Okay, folks. Many of you offered great ideas yesterday--it's fun digging into someone else's story for a bit, isn't it?
So please give me your feedback, and I'll determine whether or not we should do this again some time. If you were a participant: Did you find this exercise helpful? Do you have some positive takeaway? If you were an idea-giver: Was this enjoyable? Would you be willing to participate again in the future?
I'm all ears! As ever, I want this to be a place you want to come to. Critique away!
Miss Snark's First Victim
Showing posts with label feedback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feedback. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Monday, May 20, 2013
In Response to Your Response
I never expected to receive over a hundred responses to last week's Friday Fricassee. Honestly, I was simply trying to assess whether or not I needed to reduce the number of Secret Agent contests I hold each year.
Anyway, thank you all for your comments! In culling through them, I've come up with a bunch of Stuff To Address, so allow me to do so now (in no particular order):
1. I DIDN'T MEAN TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS GOING TO END THE SECRET AGENT CONTESTS.
Many of you begged, "Please don't stop!" I wasn't planning on it; I just wanted to determine whether interest was high enough to continue doing 9 a year. I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression!
2. THE NEED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF SUBMISSIONS
Mea culpa! In times past, I was definitely in the habit of announcing submissions on the blog. After a while, it started to feel unnecessary, so I stopped. Clearly this was not a good move. It's a simple fix, though. From now on, I will announce submissions early on the morning of the day they open.
3. THE NEED TO POST CRITIQUING GUIDELINES THE DAY OF A CONTEST
Again, this is something I clearly should have been doing, and is an easy fix. I've mentioned in the past that I sometimes forget that we have a constant influx of new readers. From now on, I will post the critique guidelines immediately after the excerpts go live. This way, the guidelines will be at the top of the page during the contest, and highly visible.
(There is also a "CONTEST" tab at the top of the blog that you can read any time to brush up on Secret Agent etiquette.)
4. MAY IS A BUSY MONTH
This is apparently true for many people. May 2010, though, had 60 entries (and I'm not even sure why). It may truly have been a combination of real-life busyness and extra online opportunities this year.
One comment I found particularly offensive, though, was one that inferred that our readership is all "stay-at-home moms writing YA". Not only is that a slam to those among us who actually ARE stay-at-home moms writing YA (or anything else, for that matter), but it blatantly ignores the fact that May is also busy for teachers, professors, performers (dance and music recitals), students, and extended family members, as well as for parents. It also ignores the fact that May is busy not only for women, but for men as well. (I am heartily tired of the male vs. female argument, so let's let that one die, please.)
I haven't been experiencing "May busyness", so I'm thankful that so many of you took the time to point that out to me.
5. THE SIX-MONTH WAITING PERIOD
I'm thrilled that so many of you take this seriously! Grateful, too. And honestly? Agents have mentioned this to me--that it's nice to not see constant repeats on my site. (It's not just good for the readers, though. It's good for YOU. A few minor tweaks does not a revision make, and that's what I'm trying to foster here: serious edits/revision. For your sake.)
I am considering shortening this to four months. I want to give this a lot of thought, since parameters like this are, I believe, one of the things that keeps the quality higher during our contests. I will let you know when I figure out what the wisest course of action is!
6. THE CHEERLEADING ISSUE
I addressed this issue very pointedly in THIS POST FROM FEBRUARY, 2012. (Seriously--if cheerleading concerns you, please read this post, which details my reasons for not supporting it.)
Ultimately, I am not responsible for the way people critique. I will certainly delete anything nasty--but cheerleading is not nasty, so I have no reason to delete it.
Cheerleading is, however, useless in a forum that exists for CRITIQUE. Receiving "Yay, you're awesome!" comments on a contest entry is no better than letting your mom and dad read your manuscripts and tell you how fabulous they are.
I understand that there are other contests online that encourage cheerleading. THIS IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. I support their right to run contests as they choose, and I support your right to choose which contests you wish to enter/support. In short--go for it!
But I choose NOT to pit writers against each other. I choose NOT to encourage my readers to "Cheer for your favorite entry!" I never have; I never will.
Because I don't want the atmosphere here to be "me against them" for anyone who chooses to participate. NOT EVER. For five years, I have attempted to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and support among aspiring authors, coupled with effective critique. This is largely what we have here, and it's been wonderful.
