Friday, April 30, 2010

You're FIRED!

Well, you see... I hooked up with a second critique partner last week. My first critique partner is so AWESOME (shout out to Miss Melissa Dean!) and gives such great feedback, I figured, a second partner would make things twice as helpful... right? WRONG!

She fired my sorry butt yesterday. Ouch. Well, can't say I'm terribly sad she fired me. I can only say I was terribly sad at the very mean things she said in the "dismissal" letter. Sheesh. People. Words actually are sticks and stones, and they actually can hurt! Oh my.  She basically said my writing stinks and I'll never get published. Okay. Whatever. Your opinion. But, one of the purposes of a critique partnership is to HELP each other. Hello!?

So, anyway... I could rant all day about this (but I did that yesterday). Ha. So, I will learn from it and move on. But, my research has made it clear that many published authors wish they would've gotten critique partners earlier in the process. I'm determined to be published, so therefore, I will follow the advice of those who've traveled this road before me.

Done ranting.

5 comments:

  1. I am part of a chapter exchange where we email eachother new work each week and then provide feedback. My buddy (shout out to Claire Gittens) rocks. She is encouraging, insightful, and honest. Plus I really like her writing too.

    The second group is a trio. (shout of to EJ/Jon and Julie). We are exchanging full completed manuscripts and critiquing them for one another. We submit written critiques individually and then meet over the internet as a group to discuss it all. Although we haven't done my work yet, the entire process has helped me in my own revisions.

    She really said you sucked? That was so unneccesary. At least your head is grounded about it all.Sounds like this person wouldn't have been much help to you anyways.

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  2. Margo,

    Sorry to hear about # 2. Telling people they stink is not a critique. Was she an agent or editor? Had she published books before? Those are the only people who truly have a right to judge a book/writer as worthy or not, and even then it's still not a done deal.

    If you don't feel a critique partner is at your level and won't be able to give you proper feedback on your work, you should respectfully bow out. Even then, I honestly think you can learn from someone at just about every level. Critiquing is a skill that takes practice to get good at, after all.

    I'm glad Melissa has been a positive for you. I just found out that she lives in my area and frequents a writers group (here in San Antone) that I also attend! How crazy is that? I'm looking forward to meeting her.

    Hang in there, and don't give up!

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  3. Eerily similar story, except for the part where you have a lovely critique partner and we don't... lol

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  4. Thanks people for the positive feedback! It's all good now. I've moved on. Even snagged a second critique partner - that is going to be awesome! (no pressure)

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  5. Shout out to you as well, Margo! You're awesome! You will be published and I LOVE LOVE LOVE your storytelling! The other one didn't know what in the hell she was talking about in my opinion! Don't worry, we'll get there together!

    Peace out!

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