I've been thinking alot about writers and critique groups lately. I lost my group a few months ago. This weekend I went to a workshop taught by Karen Lin about critique groups, and it really got me excited to work with another group. But I have reservations.
Mainly, I'm not sure how effective I am to a group. I'm not one of those writers who considers every aspect of a scene or a character. I don't pay strict attention to plot arches. I write. I sit at my computer and write what comes to mind. No plotting. Rarely anything more than a vague outline. I don't spend hours thinking about my story, or what my character's goals and motivations are. I simply write.
By no means am I suggesting this is how anyone else should write. In fact, I wish I could be more detailed orientated when it comes to plot, character development, arches, etc. But I'm not, and I doubt I ever will be.
So tell me, what helps you as a writer when being critiqued? How can I be helpful?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Oh the Writers You'll Meet
This weekend I was lucky enough to spend with two hundred fellow writers at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. I had a chance to catch up with some writer friends from past conferences. People I respect and wish only the best of careers-Ross Willard, Lynde Iozzo, Phyllis, Milt, Mariko Tatsumoto Layton, etc. And new friends too. So many I don't remember all their names.
I also partook in a workshop with 7 fellow writers, and editor, Peter Senftleben from Kensington Books, who I absolutely adored. He was friendly, helpful, and approachable. I was amazed at the level of ability in the group too. They gave me excellent feedback, and I can't wait to see their books on my Nook very soon.
The conference fare itself wasn't bad. It offered quite a few advance/career type workshops, as well as plenty of beginner workshops. I did notice alot more people working on their first manuscript, and their excitement brought me alot of joy.
Sometimes I forget how great it felt to jump into my first manuscript. Everything was a pearl of wisdom, every sentence perfect. Of course, that was all in my head, because looking back, my pearls were much closer to tar balls, and I still have trouble finding the right words to form a decent sentence, let alone perfection.
I also partook in a workshop with 7 fellow writers, and editor, Peter Senftleben from Kensington Books, who I absolutely adored. He was friendly, helpful, and approachable. I was amazed at the level of ability in the group too. They gave me excellent feedback, and I can't wait to see their books on my Nook very soon.
The conference fare itself wasn't bad. It offered quite a few advance/career type workshops, as well as plenty of beginner workshops. I did notice alot more people working on their first manuscript, and their excitement brought me alot of joy.
Sometimes I forget how great it felt to jump into my first manuscript. Everything was a pearl of wisdom, every sentence perfect. Of course, that was all in my head, because looking back, my pearls were much closer to tar balls, and I still have trouble finding the right words to form a decent sentence, let alone perfection.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)