So, please. Keep your pompoms at home. Making positive comments is an important part of critiquing the work of your peers (because, hey--if something is good, then we should say so!), but if all you're doing is "Rah! Rah!", then this isn't the place for it.
Nobody grows as a writer with nothing but "Rah! Rah!" in their comment boxes.
7. A READERSHIP OF "INCREASINGLY AGENTED AUTHORS"
I wanted to address this particular comment because it doesn't take into account that we are constantly picking up new community members here. It's true that many of our long-time readers have gone on to become agented, but the assumption that nobody is stepping up to take their places among the searching-for-an-agent ranks is erroneous.
8. "FEEL-GOOD" SUCCESS STORIES AND NO PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Um. Of our more-than-50 success stories, 24 are published (so far). Really, this is no secret; they are listed alphabetically under "PUBLISHED AUTHORS" on the "SUCCESS STORY" tab at the top of the blog.
Also? There is nothing "feel-good" (in the bitter sense) about posting a success story that shares how an author nabbed his agent. If you are not encouraged by these stories, don't read them. If you are so jaded that you cannot appreciate another person's success, then I am sorry for your sake.
I know what it feels like to sometimes burst into tears when I read someone else's good news. Sometimes, somewhere along the journey, we all bottom out. It's okay.
But we've got to move past it. And if you can't seem to move past feeling negative about a colleague's rejoicing, then perhaps you need to seriously consider your own journey, and whether it's right for you.
9. NON-RESPONSIVE AGENTS
This one admittedly disturbs me. That an agent would agree to a contest, choose winners, and then never respond to the winners once they sent their requested submissions is, in my opinion, less than professional.
However. This is the norm in the world of agents, whether or not your request from an agent came from a contest or through regular querying channels. For a number of agents, no response equals no thank you.
I don't agree with this approach. If you've requested material, I think you should respond to that material, whether it's a "yes" or a "no". But my opinion on this matter doesn't change things. The truth is, SOME AGENTS WILL NEVER RESPOND. I hate it as much as you do, but you can't let it jade you. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
So if you've had this experience via a Secret Agent contest? I apologize. And I encourage you to let go of the bitterness, because it's not doing you any favors.
Recalcitrant agents are not a reflection of this blog any more than cheerleaders or trolls are. For your own sake, move past the disappointment.
(Also? If this happens to you, don't suffer in silence. Email me. If it's an agent I have a good relationship with, I might be able to find out what's gone amiss. Or, at the very least, I can talk you off the ledge.)
10. EXTENDED SUBMISSION WINDOW FOR LOTTERIES
I can't push the entire window later in the day, because folks across the Atlantic will fall asleep. But I can extend the window past its normal 5:00 pm Eastern closing time, for the sake of the still-sleeping Pacific Time-zoners and to the west beyond. This won't help when it's not a lottery, but most of the SA contests have been lotteries lately. So this is definitely an easy change.
11. ACCUSING CRITIQUERS OF LEAVING POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO GET TRAFFIC
Normally I ignore snarky remarks, but this one was such a huge dig at the folks who give their time to these critiques that I had to address it.
I'd like to publicly proclaim my gratitude for everyone who leaves critique on this blog. It is my firm belief that those of you who have been cheerleading are doing so out of a sincere desire to cheer on your crit partners, colleagues, and friends. If there's any hidden motive in the cheering, I've been oblivious. And, frankly, I'd rather stay that way. (At any rate, I've already said that I don't like the cheerleading. So if the cheerleaders wish to stick around, I trust that they will start leaving valid critiques instead of cheering.)
Also? There are times when critiquers say positive things that aren't cheerleading; they are simply pointing out strengths in an excerpt, which is valid. To accuse these folks of trying to pimp their own blogs via positive critiques is absurd.
These are the kinds of comments that need to be deleted before you hit "send". Seriously.
12. TO THE ANONYMOUS PUBLISHING PROFESSIONAL
13. TURNED OFF BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE "GIVE BACK" TO THE BLOG
14. CHOOSE YOUR CONTESTS WISELY
When MSFV was a downy fledgling, there weren't many contests and critique opportunities for writers online. Now? They're everywhere. Literally everywhere! And there's a lot of hoopla and excitement and brouhaha and what-have-you, and it's easy to start "contest hopping." I mean, it's heady! It's an adrenaline rush! PEOPLE CHEER FOR YOU!
