The Journal: Inviting Critiqe

In today’s Journal

* Topic: Inviting Critiqe
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Topic: Inviting Critiqe

As most of you know, I’m dead set against running my work through critique groups. After all, I actively battle to keep my own critical mind out of my work, so why would I then turn around and actually invite criticism from others?

That being said, in the “Of Interest” section of the Journal, I often include a link to a “first-page critique” post from one of The Kill Zone bloggers.

In an email early this morning, one of my astute patrons wondered why I include those posts. If I think inviting critcism is a bad idea, then why do I seemingly support it by posting those links?

Really, it’s a great question. Here’s my response:

The Kill Zone bloggers are all successful professional fiction writers. They offer a free first-page critique of writers’ work. However, I still do not recommend inviting critique into your work. To see why submitting your work to them or anyone else for critique is a bad idea, see The Good and Bad of Critique at https://hestanbrough.com/the-journal-the-good-and-bad-of-critique/.

I do not and would never recommend submitting your work for critique by TKZ or anyone else unless the work is finished and published*.

But since others have submitted their work to TKZ for critique, and since one of the TKZ bloggers have commented on that work publicly, we can learn from those comments.

Doing so might seem a bit mercenary, but it doesn’t allow a critical mind into OUR work. It’s only instructive, just as if the blogger had written the post without showing the accompanying first page. When we read the first-page critique of someone else’s work, we’re learning by example — with no skin off our own teeth.

What I DO recommend is having at least one good first reader who will read your manuscript for pleasure (not critically, “looking” for things). That reader will point out only things that pop out at him. For example, any wrong words or places where s/he became confused or was forced out of the story (and why).

I also recommend hiring a good copyeditor unless you were dipped in the language at birth. (But NOT a “book doctor” or “developmental editor” or any of that.) A good copyeditor will never change your voice or style. For copyediting, I can only recommend myself. Learn more at https://harveystanbrough.com/copyediting/.

*If you DO want to invite others to critique your work, make sure the work is already finished and publisheds. Why? Because you can apply what you learn from the critique to FUTURE works. Always go forward, never back.

If you have any other questions about this, please either leave a comment or email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com.

Today wasn’t so great. I’m a little under the weather, so I didn’t spend as much time with the novel as I’d hoped.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Licensing 101 Workshop” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/licensing-101-workshop/,

See “How Amazon tracked my last two years of reading” (and PG’s take) at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/how-amazon-tracked-my-last-two-years-of-reading/.

See “Listbuilding 201” at https://mystorydoctor.com/listbuilding-201/.

See “Finding An Opening Line Is Like Seeing
The World In a Grain of Sand” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/02/finding-an-opening-line-is-like-seeingthe-world-in-a-grain-of-sand.html.

See “Creating Worlds” at https://prowriterswriting.com/creating-worlds/.

The Numbers

Fiction words today…………………… 2117
Nonfiction words today…………… 540 (Journal)

Writing of The Three-Year Turn (novel)

Day 1…… 3570 words. Total words to date…… 3570
Day 2…… 4026 words. Total words to date…… 7596
Day 3…… 4251 words. Total words to date…… 11847
Day 4…… 2117 words. Total words to date…… 13964

Total fiction words for the month……… 23553
Total fiction words for the year………… 89097
Total nonfiction words for the month… 6940
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 38190
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 127287

Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 5
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 47
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 201
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31