tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post9169796237984248342..comments2024-03-28T18:48:02.475-04:00Comments on Vicki Lane Mysteries: FAQ - Critique GroupsVicki Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-78600448209775219212011-01-06T20:13:16.750-05:002011-01-06T20:13:16.750-05:00In my training I got so used to be critiqued that ...In my training I got so used to be critiqued that I feel I miss out on feedback when I don't get it -whether it's writing, painting, you name it.<br />The catch is to find the "right" group, as you say:)<br />Wishing you a happy New Year and success in your writing endeavors!Jeannette StGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951617490107614687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-66420795995089008142011-01-06T13:22:07.752-05:002011-01-06T13:22:07.752-05:00Yes, indeed, Dana. It's ideal to read it print...Yes, indeed, Dana. It's ideal to read it printed out -- for me, anyway.Vicki Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-57342589942207536342011-01-06T13:16:42.060-05:002011-01-06T13:16:42.060-05:00When two or more people agree on a certain problem...When two or more people agree on a certain problem with my ms - they're right. I'm wrong. I've had a few who have steered me in different directions and I blindly followed, only to realize they were just being picky for picky's sake.<br /><br />When a writer taps me on the shoulder and says: "You're at 94% when others are only nearing 23%...trust yourself on this person's suggestions" I feel great.<br /><br />BUT I JUST DISCOVERED, that if I read my own ms under a different format than what I wrote it with, my eyes see things they ignored before. EMBARRASSING mistakes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-11579656408041927212011-01-04T17:24:37.629-05:002011-01-04T17:24:37.629-05:00Some very good advice there Vicki and I agree with...Some very good advice there Vicki and I agree with all of it. I have had experience of critique groups online and found it a very mixed experience. As you say, one doesn't just want praise, one wants praise (LOL) and encouragement to improve.<br />What I need at the moment is inspiration.Stella Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699491230987143490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-30683974614340676192011-01-04T13:56:23.573-05:002011-01-04T13:56:23.573-05:00No, the snow is not sparkling on the icy snow, the...No, the snow is not sparkling on the icy snow, the SUN is sparkling on the icy snow (speaking of needing a critique group... :)Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734831781770841734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-31960724598349175932011-01-04T13:54:10.813-05:002011-01-04T13:54:10.813-05:00I am intrigued by that last photo, the one of the ...I am intrigued by that last photo, the one of the snowball. Partly because it appears that the photographer was sledding down the hill alongside the tumbling snowball, and also because of the lovely way the snow is sparkling on the icy snow!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734831781770841734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-77536382179381182662011-01-04T13:12:44.260-05:002011-01-04T13:12:44.260-05:00A good critique is priceless. It only helps you g...A good critique is priceless. It only helps you grow and expand. You can also give encouragement as well as good constructive criticism. I do have to say though that my experiences are in the visual arts and not writing. I would hate for someone to critique my writing...ha ha ha. By the way....great photos.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236098607363641770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-91008970617648073102011-01-04T10:27:42.065-05:002011-01-04T10:27:42.065-05:00This is great. And when you said "if you'...This is great. And when you said "if you're serious about the writing life, you've got to learn to deal with criticism -- you've got to learn to learn from criticism." that really hit home.Darlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866600334392422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-31047959127617715592011-01-04T10:04:01.324-05:002011-01-04T10:04:01.324-05:00nice. i ampart of an online crit group that has re...nice. i ampart of an online crit group that has really helped me see some things in my writing...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-71830310093352302292011-01-04T09:39:49.525-05:002011-01-04T09:39:49.525-05:00About the photos -- just using up odds and ends th...About the photos -- just using up odds and ends that I liked but that didn't fit anywhere. The two snow ones were all the little birdie tracks where they had come for seed. And the blurry greenery (yellowry?) one I liked for the color. The snow ball picture reminded me somehow of pictures from the moon's surface. An oddball collection.<br /><br />Martin, your writing group looks interesting. It's always good to connect with other writers.