My advice? Choose carefully which contests you enter. Ask yourself if it's a good point in your manuscript journey and in your career plans to enter each contest you're considering. Contests may be a lot more exciting than plain old querying, but in the end, it's the plain old querying that leads most writers to their agents.
I landed my agent through a query letter, not a contest. So there you have it.
Of course there are success stories! Of course good things can happen through contests! And there are some really neat people running some of these contests. So on one level, it's all good!
But it's also easy to get swept up in it all. And I'm advising you not to let that happen. Carefully research the agents in these contests to see if they're right for you. If the agents' identities are hidden, then carefully analyze the contest itself, to see if it has the potential to actually help you. Don't participate because you somehow believe that contests are the new query. They are not.
Any contest that includes valid critique is, in my opinion, most valuable. The focus in our journey-toward-an-agent should not be, "Can I win a contest?", but rather, "Do I have a strong premise and strong writing?" and "What do I need to do to make this opening the best it can possibly be?"
So, by all means, get out there where the action is! But do so with prudence and wisdom. Remember that, in the end, fifty comments telling you how awesome you are is not going to get you a publishing contract. (It'll feel awesome for a little while, but that's about all it will do for you.)
15. AND, FINALLY, THANK YOU
For taking the time to answer my questions, for pointing out areas in which you felt I could improve the contests, for offering words of sincere support--thank you for all of it. If this blog isn't the best that it can be, then I'm selling you short, and I don't want to do that. 50+ success stories and countless writers who feel like they're moving forward is no small thing, and I want us to continue on this trajectory together.
Thank you for coming, thank you for staying. And thank you, as always, for sharing your journeys with me. In the end, we will, all of us, say, "I was never alone."
That, right there, says it all.
Anyway, thank you all for your comments! In culling through them, I've come up with a bunch of Stuff To Address, so allow me to do so now (in no particular order):
1. I DIDN'T MEAN TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS GOING TO END THE SECRET AGENT CONTESTS.
Many of you begged, "Please don't stop!" I wasn't planning on it; I just wanted to determine whether interest was high enough to continue doing 9 a year. I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression!
2. THE NEED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF SUBMISSIONS
Mea culpa! In times past, I was definitely in the habit of announcing submissions on the blog. After a while, it started to feel unnecessary, so I stopped. Clearly this was not a good move. It's a simple fix, though. From now on, I will announce submissions early on the morning of the day they open.
3. THE NEED TO POST CRITIQUING GUIDELINES THE DAY OF A CONTEST
Again, this is something I clearly should have been doing, and is an easy fix. I've mentioned in the past that I sometimes forget that we have a constant influx of new readers. From now on, I will post the critique guidelines immediately after the excerpts go live. This way, the guidelines will be at the top of the page during the contest, and highly visible.
(There is also a "CONTEST" tab at the top of the blog that you can read any time to brush up on Secret Agent etiquette.)
4. MAY IS A BUSY MONTH
This is apparently true for many people. May 2010, though, had 60 entries (and I'm not even sure why). It may truly have been a combination of real-life busyness and extra online opportunities this year.
One comment I found particularly offensive, though, was one that inferred that our readership is all "stay-at-home moms writing YA". Not only is that a slam to those among us who actually ARE stay-at-home moms writing YA (or anything else, for that matter), but it blatantly ignores the fact that May is also busy for teachers, professors, performers (dance and music recitals), students, and extended family members, as well as for parents. It also ignores the fact that May is busy not only for women, but for men as well. (I am heartily tired of the male vs. female argument, so let's let that one die, please.)
I haven't been experiencing "May busyness", so I'm thankful that so many of you took the time to point that out to me.
5. THE SIX-MONTH WAITING PERIOD
I'm thrilled that so many of you take this seriously! Grateful, too. And honestly? Agents have mentioned this to me--that it's nice to not see constant repeats on my site. (It's not just good for the readers, though. It's good for YOU. A few minor tweaks does not a revision make, and that's what I'm trying to foster here: serious edits/revision. For your sake.)
I am considering shortening this to four months. I want to give this a lot of thought, since parameters like this are, I believe, one of the things that keeps the quality higher during our contests. I will let you know when I figure out what the wisest course of action is!
6. THE CHEERLEADING ISSUE
I addressed this issue very pointedly in THIS POST FROM FEBRUARY, 2012. (Seriously--if cheerleading concerns you, please read this post, which details my reasons for not supporting it.)
Ultimately, I am not responsible for the way people critique. I will certainly delete anything nasty--but cheerleading is not nasty, so I have no reason to delete it.
