tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post8615500363739236273..comments2024-03-12T21:24:23.240-04:00Comments on Emily Bryan Romance: Critique~The Gentle Art of Accepting and Giving Writing AdviceEmilyBryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-6694381394861459922010-03-10T15:48:23.758-05:002010-03-10T15:48:23.758-05:00Emily,
I don't know if you have your victim e...Emily,<br /><br />I don't know if you have your victim err volunteer, but I am more than willing to give my thick skin a test. After getting back into writing after the injury I have found I have a slightly new voice and different style so I'd love to see it critiqued. It's been fun seeing my CP's work with it and it's been a bear working with it myself. Kind of like two writers working on the same MS, which means going back to the begining and overhaulig. <br /><br />I loved the advice you gave it was right on the money and my CP's have become my closest friends. We were incredibly gentle at the begining and now can whack away knowing what each wants and needs.<br />contact me through NEC<br /><br />Donna LDonna Lhttp://www.donnalabbe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-51940494105863346202010-03-10T09:07:40.537-05:002010-03-10T09:07:40.537-05:00Well, I'm posting the blistering critique of m...Well, I'm posting the blistering critique of my much maligned first manuscript on Thursday. It was actually quite a hoot to look at it again. If you're an aspiring writer, this post will give you hope.<br /><br />And I had 3 takers on the offer for a 2 page critique, Jane L, Saranna, and Gillian. Since I can't choose between you, I'll do all three. For the next three weeks, Thursday will be my critique day on the blog and I'll take you on one at a time. We'll discuss whether you want kid gloves or the machete treatment.<br /><br />ttys!EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-1474179107205507692010-03-10T07:31:27.542-05:002010-03-10T07:31:27.542-05:00I'd love to throw my hat (or two pages) in the...I'd love to throw my hat (or two pages) in the ring. Because once you've done your critique, then others will comment on the critique...it's definitely a win/win situation, and should be fun! :)Gillian Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15772849187702478349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-9898787725861652492010-03-09T16:22:03.859-05:002010-03-09T16:22:03.859-05:00Rebecca--At one point, I made my sweet DH listen t...Rebecca--At one point, I made my sweet DH listen to my work. Can you believe it? That darling man spent a good part of one of our cruises listening to me read <a href="http://www.emilybryan.com/silkdreams1.htm" rel="nofollow">SILK DREAMS</a> (my Diana Groe harem story)EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-18701250777948816682010-03-09T15:28:39.115-05:002010-03-09T15:28:39.115-05:00The "reading your work aloud" suggestion...The "reading your work aloud" suggestion: Priceless! I'll never forget when I first got that advice in an MFA class. I thought, how weird is that? No one is going to be reading my book out loud. But it was amazing how many of my own mistakes (or potential areas for work) I could find when I read it out loud, myself. When I had to take the time with every word, I paid more attention. I still do that, to this day.<br /><br />Of course, it was much easier when I was publishing short fiction and poetry, because reading 50 words or 500-2500 words aloud is much easier than 85,000 (even 500 at a time)!Gossip Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12606755973767030017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-3320868913196898402010-03-09T15:24:19.943-05:002010-03-09T15:24:19.943-05:00Ooops, Sandy! You shouldn't have. I just notic...Ooops, Sandy! You shouldn't have. I just noticed I put a ? after a sentence that needed a period.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-50238117509914813312010-03-09T15:17:55.108-05:002010-03-09T15:17:55.108-05:00Glynis--I don't blame you.
When I was studyi...Glynis--I don't blame you. <br /><br />When I was studying music, I participated in a number of Master Classes. I'd sing my aria, then an acknowledged singer or director would pull it apart, have me sing parts of it differently and zero in on trouble areas. Then after about half an hour of this public flagellation, I'd sing it through from beginning to end again. Needless to say, there was extreme pressure for a big qualitative improvement the 2nd time around. I was willing to do it for a chance to work with world class musicians.<br /><br />But the amazing thing is, a Master Class is not done in a classroom setting. They sold tickets to opera buffs who wanted to see how the old hands whip up on the fresh young meat. I guess it's the old gladiator syndrome. People love to watch disaster in the making.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-38500631143652674152010-03-09T15:01:52.336-05:002010-03-09T15:01:52.336-05:00Emily,
I agree with every single thing you said. ...Emily,<br /><br />I agree with every single thing you said. Great post.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843816981385732033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-26871404446746672542010-03-09T14:42:24.447-05:002010-03-09T14:42:24.447-05:00Thank you for this post Emily, it is informative a...Thank you for this post Emily, it is informative and extremely useful. I am not sure I have the courage to be put in the hat at the moment, thanks for offer though. :)Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-13524882902730518182010-03-09T12:23:18.545-05:002010-03-09T12:23:18.545-05:00Ok, Saranna. You're in the running for the pub...Ok, Saranna. You're in the running for the public scrubbing! ;-)EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-92181980750618086722010-03-09T11:29:19.806-05:002010-03-09T11:29:19.806-05:00You always have such thoughtful posts.
