tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4707379812100410225..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Feedback with Compassionate DetachmentDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30124702319547658402015-03-13T14:06:37.934-06:002015-03-13T14:06:37.934-06:00Thanks so much, Polly! Your story of the reincarna...Thanks so much, Polly! Your story of the reincarnated Hemingway made me smile. It's instructive, I think, that so often the people who criticize the most accomplish the least.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86837181619454663122015-03-13T08:59:49.867-06:002015-03-13T08:59:49.867-06:00Mine did too, Cara ... I was just trying to keep m...Mine did too, Cara ... I was just trying to keep my comment 'G' rated.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69542576480896982132015-03-12T15:37:35.070-06:002015-03-12T15:37:35.070-06:00Great post, Cara. I have a wonderful critique part...Great post, Cara. I have a wonderful critique partner. When we started, years ago, we were delicate in our crits. Now we say whatever we think, and it's great. We know each other so well. <br /><br />My worst experience was when I exchanged a novel with someone else for a critique. This guy, yes, it was a guy, said he had to stop after 30 pages because the structure was all wrong, and went on to name other things that were unacceptable. I thought I wouldn't publish that book. He set me back months. I finally got over it and published it. That book continues to get five-star ratings, but I thought his tactic was beyond the pale. I never said anything about his. I'd read 90 pages, and the first part was about the death of a school printer. Since then, from posts I see of his, he thinks he's the reincarnation of Hemingway. Sorry if I don't agree.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-17881904831333226642015-03-12T09:45:57.880-06:002015-03-12T09:45:57.880-06:00I absolutely agree, Maryann! I believe the detachm...I absolutely agree, Maryann! I believe the detachment is critical too. In that original critique I made with the woman who got upset, I went out of my way to create a compassionate tone - yet I still managed to accidentally say something that came across as a personal affront. To me, much of the detachment is about depersonalizing the language so miscommunications are less harmful. Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46021016053437583632015-03-12T09:41:27.492-06:002015-03-12T09:41:27.492-06:00Thanks so much for the illustrative story, Linda! ...Thanks so much for the illustrative story, Linda! That is just the sort of issue I had in mind when I wrote this. It's also a good reminder for us writers to beware when a critique partner, beta reader, or content editor makes comments personal. It can help to step back and remind ourselves that information presented in that way is likely more about them than us. Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22141971647182836192015-03-12T09:33:36.243-06:002015-03-12T09:33:36.243-06:00Hahaha, Christopher! Sometimes my news director ac...Hahaha, Christopher! Sometimes my news director actually named the smell, which I won't repeat here, but it had something to do with bodily waste... Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67187561865410551702015-03-12T09:31:11.469-06:002015-03-12T09:31:11.469-06:00Thanks for your great insights, Diana. I too am in...Thanks for your great insights, Diana. I too am intrigued by your comment on the intuitive vs. emotional reader. That's one reason it can be helpful to get multiple feedback. I don't think any two people read quite the same story. Which is why sometimes, just sometimes, I don't take heed until I hear something from three people! Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33290291039680857672015-03-12T09:07:41.875-06:002015-03-12T09:07:41.875-06:00Great post Cara. The first critique group I belong...Great post Cara. The first critique group I belonged to developed that compassionate approach to comments, and I learned so much from the feedback. When a critique is done well and with kindness, it does make such a difference.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67243467973654793362015-03-12T09:06:16.160-06:002015-03-12T09:06:16.160-06:00Christopher, those of us in journalism many moons ...Christopher, those of us in journalism many moons ago had similar experiences. Thank goodness the editors I've worked with on my books have been much kinder.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66791838631847595762015-03-12T09:05:24.919-06:002015-03-12T09:05:24.919-06:00Interesting point about having an intuitive thinke...Interesting point about having an intuitive thinker and emotional sensor read your story. I had never thought of that, but I can see how it would help you make sure your work is reaching both camps.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81398745163517980592015-03-12T08:31:28.742-06:002015-03-12T08:31:28.742-06:00The most exhaustive evaluation I ever received cam...The most exhaustive evaluation I ever received came from the head of a critique group I had joined. (I should note that she was an unpublished mother in her 20s, and I was in my early 60s.) The critique's 3 single-spaced pages informed me what story I meant to tell but didn't and which character was my intended protagonist but was not as the story was written. Criticism was heaped upon criticism, and I nearly quit writing. Today that same story receives kudos from most readers and neither its content nor its characters are questioned. <br /><br />Your comments about focusing on the story and using questions rather than accusations are worth their weight in gold, Cara. (Please forgive the cliché.)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87059148215887737802015-03-12T08:27:27.013-06:002015-03-12T08:27:27.013-06:00Good tips, Cara ... too bad my old boss didn't...Good tips, Cara ... too bad my old boss didn't heed these ... his feedback usually entailed something like him sniffing and saying, "What's that awful smell?" Then he'd hold up my copy, sniff it, and say, "Why, it's coming from this! Get this out of my office, Hudson!"Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15246663632724911362015-03-12T07:16:21.042-06:002015-03-12T07:16:21.042-06:00All wonderful tips! My crit group dishes out some ...All wonderful tips! My crit group dishes out some tough love, with the emphasis on love. It is a given that we truly respect each other as writers. We emphasize what we love about the writing and passages with an equal hand to the things that need improvement, less us puzzled, etc. You need a setting of safety. Everyone who views your work sees something slightly different and catches things others won't. You don't always have to agree with the feedback, but if you hear there's a problem area from more than one person, take heed. We have the luxury of discussing what we thought/caught in detail. You obviously can't do that with every work you critique as an editor. For my money, it helps to have both an intuitive thinker and an emotional sensor read it. I guarantee they won't read the same story!Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com