Cheerleading is, however, useless in a forum that exists for CRITIQUE. Receiving "Yay, you're awesome!" comments on a contest entry is no better than letting your mom and dad read your manuscripts and tell you how fabulous they are.
I understand that there are other contests online that encourage cheerleading. THIS IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. I support their right to run contests as they choose, and I support your right to choose which contests you wish to enter/support. In short--go for it!
But I choose NOT to pit writers against each other. I choose NOT to encourage my readers to "Cheer for your favorite entry!" I never have; I never will.
Because I don't want the atmosphere here to be "me against them" for anyone who chooses to participate. NOT EVER. For five years, I have attempted to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and support among aspiring authors, coupled with effective critique. This is largely what we have here, and it's been wonderful.
So, please. Keep your pompoms at home. Making positive comments is an important part of critiquing the work of your peers (because, hey--if something is good, then we should say so!), but if all you're doing is "Rah! Rah!", then this isn't the place for it.
Nobody grows as a writer with nothing but "Rah! Rah!" in their comment boxes.
7. A READERSHIP OF "INCREASINGLY AGENTED AUTHORS"
I wanted to address this particular comment because it doesn't take into account that we are constantly picking up new community members here. It's true that many of our long-time readers have gone on to become agented, but the assumption that nobody is stepping up to take their places among the searching-for-an-agent ranks is erroneous.
8. "FEEL-GOOD" SUCCESS STORIES AND NO PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Um. Of our more-than-50 success stories, 24 are published (so far). Really, this is no secret; they are listed alphabetically under "PUBLISHED AUTHORS" on the "SUCCESS STORY" tab at the top of the blog.
Also? There is nothing "feel-good" (in the bitter sense) about posting a success story that shares how an author nabbed his agent. If you are not encouraged by these stories, don't read them. If you are so jaded that you cannot appreciate another person's success, then I am sorry for your sake.
I know what it feels like to sometimes burst into tears when I read someone else's good news. Sometimes, somewhere along the journey, we all bottom out. It's okay.
But we've got to move past it. And if you can't seem to move past feeling negative about a colleague's rejoicing, then perhaps you need to seriously consider your own journey, and whether it's right for you.
9. NON-RESPONSIVE AGENTS
This one admittedly disturbs me. That an agent would agree to a contest, choose winners, and then never respond to the winners once they sent their requested submissions is, in my opinion, less than professional.
However. This is the norm in the world of agents, whether or not your request from an agent came from a contest or through regular querying channels. For a number of agents, no response equals no thank you.
I don't agree with this approach. If you've requested material, I think you should respond to that material, whether it's a "yes" or a "no". But my opinion on this matter doesn't change things. The truth is, SOME AGENTS WILL NEVER RESPOND. I hate it as much as you do, but you can't let it jade you. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
So if you've had this experience via a Secret Agent contest? I apologize. And I encourage you to let go of the bitterness, because it's not doing you any favors.
Recalcitrant agents are not a reflection of this blog any more than cheerleaders or trolls are. For your own sake, move past the disappointment.
(Also? If this happens to you, don't suffer in silence. Email me. If it's an agent I have a good relationship with, I might be able to find out what's gone amiss. Or, at the very least, I can talk you off the ledge.)
10. EXTENDED SUBMISSION WINDOW FOR LOTTERIES
I can't push the entire window later in the day, because folks across the Atlantic will fall asleep. But I can extend the window past its normal 5:00 pm Eastern closing time, for the sake of the still-sleeping Pacific Time-zoners and to the west beyond. This won't help when it's not a lottery, but most of the SA contests have been lotteries lately. So this is definitely an easy change.
11. ACCUSING CRITIQUERS OF LEAVING POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO GET TRAFFIC
Normally I ignore snarky remarks, but this one was such a huge dig at the folks who give their time to these critiques that I had to address it.
I'd like to publicly proclaim my gratitude for everyone who leaves critique on this blog. It is my firm belief that those of you who have been cheerleading are doing so out of a sincere desire to cheer on your crit partners, colleagues, and friends. If there's any hidden motive in the cheering, I've been oblivious. And, frankly, I'd rather stay that way. (At any rate, I've already said that I don't like the cheerleading. So if the cheerleaders wish to stick around, I trust that they will start leaving valid critiques instead of cheering.)