<br /><br />I suspect, Tess and CGPoet, that finding the right critique group could take several tries. <br /><br />Kath, you've given me my topic for next Tuesday's FAQ! Thanks!<br /><br />Sam, you are lucky to have found not one but two good groups! The Writer's Network is a wonderful resource for NC writers -- probably there are similar groups almost everywhere -- such as the one Martin mentioned above.Vicki Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-60160025490521507992011-01-04T09:39:48.936-05:002011-01-04T09:39:48.936-05:00About the photos -- just using up odds and ends th...About the photos -- just using up odds and ends that I liked but that didn't fit anywhere. The two snow ones were all the little birdie tracks where they had come for seed. And the blurry greenery (yellowry?) one I liked for the color. The snow ball picture reminded me somehow of pictures from the moon's surface. An oddball collection.<br /><br />Martin, your writing group looks interesting. It's always good to connect with other writers.<br /><br />I suspect, Tess and CGPoet, that finding the right critique group could take several tries. <br /><br />Kath, you've given me my topic for next Tuesday's FAQ! Thanks!<br /><br />Sam, you are lucky to have found not one but two good groups! The Writer's Network is a wonderful resource for NC writers -- probably there are similar groups almost everywhere -- such as the one Martin mentioned above.Vicki Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-47250840316369984602011-01-04T08:53:25.290-05:002011-01-04T08:53:25.290-05:00I totally agree with everything you've said ab...I totally agree with everything you've said about critique groups. <br /><br />I belong to two groups. One is the western branch (Netwest) of the North Carolina Writers Network and the other is a group at our local library. Within the Netwest group, there are two different critique sessions - one for poetry and one for fiction/non-fiction. Both groups have been extremely helpful to me as a new writer.<br />SamSam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15358601435867848753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-35278120961462871532011-01-04T08:49:56.882-05:002011-01-04T08:49:56.882-05:00loved the snowball photo
so much energy waiting to...loved the snowball photo<br />so much energy waiting to go bigSuzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329289442910294160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-10734838678729642932011-01-04T08:38:35.121-05:002011-01-04T08:38:35.121-05:00I've had wonderful in-person critique groups. ...I've had wonderful in-person critique groups. And one that was nothing but destructive. Now I have online crit partners. <br /><br />I hang my head because I tend to cheerlead too much, I think. But I find so much in everyone else's work to praise. <br /><br />I'm trying harder to crit better. Do you suppose you could give us some things to start with if we are recovering cheerleaders and want to be better crit partners?Kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620539513724126913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-39535156773031342012011-01-04T08:09:46.850-05:002011-01-04T08:09:46.850-05:00I totally agree with your comments about how valua...I totally agree with your comments about how valuable the right critique group can be. The only one I belonged too was a good size, friendly, offered constructive criticism, came with resident cat and regular refills of the teapot. The only problem was no-one in the group knew anything about poetry, which at the time was basically the only thing i wrote...Crafty Green Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486633917197181851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-62970390673709852872011-01-04T08:08:41.275-05:002011-01-04T08:08:41.275-05:00A healthy balance of encouragement and criticism i...A healthy balance of encouragement and criticism is such a good thing. Hard to find, too.Tess Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889725786678984293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-75868683774456314022011-01-04T02:20:25.004-05:002011-01-04T02:20:25.004-05:00That's an interesting sequence of photographs,...That's an interesting sequence of photographs, Vicki. Just my cup of tea, a little experimental.<br /><br />Speaking of critiques, I'm getting along to a Southampton-based writers group, <a href="http://pennyleggswritingbuddies.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Writing Buddies</a>, in the coming weeks. It's time I got out more!Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-764237570467034909.post-79785183720998326022011-01-04T01:19:08.986-05:002011-01-04T01:19:08.986-05:00As always I find you FAQ interesting even though I...As always I find you FAQ interesting even though I am not a writer. And I love your 'sugar dusting' of snow photos.Marilyn & Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00851884880790561276noreply@blogger.com