because I'm the beginning author and I have no published works
3) I think reading is vital for the beginning. I plan to contribute my critics in half a year

[Keith Wallis]

Emma - so OK you are new, you have no published work, but you do have an opinion and you are able to be a 'reader'. A reader is what a writer wants - so offer your valid opinion as a 'reader', you can offer a crit as a writer later.

[JulieMac]

also new - im really looking forward to reading and criting. very old saying that also applies here (i think) when u teach u learn.
Julie

[jacks girl]

sorry gang been out of the loop i'll try to do better my own self...

busy busy busy but that's no excuse