Blogger: Rachel Kent
I was happy to go to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference for one day this year, even though I wasn’t on faculty, to meet with my clients. (BTW, I love Mount Hermon’s writers conference, so if you ever get a chance to go, you should!)
One client was in a critique track at the conference and was also having appointments with editors and publishing professionals. She ended up receiving critiques that were polar opposites. One group loved her book and thought everything about it was perfect. The other group had a lot to say about what she could improve.
This lead to an emotional roller coaster and a lot of confusion for my client. I had read her book, and I absolutely loved it and thought it was just about perfect. So I was able to reassure her, and I asked her to send me a list of the changes she was thinking of making so I could help her to evaluate if she should go ahead with them.
If you are ever faced with conflicting critiques, here are a few suggestions for you:
1) Take a moment to pray for wisdom and an open mind. It’s hard to take feedback, and we’re all programed to only want to listen to the good reviews. Pray that God will give you discernment when looking at the critiques so your own feelings and opinions wont get in the way.
2) Go back to the critiquers and ask questions to understand if the different critiques pinpoint the same problem. For example, if Critique Partner One said that your character was flat in a particular scene and Critique Partner Two said that your character wasn’t at all likeable, go back and ask Critique Partner One if he or she felt the problem extended beyond that scene. Then ask Critique Partner Two if that scene was a big part of the problem. This cross-referencing of your critiques will help you to glean more information and will help to you understand what they were telling you.
3) Seek another opinion. If you’ve only had two people critique your manuscript, seek out a third opinion. If you have an agent, it would be great for the third opinion to be your agent’s. If you don’t have an agent or have already heard your agent’s opinion, be sure that your third critiquer is part of your intended audience and has the time to take a good look at your manuscript.
4) Don’t get caught up on minor issues. If one person loves that your character adores chocolate and the other was annoyed with the chocolate addiction, let those two opinions cancel each other out and move on to something that actually matters. However, if you hear from everyone that the minor issue is a problem, go ahead and change it.
5) Rate your critiquers’ opinions based on the level of experience each has and weigh the opinions in that order.
What do you do when you receive conflicting critiques?
How many people do you usually have read your manuscript once you’ve finished?
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Wow, this is so timely for me. I just received feedback from contest judges that was contradictory and I’m still not sure how to look at it. I’m trying to do what you suggest–pray for an open mind–but also not get all freaked out if one judge didn’t like something. It can be oh so difficult, though, especially because I genuinely DO want to improve my writing. It’s just so subjective and we have to realize that.
That is tough, Lindsay. I let one contest sour me on the whole idea of them. I know eventually I’ll go back, but I’m still not ready yet.
Praying you’ll be open to the guidance He provides.
Thanks, Cheryl! That means a lot!
I’ve gotten some weird feedback from contests, too. I just remind myself that someone took the time to judge the contest, and while that was nice of them, it doesn’t mean I have to take their advice. I only make changes based on critiques that not only make sense but that I feel will improve my book. 🙂
I loved this post, Rachel. I never thought of cross-referencing critiques. It’s a great idea.
I am part of two critique groups, so at least six other people have read what I’ve written before I submit it. Often they pick up on the same issues, but I like when I one or two says she didn’t understand what I was getting at or. It keeps me on my toes.
Great suggestions Rachel. I think prayer is particularly important, and seeking another opinion. A trusted agent, I’ve heard from my published friends, is invaluable. How wonderful you were there to help your client through this emotional upheaval.
What is the difference between “first readers” and critique partners? Several of my published writer friends have mentioned “first readers,” but not critique partners.
If the first readers are giving feedback, I’d call them critique partners too. I think it’s just another name for them.
I think the difference is that a first reader serves the author, as in the author doesn’t return the favor. A critique partner is an even (hopefully!) trade of your opinions on each other’s work.
Thanks Rachele. I appreciate the clarification. And yes, I believe the “first readers” do offer feedback.
Thanks! I believe you are right! 🙂
This is terrific advice. I especially like your point about intended audience. My main focus stays on my genre. One perk of this? If I receive advice I’m on the fence about, I can weigh it against my knowledge of popular books in my market.
I usually have three people read my full ms before I send it to my fabulous (I mean it!!) agent, but sometimes I’ll only have two.
Great tips, Rachel; thanks for another helpful post! I also like to take into consideration each person’s area(s) of expertise and let that weigh into what they’ve said.
Great post! When I started looking for critique partners I had too many people telling me conflicting things and it was so overwhelming. I have now found three critique partners. They see different things, which I find really helpful. Sometimes they disagree, but when they all agree on something I *know* it’s got to be fixed. 🙂
I also have seven beta readers who give differing amounts of advice. Some just grammar, some character crits and story flow. I’m hoping to keep my helpful group around for books and books to come.
I’m in a critique group of five ladies, so I do like you suggest and pray when in doubt, then decide. As far as how many read it, the critique group reads it, then I have a freelance editor look over it for me…
This is timely for me. At the beginning of the year, I started praying for great critique partners. Then I joined ACFW’s critique group, and then I got into a small group within that group, and now I have more partners than I ever imagined. And I love all the feedback. If someone comments on something I love and can justify (because it is my darling!) I ignore it. But if two people comment on it, then I know it’s time to make a change. It’s a challenge, though, to keep my unique voice with so much chatter.
All that said, I am oh, so grateful for the way God has answered my prayers in this area.
