The Difference Between a Writing Problem, and a “Not for Me” Issue

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Sometimes the problem is with the reviewer, not the book.

Not every book is for every reader. Readers have topics they dislike no matter how well written a book is, and nothing you do is going to change that. Sometimes, the problem with a book isn't the quality—it's just a "not for me" issue. 

This is an important distinction in writing. I’ve read many a novel that was a “good novel,” even if it did things I don’t particularly care for as a reader. I didn’t like it, but I could see that others would. 

For example, I’m not fond of distant narrators. It’s nearly impossible for me to connect with a distance third-person omniscient narrator, because I never feel like I’m in the protagonist’s head. I just can’t lose myself in the story.

Harsh Does Not Equal Honest: Pick Your Beta Readers Carefully

By Dario Ciriello, @Dario_Ciriello 

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Feedback doesn't have to be mean to be useful. Dario Ciriello shares thoughts on dealing with beta readers, tough crits, and the struggles of new authors just trying to get help. 

I’ve seen more than one new author crushed by tactless or even downright mean feedback from beta readers, and I don’t like it. So a couple of weeks ago, I tweeted the following as a simple PSA:

Too many writers upset by overly harsh feedback from betas. PICK YOUR BETAS CAREFULLY. They should be people you know well, who get your genre, whom you trust, and who are experienced, secure writers. Don't just let anyone read your draft.

Surprisingly, this got pushback from a few people who insisted they wanted and welcomed harsh feedback, didn’t want to be coddled, didn’t want to use people they knew as betas because they wouldn’t give honest feedback, wanted people who didn’t read their genre because that would let them appeal to a wider audience, and yada yada.

Wrong.

Following Directions: Editing First Draft Feedback on The Shifter

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Ever wonder what the original draft of a published novel looked like? Here's a peek behind the curtain and a look into the critiquing process.

Every Saturday I critique someone's work and post it for all to see, but I've also done the same to my own opening page. Fair's fair.

I came across this early post from 2010 where I showed excerpts from the very first draft of The Shifter (back when it was still The Pain Merchants), and the feedback I'd received from my critique group. Not only did I share what they said, I shared what I did, and explained why I found the comment helpful.

I've always been interested in the thought process and decision-making behind writing, so hopefully this will help other writers apply the feedback from their own critiques. It might even give them some insight into why they might have gotten a particular comment.

Three Things to Remember When Revising from a Critique

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Revising from critique feedback can improve a manuscript—if you remember a few important details.

Starting the New Year probably ought to begin with the first draft of a new project, but I always seem to be revising when January 1 rolls around. This year is no different, and I’m deep into a final revision before this manuscript goes to my agent next week.

Naturally, revision and critiques are heavily on my mind this week, particularly the best way to get the most from the feedback I’ve recieved.

I’ve written a lot about critiques over the years, but there are always new things to learn and consider. Today, let’s look at three things to keep in mind when reviewing feedback:

Why Writers Should Want Nitpicky Critiquers

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Being nitpicky in a critique isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Aside from my critique partners, I also have a critique group I meet with every week. It’s just the three of us, all published, and all writing MG/YA fantasy. We’re a good match and it’s a solid and always helpful group.

We got together yesterday, and one of my friends said something (and not for the first time), that hit me a little differently than it usually does.

She said that she had a few things about my chapters that were just nitpicking, but she said it like she was apologizing for being picky.

I told her (as I always do), that I love nitpicks. Be nitpicky. Nits are where the gems comes from.

How to Guide a Critique

By Sarah McGuire, @fireplusalgebra

Part of The Writer's Life Series 

JH: Critiques are part of writing, and Sarah McGuire is back this month with tips on how to guide your critique to best get what you need out of it. Which is perfect timing since I'll be opening up my Critique Connection Yahoo Group on July 1 for the summer session. If you've been looking for a crit group, keep your eyes open.

Sarah McGuire is a nomadic math teacher who sailed around the world aboard a floating college campus. She writes fairy tales and would be just fine if one day she opened a wardrobe and stumbled into another world. Coffee and chocolate are her rocket fuel. She wishes Florida had mountains, but she lives there anyways with her husband (who wrote this bio in less than three minutes!) and their family.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter |

Take it away Sarah…

The Difference Between Critique Partners and Beta Readers

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Critique partners and beta readers have similar jobs, but they’re not the same thing.

January is a common month to start revisions and the search for critique partners and beta readers, and my various social media feeds are always filled with comments and thoughts related to both.

