New writers:
I have witnessed several instances in which new writers felt overwhelmed and confused after submitting their work to a critique group. Mainly, it’s because they have received feedback that seems contradictory. So they wonder which feedback is best to listen to and which is best to ignore.
This is just one of those tricky parts of being a writer that needs working through. But I’ve got a few tips that I’m hoping may help. In general, I recommend heeding the advice of people who:
- Have what you want (finished their manuscript, published a book, sold a screenplay, sold a magazine article, etc.).
- Consume your genre.
- Offer solutions to the problems they bring up.
For example, let’s say I write horror scripts. Karen, who has yet to finish a screenplay, tells me to delete a scene. Bob, who has optioned and sold multiple bone-chilling scripts (I’ve even watched some of his produced films!), tells me to keep the scene and even offers strategies for ratcheting up the fear factor. I choose to give Bob’s response more weight than Karen’s because Bob has what I want, reads/watches my genre, and provides concrete solutions that I can use.
Or, let’s say you write YA fantasy short stories. Karen has two completed YA novels under her belt and one of them is with a literary agent. Bob has never written a novel manuscript of any kind, let alone YA. I’d generally recommend giving more weight to what Karen has to say in this context.
That’s not to say Bob’s advice is completely meaningless, but if Karen and Bob are on opposite sides of a point, Karen’s opinion would win out.
This is why it’s important to consistently attend your critique group meetings. Getting to know the people in the group a little better makes deciding who to listen to much easier.