Also? There are times when critiquers say positive things that aren't cheerleading; they are simply pointing out strengths in an excerpt, which is valid. To accuse these folks of trying to pimp their own blogs via positive critiques is absurd.
These are the kinds of comments that need to be deleted before you hit "send". Seriously.
12. TO THE ANONYMOUS PUBLISHING PROFESSIONAL
- Thank you for deigning to leave your thoughts. Insight from industry professionals, particularly those with years of experience, is always appreciated.
- I absolutely agree that it is important to pay close attention to what the dissenters say. This is wise counsel.
- I disagree that most of the comments were "vacuous". I asked a simple question about the Secret Agent contests in order to ascertain its level of relevance, and most commenters answered that question. Letting me know the reasons why they didn't enter this month's round was actually quite helpful.
- As one of my readers recently pointed out to me, there is a huge difference between a** kissing and gratitude. Expressing enjoyment of the contest and/or a desire to see it continue is not a** kissing. I have certainly waded through my share of sycophantic comments and tweets over the years; I realize that's part of the territory and I usually roll my eyes a little bit. But Friday's comment thread? I read gratitude, plain and simple. My hope is that I will not become so jaded that I one day cannot tell the difference.
- You wrote: "You might find it leads to a very bright future if you really focused on being a serious writer's site." Actually, that's been my focus all along. Recently, I let my hair down a little bit to celebrate the blog's 5th birthday--definitely not the norm around here. But overall? My focus has always been on the craft of writing, and learning to give and to receive effective critique. I've also been a huge proponent of Take The Scary Out Of Querying, which is why I wrote my e-book. And, as the craze for writer contests has exploded around me, I have not jumped onto the bandwagon of All The Bells And Whistles. I have, in fact, stuck to my tried-and-true Secret Agent format, which is straightforward and easy to understand. My distaste for cheerleading speaks for itself, and my continued effort to encourage aspiring authors not to give up is, I hope, a hallmark of this blog. I do not for a moment claim that I've done a flawless job, and I am always open to suggestions (which is why I pose questions on the blog). But since its inception, MSFV has never been anything less than a serious writer's site. I would have no interest in its being anything else.
13. TURNED OFF BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE "GIVE BACK" TO THE BLOG
I'll admit that it's frustrating when contest entrants fail to give critique. But you know what? Life is like this. There are those who give and those who take, and there's nothing we can do about it. For the most part, there are a lot of people who give around here. If that weren't true, this blog would be nothing. Seriously nothing.
So while I can understand that "turned off" feeling, I do think it's a poor excuse for throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If you are giving and receiving and having an overall positive experience, why should it bother you if others are not as engaged? Why are you even keeping track?
So while I can understand that "turned off" feeling, I do think it's a poor excuse for throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If you are giving and receiving and having an overall positive experience, why should it bother you if others are not as engaged? Why are you even keeping track?
This doesn't only apply to MSFV, but to life. All we can really do is to be sure we are giving what we can, and graciously receiving what is given to us. Beyond that, it's out of our control. It would behoove all of us to focus on the positive here. If that's too much to ask? Then, yes, it's time to move on.
14. CHOOSE YOUR CONTESTS WISELY
When MSFV was a downy fledgling, there weren't many contests and critique opportunities for writers online. Now? They're everywhere. Literally everywhere! And there's a lot of hoopla and excitement and brouhaha and what-have-you, and it's easy to start "contest hopping." I mean, it's heady! It's an adrenaline rush! PEOPLE CHEER FOR YOU!
My advice? Choose carefully which contests you enter. Ask yourself if it's a good point in your manuscript journey and in your career plans to enter each contest you're considering. Contests may be a lot more exciting than plain old querying, but in the end, it's the plain old querying that leads most writers to their agents.
I landed my agent through a query letter, not a contest. So there you have it.
Of course there are success stories! Of course good things can happen through contests! And there are some really neat people running some of these contests. So on one level, it's all good!
But it's also easy to get swept up in it all. And I'm advising you not to let that happen. Carefully research the agents in these contests to see if they're right for you. If the agents' identities are hidden, then carefully analyze the contest itself, to see if it has the potential to actually help you. Don't participate because you somehow believe that contests are the new query. They are not.
Any contest that includes valid critique is, in my opinion, most valuable. The focus in our journey-toward-an-agent should not be, "Can I win a contest?", but rather, "Do I have a strong premise and strong writing?" and "What do I need to do to make this opening the best it can possibly be?"
