Comments on: How to decipher Agent Responses…and Crit Groups http://www.marybethsmith.com/2009/06/how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups-88?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:37:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Danyelle http://www.marybethsmith.com/2009/06/how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups-88/comment-page-1#comment-47 Danyelle Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:48:47 +0000 http://www.marybethsmith.com/?p=88#comment-47 Hi, Marybeth. :) I only let people I know very well beta my books. This is strange considering I've never actually met them in real life. >.< I joined an online critique group, and found my group this way. They aren't afraid to be honest, they like my work, and (perhaps most importantly) they get my work. They're also great friends. Friends that let me know when I have something green caught in my teeth or that plaid pants really don't go well with striped shirts. Ever. But they are also there to cheer me on when I get requests. I'm also meeting some great people via blogs. This lets me see their personalities and preferences. I don't really crit much on the site any more, but my friends and I are planning some Beta Parties. This should be much fun. :D Hi, Marybeth. :)

I only let people I know very well beta my books. This is strange considering I’ve never actually met them in real life. >.<

I joined an online critique group, and found my group this way. They aren’t afraid to be honest, they like my work, and (perhaps most importantly) they get my work. They’re also great friends. Friends that let me know when I have something green caught in my teeth or that plaid pants really don’t go well with striped shirts. Ever. But they are also there to cheer me on when I get requests. I’m also meeting some great people via blogs. This lets me see their personalities and preferences.

I don’t really crit much on the site any more, but my friends and I are planning some Beta Parties. This should be much fun. :D

]]> By: Krista Phillips http://www.marybethsmith.com/2009/06/how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups-88/comment-page-1#comment-44 Krista Phillips Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:39:38 +0000 http://www.marybethsmith.com/?p=88#comment-44 You've already read my opinions on crit groups:-) MINE is the best thing that has pretty much EVER happened to me. THey were so kind at the beginning, because had little if ANYTHING to add to their books and am pretty sure I made some very big errors in judgement in my critiques. I, basically, was a good beta reader for them, while they gave me awesome feedback. Now, I have learned from them, have studied craft like crazy, and feel like I'm actually a contributor now! Your question about "how do you know you're getting good advice" is a good one. THe best response I have to that is, look at every bit of advice objectively and not defensively. Are they right? Is it a problem area? If you are unsure, maybe have someone else you can bounce something off of. (you have plenty of blogging friends that would have NO problem reading a section you are unsure of!) Yet one MORE way you can do this is to enter contests. They are a great way of at least gauging "where" you are at in the writing process. Are you getting low scores? Probably need a crit group PRONTO. If you are getting medium scores, your crit group should really help to give you the boost you need. If you are scoring really high, maybe you are ready to spend a few bucks for a professional editor. So, that is my rambling advice, for what it's worth, LOL You’ve already read my opinions on crit groups:-)

MINE is the best thing that has pretty much EVER happened to me. THey were so kind at the beginning, because had little if ANYTHING to add to their books and am pretty sure I made some very big errors in judgement in my critiques. I, basically, was a good beta reader for them, while they gave me awesome feedback.

Now, I have learned from them, have studied craft like crazy, and feel like I’m actually a contributor now!

Your question about “how do you know you’re getting good advice” is a good one. THe best response I have to that is, look at every bit of advice objectively and not defensively. Are they right? Is it a problem area? If you are unsure, maybe have someone else you can bounce something off of. (you have plenty of blogging friends that would have NO problem reading a section you are unsure of!)

Yet one MORE way you can do this is to enter contests. They are a great way of at least gauging “where” you are at in the writing process. Are you getting low scores? Probably need a crit group PRONTO. If you are getting medium scores, your crit group should really help to give you the boost you need. If you are scoring really high, maybe you are ready to spend a few bucks for a professional editor.

So, that is my rambling advice, for what it’s worth, LOL

]]> By: Marybeth http://www.marybethsmith.com/2009/06/how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups-88/comment-page-1#comment-43 Marybeth Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:36:41 +0000 http://www.marybethsmith.com/?p=88#comment-43 Danyelle, Who do you have beta reading your book? Just anyone or people that you know well??? Danyelle,

Who do you have beta reading your book? Just anyone or people that you know well???

]]> By: Danyelle http://www.marybethsmith.com/2009/06/how-to-decipher-agent-responsesand-crit-groups-88/comment-page-1#comment-42 Danyelle Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:34:29 +0000 http://www.marybethsmith.com/?p=88#comment-42 Crit groups, and the type of crit groups you have can be helpful or not depending on what you need. For me, beta reading works so much better. On trusting, I think the most important thing is to know and understand your story. Every part of it is not going to appeal to everyone all the time. The trick is filtering the feedback to see what fits what the story truly is. Ex) Goose Feathers is a slight retelling of Swan Lake. One critter told me that I ought not to have the goose (who is really a swan) talk since birds don't talk. This didn't fit my story, so I felt free to disregard it. (Now wonders how many people have been transmogrified in their lifetimes. :p) Ex2) Another critter suggested braiding in POVs to make it flow better. This meant adding another 20,000 words, and a lot of work, but she was absolutely right. This is what the story needed. Crit groups, and the type of crit groups you have can be helpful or not depending on what you need. For me, beta reading works so much better.

On trusting, I think the most important thing is to know and understand your story. Every part of it is not going to appeal to everyone all the time. The trick is filtering the feedback to see what fits what the story truly is.

Ex) Goose Feathers is a slight retelling of Swan Lake. One critter told me that I ought not to have the goose (who is really a swan) talk since birds don’t talk. This didn’t fit my story, so I felt free to disregard it. (Now wonders how many people have been transmogrified in their lifetimes. :p)

Ex2) Another critter suggested braiding in POVs to make it flow better. This meant adding another 20,000 words, and a lot of work, but she was absolutely right. This is what the story needed.

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