Great advice!!! Especially number one. I even pray before I open my critiques. I know I always need that Holy Spirit wisdom to use human counsel wisely. It also helps to salve the scars after a rough critique. Sometimes critiques are a matter of style or experience. It’s good to know whether or not that person would be in your target audience.
At one writers’ conference I attended, in the middle of a live critique session in a room full of writers, the woman whose chapter was being discussed burst into tears. “I’m trying to make everybody like it, but I can’t.” She was correct. No book pleases everybody. You just listen to the comments with an open mind, then try to understand why the person critiquing made the remark, then decide whether it’s an issue worth revising. But never try to use every suggestion, or you’ll go crazy!
This is a raw nerve for me right now, since the one reader who initially went nuts over the MS, phoned later to say it was rather immature writing and offered her expertise in weekly Skype editing services. In which she has ZERO experience. My uber critical critique peeps liked it. The professional (as in “paid to write”) writers who read the MS loved it.
One would think the writer’s mom would be less surgical and just pat her on the head and say “good job, honey”.
When I’ve had conflicting critiques I waited a bit, reread it, and ended up deciding if I liked it or not. Sometimes a later read of my own material, even if loved by some at first, makes me see what the conflicting critiquer was saying.
I totally agree, Ann. A little distance from my writing always gives me new eyes.
Great advice to take some time before going back to reread your book! It’s much easier to distance yourself from the manuscript after a bit of time.
Excellent guidance, Rachel. Like Connie, I pray before I read critiques. I really like your advice about going back to critique partners and asking questions. Even if is something minor, such as a chocolate addiction, finding out why that bothered the reader helps me understand if the comment was coming from a personal place or from something in the writing. Sometimes when the reader has to articulate why she responded the way she did, she will realize that it was something deeper than the thing she thought bothered her. For example, staying with the chocolate addiction, the reader may have picked up on an inconsistency in the character that I hadn’t realized was there. But, generally, as you said Rachelle, if it’s a minor thing (why does he have green eyes?), then if it only bothers one person, I don’t worry too much about it.
As to how many people I have read, I get about five to seven people (family and friends as well as more “qualified” critiquers) to read my writing. In other words, I’m a pest!
Thanks again for the post.
Very true! Thanks for the comment, Christine.
I ask myself several questions regarding conflicting critiques:
1. Does the critiquer read and appreciate my chosen genre? (If not, take it with a grain of salt. It may be a matter of taste.)
2. Does the critique reveal something about my writing or something about the critiquer? (If it’s hostile rather than helpful, or if it is opposition to the Chicago Manual of Style, I take it…with a grain of salt.)
3. If the critiquer pointed out something that didn’t work and added an explanation of why it didn’t, I consider it carefully. It wasn’t a nebulous “I don’t like this,” but a thoughtful comment.
4. If it confused one reader, it may confuse others. Sometimes I’ll change it just to avoid others getting tripped up. And usually, that third option (not mine, not the critiquers’, but the Lord’s) is decidedly better than my first option or the critiquers’ suggestions.
5. Which critiquer most closely resembles my target audience? If my husband doesn’t get it, but I’m writing for women and they all do, then I politely thank my husband for his input and go with what the women said. 🙂
Thanks, Cynthia! What great steps!
Awesome post, Rachel! It definitely can get a bit stressful when getting so much feedback at once. Great advice. Praying def has helped me with guidance.
For my last novel I had 4 beta readers and 8 additional cps who looked it over. It all depends on who has time for what that it varies on how many I have. But I must say I am very blessed with such awesome cps. (Thank you, God!)
I’ve also been very fortunate that agents give detailed feedback as well. Problem with that though is if I agree with what they say (which I usually do) I will revise it accordingly and wished I had sent the new version to the agents who already are looking over my work.
Thank you for this insight Rachel. Thank you for all the helpful comments. I am very much enjoying this blog.
I am wondering if anyone might have advice for me, someone who is just working toward becoming published and established.
How did you choose the people who critique your work?
Some initial thoughts:
1) Make sure they are well-read in your genre.
2) They need to be able to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
3) Make sure they don’t have an issue that you will get caught in the middle of (such as being a frustrated, unpublished writer or someone who talks about writing, but never actually does.)
4) They need to have the time to invest in the project.
5) They should not try to rewrite every line, but will let your voice come through.
Then there is the issue of compensation. That’s a tough one. Compensation is expensive, but if it’s free, you often get what you paid for!
Thank you Peter. That is wise advice that I will take to heart. I really appreciate it.
I was once commissioned to write a biography. My editor loved it but the client tore it to shreds. For a third opinion I hired a book consultant who lauded my writing but criticized the work’s limitations — which the client had placed on the project.
It will never be published, but I did get paid!
That must have been a frustrating experience! Glad you got paid though!
Thanks for your encouraging words. I’ve recently joined a critique group and I am still learning how to balance the positive, negative and questionable. I have gone back and asked questions to help me pinpoint a problem. I have one person who has challenged me and after prayer and time I realized that she is pushing me in a positive direction and helping me to look at my work through fresh eyes. I am thankful for the folks reading my work. I think praying for discernment is great advice!
I love getting critiques, though they can be confusing. As far as how many people I get to read my manuscripts for me, the more the better. After nearly two years of work on one story, a new reader recently pointed out an impossibility no one else noticed. I was very grateful!
The number of critiquers vary on a project, but I do insist on 3 beta readers to really give it a good shake before revisions happen.
Thanks for this post, Rachel! Somehow, it’s very timely… 🙂