This year, I received a direct question from a reader about the difference between a critique and a beta read—and the people who do them.

Like so many other writing terms, these are often used interchangeably, but have slightly different meanings.

The Value of Critiques and Writing Contests

By George A Bernstein, @GeorgeBernstein

Part of The Writer's Life Series

I saw a recent blog post by a writer unhappy about the critique she received from someone she was using, who “didn’t get” what she was trying to do.

One of the problems we writers can have IS getting our readers to “get it.” And if they don’t, whose fault is that? Yours, clearly.

It seems pretty obvious it’s the author’s responsibility to see that readers understand what he or she is trying to do or say. If your critic doesn’t get it, surely your audience won’t either. Many authors have a problem with criticism. “How dare you challenge my work, that I slaved over and love.” That’s a prescription to failure.

3 Signs You Might Be Ignoring Writing Advice That Can Help You

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

We continue our Critique Connection mini-series ramp up on critiques today, with a look at signs that suggest you could be ignoring the very advice you need to improve your writing.

I couldn’t put an exact figure on the number of critiques I’ve received (or given), but I’ve no doubts it’s broken three figures (and gone over 500 for critiques I’ve given). I’ve been writing a long time, and I’ve been active in multiple critique groups in all those years.

I’ve gotten good critiques and bad. Helpful and useless. Encouraging and downright nasty. I’ve had newbies try to tell me how to write and professionals who trusted I knew what I was doing and let me do it. Some groups have been helpful while others have been terrible. When it comes to critiques and their colorful variety…

What to Do When Your Critique Feedback Gets Ignored

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

In a critique group, advice goes both ways—we give and we receive. But once in a while, the feedback we offer goes ignored. Our “gifts” are returned unopened.

It’s irritating when you spend hours reading a manuscript, make a multitude of comments, and carefully summarize your thoughts with advice on how to fix any issues you saw, and then the writer ignores everything you said.

It’s doubly annoying when that same writer asks for your advice manuscript after manuscript, and you know you’re wasting your time giving it to them. You could just submit the same critique and they wouldn’t even notice let alone heed your advice.

8 Tips for Reviewing a Manuscript Critique

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

On July 2, I’ll be opening up Janice Hardy’s Critique Connection again for those looking for critique groups or partners. So it seemed like a good time to review how to handle a critique.

When you get that critique back, it can be easy to just ignore what you don't like and only take in the good stuff. But the “bad stuff” is what you asked for, and that feedback provides the opportunities to make your manuscript even better. Here are some things to remember when receiving a critique:

1. Take every comment seriously.

Even if it seems out of left field or flat out wrong, someone thought that based on what you wrote. Consider why the critiquer said what they said and try to see the underlying problem, then decide if it's a comment that needs to be addressed or not.

How to Handle Conflicting Critiques

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy


Q: I submitted my story to a few online critique groups in hopes of getting it polished up for submission. I've been a bit paranoid about submitting since I found all these publishing and agent blogs and of course all of the advice from actual published authors. But after getting my critiques back, no one could agree, on anything. What was wrong, what was right, what worked or didn't work, even grammar suggestions. I didn't get the same thing twice. Everyone had completely different ideas. I'm just curious, that if I'm getting such a wide range of comments, could it mean that this story is lost cause? Or do I need to seek out some other readers? How do you sort through all the varied opinions? How do you get the most out of your critiques?

7 Things to Remember When Giving (or Receiving) Feedback on a Manuscript

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

The manuscript critique process is often stressful. If you’re the one asking for feedback, you wonder, will readers like it? Will they get it? Will they laugh at the little joke on page nine? If you’re doing a critique for someone, you worry about sounding too judgmental. You might wonder, will the advice will be taken the wrong way? Will the writer even listen to what I have to say? What if I’m wrong and my advice ruins the book?

Despite the stress, it’s a vital part of the writing process. A good critique helps us improve our manuscripts, and learning to critique well helps us improve our writing skills. It also allows us to build relationships with other writers, and develop the skills for working with editors if we decide to publish.

The Writing Personalities As Crit Partners

By Bonnie Randall 

Part of the How They Do It Series (Monthly Contributor)

Critique groups are a funky set of monkeys, are they not? They can buoy a writer or bury them, create conflict off the page instead of upon it, and are simultaneously a writer’s worst nightmare and a writer’s best friend all at once.

