tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post8920901240816693015..comments2023-10-30T09:00:07.439-05:00Comments on A Walk In My Shoes: These Slippers Are Fuzzy Soft!Susan R. Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-12340725153411468292009-10-26T00:52:28.329-05:002009-10-26T00:52:28.329-05:00I take a lot of care to make sure that I do not hu...I take a lot of care to make sure that I do not hurt a writer when giving feedback. Like you, I start with talking about the positives and then I move forward to talk about the areas of improvement. <br /><br />When I cover the areas of improvement, I talk about what can be done better so that the discussion is growth oriented rather than a critique session.Swapna Raghu Sanandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10167474469892964199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-5527903185836556262009-09-03T10:13:38.385-05:002009-09-03T10:13:38.385-05:00Giving and receiving critiques is fun because it h...Giving and receiving critiques is fun because it hopefully leads to growth. I love plunging in to a work and giving it my full attention in the hopes that it can help someone else's writing. I love when people do the same for me. I enjoy the love sandwich approach (i.e. what I liked about it: what is not working: more of what I liked about it) as you said.Regina Quentinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16541489650098107512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-70178951160617333962009-09-03T08:37:16.717-05:002009-09-03T08:37:16.717-05:00Me too, Susan. SCBWI calls it the sandwich method....Me too, Susan. SCBWI calls it the sandwich method. Good...bad...good. Works for me!Clementinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745982305618408952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-47911957578080496272009-09-03T06:34:36.772-05:002009-09-03T06:34:36.772-05:00Laura, I read all the comments! I guess I’m just t...Laura, I read all the comments! I guess I’m just the one who’s nervous.J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-84557160409750151702009-09-03T01:29:06.007-05:002009-09-03T01:29:06.007-05:00Hi, Bridget! I just noticed your comment, and whil...Hi, Bridget! I just noticed your comment, and while I'm fairly sure you'll never see mine, I just wanted to say that I'm not actually nervous to swap critiques with you... I'm just overworked at the moment. I'm really very excited about the prospect!Laura Martonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17131901155051433491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-62589491315660486682009-09-03T01:14:09.859-05:002009-09-03T01:14:09.859-05:00I love fuzzy slippers, too. Mine are yellow... wit...I love fuzzy slippers, too. Mine are yellow... with little bunnies on them that say, "I just realized. I don't care."<br /><br />Of course, I do care... I care about hurting others' feelings, so I find GIVING feedback much harder than receiving it.Laura Martonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17131901155051433491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-22815331162197326942009-09-02T20:45:50.687-05:002009-09-02T20:45:50.687-05:00I don't mind giving, cause I know I can take.....I don't mind giving, cause I know I can take... but I worry about how that comes off. I try to be soft and gentle and mindful of how hard the whole writing process is anyway, but I am honest. No point saying things you don't mean, and it is not going to help the writer hey.Tabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-31272773172657865412009-09-02T19:24:41.826-05:002009-09-02T19:24:41.826-05:00I hated writing classes in college. The critique p...I hated writing classes in college. The critique process was out of control, with limited writers ripping each other's wotk to shreds. Never went much for writing classes or writers groups. It's hard to find good people to read early drafts. It took several years to put together a core of three readers.#167 Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05069054405824134410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-45059852364371439142009-09-02T18:39:11.596-05:002009-09-02T18:39:11.596-05:00Good point. First timers are usually not ready to ...Good point. First timers are usually not ready to hear anything bad about their work, so if I haven't critiqued someone before, I verify if they've ever had anyone review their work. I try to be extra positive with newbies!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-36959927161260387822009-09-02T17:22:43.214-05:002009-09-02T17:22:43.214-05:00I hate hurting people's feelings so yes, givin...I hate hurting people's feelings so yes, giving criticism is hard for me. But I do it because I know it will help the person in the long run.AiringMyLaundryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11051140760624657630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-31604985571340312592009-09-02T15:14:15.411-05:002009-09-02T15:14:15.411-05:00Lately, I’ve thought a lot about the honesty in of...Lately, I’ve thought a lot about the honesty in offering critique.<br />I have swapped my MS with 2 writers (yourself being #2).<br /><br />With #1, we mutually agreed to hold off feedback until we are both done, and have completed our review and comments. This is under the premise that candor would come easier if we weren’t tempted to moderate our words according to what the other had to say (BTW, it was my idea). We haven’t swapped results yet, and I think we’re both nervous.<br /><br />On the other hand, you and I are swapping and critiquing in 3 chapter increments, and I feel much more at ease this time around. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve now done one critique or because you and I got the awkwardness out of the way right up front. I think it’s the latter.<br /><br />What do you think?J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-14778418149257090412009-09-02T15:04:44.969-05:002009-09-02T15:04:44.969-05:00Is it okay to say I like to be harsh? I also like...Is it okay to say I like to be harsh? I also like a harsh crit.<br /><br />I feel we HAVE to try to be as critical as possible. BUT, it has to be a critique and a critique is far different than an opinion, so for everything you think isn't working, you have to be prepared to tell the person WHY it isn't and give them some options as to how to fix it. It is a very difficult job. Online, I see far more opinion than true critique. I think many beta readers need to remember the difference. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556206184198452490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-72557755704050299592009-09-02T15:04:26.603-05:002009-09-02T15:04:26.603-05:00I have never found it hard to give constructive cr...I have never found it hard to give constructive criticism as long as there are good aspects to the piece of work. If it's a great idea and they're doing well working on it, then it's easy for me to go ahead and tell them what could be changed for the better or left out. <br /><br />Tess has it right with the "No buts" rule. When critiquing each other's work, the author should stay silent til the very end unless they don't understand something that is critiqued. It makes it easier. Ask questions at the end!Nicolettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235387990495348455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-89545010411382017242009-09-02T14:32:00.071-05:002009-09-02T14:32:00.071-05:00The best rule I've ever heard is, "No but...The best rule I've ever heard is, "No but's!" When taking critique, zip it. Don't say, "but, I meant...but, it was...but, but, but..."<br /><br />And for giving critique, illuminate the positive and then say, "as a side note, maybe you might consider....". I always like to give a suggestion with a tough critique. Instead of saying "the town was boring", I say, "Could you do x or y to make the town more real?"Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-58461317675359821552009-09-02T14:09:49.947-05:002009-09-02T14:09:49.947-05:00My natural inclination is to look for what I like....My natural inclination is to look for what I like. Therefore, looking for the flaw felt unnatural. Now that I’ve done it a little, I find it easier. Not that I like pointing out flaws, but I’ve had open communication with those I’ve critiqued, and there is a level of ‘comfort’ that comes with mutual understanding. I know how much I value honesty, and I take my critiquing partner at her word when she says she appreciates the same. I hope that makes it easier on both ends.J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-30611494942947500772009-09-02T13:48:50.516-05:002009-09-02T13:48:50.516-05:00It's tough...yes, I'm not very good at giv...It's tough...yes, I'm not very good at giving criticism, especially when it's someone I know. I always found I did better when I was judging a contest...and the person on the other end of the critique was a stranger.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-80189017417892840972009-09-02T13:18:31.161-05:002009-09-02T13:18:31.161-05:00I think it's REALLY hard to be completely hone...I think it's REALLY hard to be completely honest with other writers and even authors. I personally have a hard time critiquing for others. We definitely need to be positive, but then I have a hard time telling the negative things and being honest about them because I'm afraid of hurting their feelings! But in some ways, I guess that's what agents and editors are for!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-78309105829054247332009-09-02T13:12:11.316-05:002009-09-02T13:12:11.316-05:00I haven't done it yet, but again, is SO HELPFU...I haven't done it yet, but again, is SO HELPFUL!Beth Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279427592537427039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-16696303329381763712009-09-02T12:56:36.168-05:002009-09-02T12:56:36.168-05:00If I find issues in a friends early drafts, I try ...If I find issues in a friends early drafts, I try to see if most of the problems can be boiled down to one or two simple notes. Then I star the things I liked. That way I say what works so they can do more of that and have distilled there problems into one or two things to work on. I might nitpick more later, but I like to keep it simple at the start.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-53113613958611861592009-09-02T12:40:33.157-05:002009-09-02T12:40:33.157-05:00I find giving criticism MUCH harder than receiving...I find giving criticism MUCH harder than receiving it. I've always taken criticism pretty well and I have a pretty thick skin, but I like people to like me. LOL It's hard for me to feel like I know enough to criticize other people's work, but I try my best :PJ.R. Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671109654769467131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-84502664168772601172009-09-02T12:36:31.350-05:002009-09-02T12:36:31.350-05:00I find the better a writer is, the easier it is fo...I find the better a writer is, the easier it is for me to give honest criticism. I know they're good, and they know it, so it is very important to just lay out all my issues. If I know them well, I almost don't even feel the need to start and end with praise. It's more the newbies that I feel I have to sound very encouraging and focus heavily on the positives.Corey Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883689227283545602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-73393734715451349092009-09-02T12:25:01.069-05:002009-09-02T12:25:01.069-05:00My nieces have been showing their writing. I'm...My nieces have been showing their writing. I'm finding it hard to know what to tell them. Do you stick straight to story or sentence structure. Sometimes you need to gauge what they need to know right now.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-2229626094918461232009-09-02T12:16:57.046-05:002009-09-02T12:16:57.046-05:00It can be hard critiquing someone else, but in the...It can be hard critiquing someone else, but in the end it makes us all better writers, better editors.Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-20781009390118706432009-09-02T12:15:03.528-05:002009-09-02T12:15:03.528-05:00I do find giving criticism harder than taking it s...I do find giving criticism harder than taking it sometimes because I don't want to hurt someone. However, I think if you approach it like you said, talking about both the good and the bad, it works better. <br /><br />If all you point out is the good, the person isn't helped very much (although they get to puff themselves up for a while). If you point out all the bad and don't take the time to tell them the things you liked, you risk discouraging them to the point of giving up.<br /><br />Also, when you give the bad, you have to do it in a constructive way. "This sucks" or "this makes me crazy" is not helpful. Approach it like you're giving a performance review to an employee--professional.Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-81421614794127261572009-09-02T11:46:22.402-05:002009-09-02T11:46:22.402-05:00This is a really tough subject for me. I'm not...This is a really tough subject for me. I'm not really sure that I'm all that good at receiving constructive criticism. Maybe that's why I'm reluctant to join a crit group. I do think I'm getting better at it though.Heather Sunserihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552506888985553471noreply@blogger.com