tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post114855909117512334..comments2023-11-21T06:39:26.839-08:00Comments on Mary Akers: Learning to critiqueMary Akershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05190983234403757377noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1151588511871022182006-06-29T06:41:00.000-07:002006-06-29T06:41:00.000-07:00This is all such good advice, Mary. I've been havi...This is all such good advice, Mary. I've been having a parallel discussion over on my MySpace blog. It is just so hard to say things in a way they'll be heard, because there is often so much emotion and self invested in the writing. How do you navigate that and end up being helpful? Sometimes it's nearly impossible.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02856435398711620038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1149625774761592602006-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:002006-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:00It's funny... I'm leading workshops in a writing g...It's funny... I'm leading workshops in a writing groups right now, and I used pretty much everything in this blog entry without knowing the entry existed...so, yeah. Rock out.Jason McGlonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01269495488654111284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1148651166915627442006-05-26T06:46:00.000-07:002006-05-26T06:46:00.000-07:00Okay, I just got the worst critique (and this is i...Okay, I just got the worst critique (and this is in a professional paid setting):<BR/><BR/>"I've struggled with what to say about this because so much of it is not so good."<BR/><BR/>Why won't everyone read your blog, Mary?Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18040824813209082919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1148648599895539732006-05-26T06:03:00.000-07:002006-05-26T06:03:00.000-07:00Ah, yes, of course, Stephanie! How did I forget th...Ah, yes, of course, Stephanie! How did I forget that one? Honor the author's intent. (That is one of my total pet peeves--can't believe I forgot it. Will add it now.) Thank you!Mary Akershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05190983234403757377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1148598595362299932006-05-25T16:09:00.000-07:002006-05-25T16:09:00.000-07:00Excellent advice, Mary. I think you know I agree w...Excellent advice, Mary. I think you know I agree with all that. I also like what Stephanie said--critquers, mostly novices, sometimes try to to imprint themselves on a story instead of the other way around, and that just isn't helpful for the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05886890881221225553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1148594182586689842006-05-25T14:56:00.000-07:002006-05-25T14:56:00.000-07:00It's definitely good advice.I've been an editor fo...It's definitely good advice.<BR/><BR/>I've been an editor for ten years (OMG!) now and I'm astounded at the number of writers who are gawdawful critiquers. <BR/><BR/>Critiquing is really helping the writer make her piece better. It's not rewriting it so it sounds more like the critiquer wrote it, or following the critiquers rules of writing, or changing the subject to something that interests the critiquer more, but that's often how people critique. <BR/><BR/>More than anyone wants to know, I know. It's just something I've been thinking about in reference to my hesitancy to workshop.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18040824813209082919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9967208.post-1148560713048304562006-05-25T05:38:00.000-07:002006-05-25T05:38:00.000-07:00Excellent advice, Mary!Excellent advice, Mary!katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216268651978841897noreply@blogger.com