I’ve been in and out of crit groups for years and have had some partners whose compatibility was lacking, others who outright infuriated me, and still others with whom I’ve formed what are now decades-plus friendships with, and I think, after a long spate of reflecting, (and definitely some maturing as a writer and as a person), I’ve reached a place where I can see how each of the three most dominant writing personalities has a useful, and perhaps even crucial place in a crit circle. Here’s how:

Writers: Ignore This Writing Advice. If You Want.

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This might seem like an odd topic for a writing site to address, but don’t listen to every piece of writing advice you come across—even good advice.

I’m a firm believer that there’s no right way to write, and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. Heck, what works for one novel doesn’t always work for the next novel by the same writer. Writing is a fluid process.

The clearest example of this is the classic outliner vs. pantser debate. Two solid techniques at opposite ends of the spectrum, with a myriad more in between—and all of them "right" depending on the writer.

The Benefits From Critiquing Are Not Just in the Feedback Given and Received

By Ann Meier 

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: I was chatting with one of my critique partners the other day, and she told me about an experience she'd had while reviewing a mutual friend's work. "You ought to write about that," she said. "No," I replied, "You should tell that story," and she agreed. So please help me welcome Ann Meier back to the lecture hall today to share how her writing benefited from doing a critique for someone else.

Ann lives in Orlando and writes mysteries with a theme park smile. Her books’ parks are fictional, but she was a manager on the Universal Orlando Resort opening team. She also worked at Walt Disney World. She’s received five Royal Palm Literary Awards from The Florida Writers Association for her manuscripts. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Society for Children’s’ Books Writers and Illustrators, and Florida Writers Association. She has co-authored a college textbook, written journal articles, and worked in human resources for a Fortune 100 company. She earned an undergraduate degree in English from Ball State University and a Ph.D. in psychology with specialization in child development from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Take it away Ann...

Listen to Me: Putting Feedback to Good Use

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Just a heads up that my monthly post is up over at Pub(lishing) Crawl today, where I'm talking about the benefit of cause and effect in your scenes. Come on over and say hello.

Waiting for a critique it both exciting and terrifying. Did the beta readers like it? Does your story suck? Is it as brilliant as you thought or did you utterly miss the mark? As tough as waiting can be, the really hard part comes after those critiques come back and you're not sure what to do with all that advice.

On Critique and Beta Reader Etiquette

By Michael Kinn

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Please welcome back Michael Kinn today to share a few thoughts on being a good writer while waiting for a critique. Offering advice can be tricky for both reader and writer, but some basic manners can make the whole process easier.

Michael makes up stuff as a scientist, a storyteller and a writer, any combination of which sets his creative juices flowing. He loves the ocean, writes under the influence of green tea and finds life a breeze compared to negotiating his teenagers’ freedom charters. Michael is addicted to great stories and in dire need of extra lives.

Take it away Michael...

Edit, No...Rewrite, Nah...Revisions. Yeah, That's It. Handling Revisions.

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Everyone has the own process for handling critique feedback and diving into revisions, but when faced with pages of information and comments, sometimes it's hard to know where to start.

First thing I do is read them. Sounds crazy, right? But I read them with no expectations. I'm not trying to see if anyone liked the book, I just want to know what they thought. I make no judgments here. If anything pops up that seems totally whacked (and there's always something unexpected), I just let it slide on by.

Once I've read them all, I ask my critiquers any questions I might have. Sometimes I'll need clarification on a point, or someone will say something that really hits me and I'll want them to elaborate. After that, I let the critique sit for a few days.

It's All About Critiques: Good and Bad

Okies, sorry about the craziness, but I figured out what happened. (And naturally, it had to happen on a weekend I was out of town)

I had two Lauras, both with new writing sites, and I got them mixed up. So the guest post on crit groups will be up next week, and I'll have all the right links.

Today was supposed to be about another writing site, and I'll do a separate post on that.

Sorry for all the confusion folks.

Since it's crit day, here are some other articles I've done on giving, getting, and dealing with feedback.

You've Got to Have Friends: Crit Groups Beta Readers

Following Directions: Real Life Feedback and Edits for The Shifter

You Know What Your Problem Is? How to Critique

Is it me? Getting the Most Out of a Critique

So What Do You Think? Asking for Feedback

Feedback Frenzy: Understanding Your Critiques

Edit, No...Rewrite, Nah...Revisions. Yeah, That's It. Handling Revisions.

Listen to Me: Putting Feedback to Good Use