E-Mail 'Making the Most out of your Conference Critique' To A Friend
Email a copy of 'Making the Most out of your Conference Critique' to a friend
Loading ...
15 thoughts on “Making the Most out of your Conference Critique”
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
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!
Excellent advice, Cynthea. I wish I could be at the LA conference.
Great advice, Cynthea. I wish I could be at the LA conference.
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)
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
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!
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*
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!
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!
Perfect timing. I’m now dealing with my ms after my LA SCBWI critique. 😀
Hi Cynthea,
I met you at the SCBWI conference where you critiqued my manuscript. Thank you — what you said was so helpful. I did a huge binge rewrite last month based on the plot revisions you suggested. It was fun to run across this article. I even posted a link on my blog.
Hope you’re doing well and thanks again!
Amy
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.
I read this a few months ago, but thanks for linking to it again. It was just what I needed to read as my stomach begins to fill with “What If I Get My Dream Agent?” Butterflies. I’m bookmarking it so I can read it yet again in the airport tomorrow on my way to LA!
Tried to post a thank you for re-linking to this the other day, but it didn’t post. Today I found out you are my critiquer!
Loading ...
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
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!
Excellent advice, Cynthea. I wish I could be at the LA conference.
Great advice, Cynthea. I wish I could be at the LA conference.
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)
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
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!
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*
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!
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!
Perfect timing. I’m now dealing with my ms after my LA SCBWI critique. 😀
Hi Cynthea,
I met you at the SCBWI conference where you critiqued my manuscript. Thank you — what you said was so helpful. I did a huge binge rewrite last month based on the plot revisions you suggested. It was fun to run across this article. I even posted a link on my blog.
Hope you’re doing well and thanks again!
Amy
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.
I read this a few months ago, but thanks for linking to it again. It was just what I needed to read as my stomach begins to fill with “What If I Get My Dream Agent?” Butterflies. I’m bookmarking it so I can read it yet again in the airport tomorrow on my way to LA!
Tried to post a thank you for re-linking to this the other day, but it didn’t post. Today I found out you are my critiquer!