I love al...You always have such thoughtful posts. <br /><br />I love all of your advice. When critiquing, I'm always brutally honest. Sure, I will point out what I like as well, and I would never say "this sucks more than a yeast infection" but I'm wasting my time if I don't point out everything that I think would help the person I'm doing a crit for. <br /><br />I love my crit partner. She won't hesitate to tell me what's what and I adore her for it. I want to improve my craft and produce the best product I can. That won't happen if I'm coddled. <br /><br />I'd be more than happy to take my licks in public. I've got an outer layer like the space shuttle and I'd be thankful for the extra advice. *g*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17774647553760700746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-23742031318502016962010-03-09T09:18:55.550-05:002010-03-09T09:18:55.550-05:00Jane L--Your name is in the 2 page critique hat!
...Jane L--Your name is in the 2 page critique hat!<br /><br />Please don't feel you have to critique with published authors in order to gain something from the experience. I value the input from my beta reader just as highly as any critique partner.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-69741772390158723592010-03-09T09:12:10.559-05:002010-03-09T09:12:10.559-05:00Christie--Whether you're talking critique grou...Christie--Whether you're talking critique groups or clothes, "One Size Fits All" is a lie every time. Thanks for stopping by, girl.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-63572774395583300892010-03-09T09:10:29.439-05:002010-03-09T09:10:29.439-05:00This has been the hardest part of building a platf...This has been the hardest part of building a platform for me. Finding the right critique partner/group. I was going to say I have no idea why, but I do, my first two writing buddies got mentors, so they are working directly with published authors. Now my other lady said she has a hard time with historicals, she writes vampires only. So UGG! I am back to the drawing board. I have found an amazing site SAVVY Authors.com, they are helping me find a group now! WHOO HOO!<br />I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled I would be to have my idol read my work! LOL!!!!Jane Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-60848653182871942622010-03-09T09:08:53.271-05:002010-03-09T09:08:53.271-05:00Edie--I have a guest on my blog tomorrow, but on T...Edie--I have a guest on my blog tomorrow, but on Thursday, I'm resurrecting The Thing Under my Bed, aka my first manuscript. Yikes! <br /><br />In some ways it's good because I can see how far I've come down the writer road. In other ways, I'm wondering "What was I thinking?"EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-16158010864995785742010-03-09T09:02:35.699-05:002010-03-09T09:02:35.699-05:00Great advice, Emily. I always say that critique g...Great advice, Emily. I always say that critique groups are like jeans, you might have to try several pairs before you get one that just fits right. <br /><br />CCChristie Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838947086349600665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-22392075689267527812010-03-09T08:28:17.906-05:002010-03-09T08:28:17.906-05:00Great blog! I hate it in contests when a judge tr...Great blog! I hate it in contests when a judge tries to change my voice to suit hers. I would never want a CP who did that. <br /><br />I'd like to see you critique a couple pages of your old ms. That would be fun.Edie Ramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084144940233965447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-63761589273652620462010-03-09T08:24:53.498-05:002010-03-09T08:24:53.498-05:00Joyce--Sounds like you have a wonderful group that...Joyce--Sounds like you have a wonderful group that's really working for you! I know what you mean about being over-protective. I've had people tell me they wouldn't have a critique partner because they were afraid the other person would steal their ideas! If their ideas were that great, they'd already be published.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-12661516456088096282010-03-09T08:14:30.864-05:002010-03-09T08:14:30.864-05:00Emily, so many writers I've met in the past 25...Emily, so many writers I've met in the past 25 years are sooo protective of their prose it's impossilbe to help them. Then there's moi and my two crit partners. We meet every two weeks. Each writes romance but I write Native American historical, one writes suspense and contemporary romance, the other writes Medieval and contemporary. <br /><br />Twice a year we escape to Georgia or South Carolina for week-long writing binges. That's all we do, write during the day, critique in the evening. We play one day of the week. Works for us...and has for 15 years!<br /><br />I urge every beginner or PRO writer to find and work with a crit partner or two. Not only will the writer receive invaluable input, but she'll learn so much about her own work when working on another's.Joyce Hendersonhttp://www.joycehendersonauthor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-34590721711414462132010-03-09T08:10:49.806-05:002010-03-09T08:10:49.806-05:00LJ--Wow! Poetry mystifies me. I can't imagine ...LJ--Wow! Poetry mystifies me. I can't imagine critiqueing it.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-76613194802747154962010-03-09T07:59:05.061-05:002010-03-09T07:59:05.061-05:00A concise primer on giving and receiving crit. Ni...A concise primer on giving and receiving crit. Nicely done, Emily. You mirror what I have done over the years in moderating a poetry critique board.Lisa Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530826748768737972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-35406298870882627602010-03-09T06:55:13.980-05:002010-03-09T06:55:13.980-05:00Yes, it's the first of my two training wheels ...Yes, it's the first of my two training wheels novels. This one swelled to 300+ pages when I realized it was unsalvagable and stopped writing short of "the end." Sometimes, you have to be willing to walk away from a trainwreck.EmilyBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542349086762747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217012316587200736.post-49601548813080831782010-03-09T03:35:53.675-05:002010-03-09T03:35:53.675-05:00Ah, is that the much-famed 'bad' manuscrip...Ah, is that the much-famed 'bad' manuscript under the bed that you're referring to? I'd like to see a bit of that! Although I hope there's a starting writer around who does want to take her bath in public - it seems like a very useful exercise! (But I'm kind of happy I'm not a writer of fiction, right now ;) )Nynkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810044360681034104noreply@blogger.com