Comments on: Making the Most out of your Conference Critique http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/ by Cynthea Liu Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:08:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Elizabeth Varadan http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-73544 Elizabeth Varadan Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:22:22 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-73544 Cynthia, thank you so much for such a helpful post. I'm not going to LA this time (recovering from foot surgery), but maybe next year. Meanwhile, when I'm up and about, I'll go to other conferences and will be looking for critiques, and this post helps remove the "fear factor". I'm new to your site but will be back on a regular basis. Meanwhile, have a wonderful time at the LA Conference. Cynthia, thank you so much for such a helpful post. I’m not going to LA this time (recovering from foot surgery), but maybe next year. Meanwhile, when I’m up and about, I’ll go to other conferences and will be looking for critiques, and this post helps remove the “fear factor”. I’m new to your site but will be back on a regular basis. Meanwhile, have a wonderful time at the LA Conference.

]]> By: Stina http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65366 Stina Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:47:31 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65366 Perfect timing. I'm now dealing with my ms after my LA SCBWI critique. :D Perfect timing. I’m now dealing with my ms after my LA SCBWI critique. :D

»crosslinked«

]]> By: Cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65349 Cynthea Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:36:29 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65349 Thanks, Fiona! Glad you enjoyed the article. If you want feedback on your manuscript (regardless on the state that it's in) you still have a lot to gain even if you're not done working on the manuscript. I often see things that are first drafts, and at that stage, the author is usually looking for help with the premise/concept/story more so than the nitpicky aspects of the writing itself. Incidentally, a critiquer can also help point out a lot of things about the writing even if the work has yet to be revised. So I'd say, if you want ideas for improving your story and your writing, go for the critique. Hope that helps! Thanks, Fiona! Glad you enjoyed the article.

If you want feedback on your manuscript (regardless on the state that it’s in) you still have a lot to gain even if you’re not done working on the manuscript. I often see things that are first drafts, and at that stage, the author is usually looking for help with the premise/concept/story more so than the nitpicky aspects of the writing itself. Incidentally, a critiquer can also help point out a lot of things about the writing even if the work has yet to be revised. So I’d say, if you want ideas for improving your story and your writing, go for the critique.

Hope that helps!

]]> By: Cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65348 Cynthea Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:26:32 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65348 Sorry for the delay in response. I was running around in LA and then dealing with the aftermath when I got back home after being away for almost a week. I hope your critique went well! Sorry for the delay in response. I was running around in LA and then dealing with the aftermath when I got back home after being away for almost a week. I hope your critique went well!

]]> By: Denise http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65222 Denise Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:37:17 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65222 Thanks Cynthea for the tips on critiques. Mine is tomorrow morning with another author. I am looking forward to hearing the feedback and hopefully I will survive it! Thanks Cynthea for the tips on critiques. Mine is tomorrow morning with another author. I am looking forward to hearing the feedback and hopefully I will survive it!

]]> By: cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65190 cynthea Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:06:37 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65190 Definitely ask the critiquer prior to recording anything. If you want a better chance that the critiquer will allow it, stipulate it will only be used for personal purposes and will not be shared with anyone. Personally, I would be okay with it but I do think I would feel more relaxed if I weren't being recorded. Who wants to think that there's some recording floating around packed with all your ummmms.. you knows... and so on. *embarrassed* Definitely ask the critiquer prior to recording anything. If you want a better chance that the critiquer will allow it, stipulate it will only be used for personal purposes and will not be shared with anyone. Personally, I would be okay with it but I do think I would feel more relaxed if I weren’t being recorded. Who wants to think that there’s some recording floating around packed with all your ummmms.. you knows… and so on. *embarrassed*

]]> By: Fiona Griffin http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65189 Fiona Griffin Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:35:14 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65189 Cynthea, I just read your article on receiving a critique at conferences. Thank you, it was extremely informative and helpful. My problem is that most are anthropomorphic and I haven't had the time to revise many. There is a deadline coming up. Do you think I should submit as they stand? I could revise them but risk missing the deadine. Thanks Cynthea,
I just read your article on receiving a critique at conferences. Thank you, it was extremely informative and helpful. My problem is that most are anthropomorphic and I haven’t had the time to revise many. There is a deadline coming up. Do you think I should submit as they stand? I could revise them but risk missing the deadine.
Thanks

]]> By: Linda http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65188 Linda Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:12:23 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65188 Great ideas! Wish I was going to LA this year to put those ideas into practice -- instead I'll be practicing my thumb twiddling at home. Wondering, though, what you think of taping a critique session? I find that most of the time when I review my critique notes days (dare I even say weeks) after the event, I can't make heads or tails of notes. Was that "send me a revision" or "end a vision"? Uhhh... Would taping make you uncomfortable? Have fun! Linda Lodding Coming Soon! THE BUSY LIFE OF ERNESTINE BUCKMEISTER (picture book, Fall 2011) HOLD THAT THOUGHT, MILTON! (picture Book, Spring 2011) Great ideas! Wish I was going to LA this year to put those ideas into practice — instead I’ll be practicing my thumb twiddling at home.

Wondering, though, what you think of taping a critique session? I find that most of the time when I review my critique notes days (dare I even say weeks) after the event, I can’t make heads or tails of notes. Was that “send me a revision” or “end a vision”? Uhhh…

Would taping make you uncomfortable?

Have fun!

Linda Lodding

Coming Soon!
THE BUSY LIFE OF ERNESTINE BUCKMEISTER (picture book, Fall 2011)
HOLD THAT THOUGHT, MILTON! (picture Book, Spring 2011)

]]> By: Cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65182 Cynthea Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:21:35 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65182 Wha?!! Someone will be disappointed to get me and the Snooper?! :) You are absolutely dead-on about that one; writers do hope they will be assigned to agents and editors. We know it's true. I'm going to add a special note about that in this article. Thanks! Wha?!! Someone will be disappointed to get me and the Snooper?! :)

You are absolutely dead-on about that one; writers do hope they will be assigned to agents and editors. We know it’s true. I’m going to add a special note about that in this article. Thanks!

]]> By: Laura http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/agents/making-the-most-out-of-your-conference-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-65181 Laura Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:13:39 +0000 http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/?p=1586#comment-65181 Cynthea (*hi Snoop!) This is a great post. I would like to add one thing.... Writers pray they get Agent Fabulous or Editor Extraordinaire, and sometimes they get Writer Wonderful.. and are disappointed. Writers should not discount the help and insight a fellow, more established, writer can give to your work. Good luck to you and congratulations to the lucky writers who will sit across from you -- bring candy. xoxo Cynthea (*hi Snoop!)
This is a great post.

I would like to add one thing….

Writers pray they get Agent Fabulous or Editor Extraordinaire, and sometimes they get Writer Wonderful.. and are disappointed. Writers should not discount the help and insight a fellow, more established, writer can give to your work.

Good luck to you and congratulations to the lucky writers who will sit across from you — bring candy.

xoxo

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