So, by all means, get out there where the action is! But do so with prudence and wisdom. Remember that, in the end, fifty comments telling you how awesome you are is not going to get you a publishing contract. (It'll feel awesome for a little while, but that's about all it will do for you.)
15. AND, FINALLY, THANK YOU
For taking the time to answer my questions, for pointing out areas in which you felt I could improve the contests, for offering words of sincere support--thank you for all of it. If this blog isn't the best that it can be, then I'm selling you short, and I don't want to do that. 50+ success stories and countless writers who feel like they're moving forward is no small thing, and I want us to continue on this trajectory together.
Thank you for coming, thank you for staying. And thank you, as always, for sharing your journeys with me. In the end, we will, all of us, say, "I was never alone."
That, right there, says it all.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
It's Feedback Time!
You know I like to keep things rolling around here, and you also know that I like hearing your feedback. So today's your day to let it all hang out.
Frankly, Blogger has been frustrating the cheese out of me. It has a nifty little "schedule" feature that lets you decide what time you want your posts to appear; this is an integral part of our bot system, which assigns posting times at one-minute intervals for all our contests and critiques.
Except--it hasn't been working. It exploded for the first time during the Baker's Dozen, and hasn't stopped exploding since. In other words, the scheduled posts aren't posting, and I'm ending up having to post them by hand. Which isn't difficult or anything, but it is tedious and time-wasting.
(It was especially interesting during the January Secret Agent Contest, when only about a third of the entries posted--randomly.)
I say this to let you know that, while I am going to continue to do in-house critiques between the Secret Agents regardless, it has certainly put a dampener on things. If I seem reluctant to do anything that requires 40 or 50 entries to post, this is why.
(This is also why we're not doing another critique this week, before it's time to move into February's Secret Agent Contest. I just... Yeah.)
Anyway! What are your favorites? What were you hoping to see last year that we never quite got around to? What are the most helpful critique rounds? The least helpful?
Any newfangled ideas you'd like to throw out there?
And what about non-critique, non-contest posts? What do you like to hear about? More Authoress? Less Authoress? LOTS OF GRAMMAR RULES? (I'm kidding.) (Well, mostly kidding.)
(Twitch.)
Seriously, I want you to fill the comment box with your thoughts today. Consider this a public meeting! Miss Snark's First Victim is turning 5 in April, and I want to make sure the blog continues to be a source of information, encouragement, and critique opportunities for all of you.
Have at it!
Frankly, Blogger has been frustrating the cheese out of me. It has a nifty little "schedule" feature that lets you decide what time you want your posts to appear; this is an integral part of our bot system, which assigns posting times at one-minute intervals for all our contests and critiques.
Except--it hasn't been working. It exploded for the first time during the Baker's Dozen, and hasn't stopped exploding since. In other words, the scheduled posts aren't posting, and I'm ending up having to post them by hand. Which isn't difficult or anything, but it is tedious and time-wasting.
(It was especially interesting during the January Secret Agent Contest, when only about a third of the entries posted--randomly.)
I say this to let you know that, while I am going to continue to do in-house critiques between the Secret Agents regardless, it has certainly put a dampener on things. If I seem reluctant to do anything that requires 40 or 50 entries to post, this is why.
(This is also why we're not doing another critique this week, before it's time to move into February's Secret Agent Contest. I just... Yeah.)
Anyway! What are your favorites? What were you hoping to see last year that we never quite got around to? What are the most helpful critique rounds? The least helpful?
Any newfangled ideas you'd like to throw out there?
And what about non-critique, non-contest posts? What do you like to hear about? More Authoress? Less Authoress? LOTS OF GRAMMAR RULES? (I'm kidding.) (Well, mostly kidding.)
(Twitch.)
Seriously, I want you to fill the comment box with your thoughts today. Consider this a public meeting! Miss Snark's First Victim is turning 5 in April, and I want to make sure the blog continues to be a source of information, encouragement, and critique opportunities for all of you.
Have at it!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
87 Hearts
I'd have to say that the meat of this week's blog content has come from you.
First, you responded with grace, strength, and the wisdom of experience to my OUCH post. Here I am, being all protective and believing I'm doing some damage control, and you all rise to the top like sweet cream, muscles rippling.
I am so proud of you. I am so blessed to be part of a group like this.
Then, you responded to my birthday request with a glorious assortment of personal stories, each one detailing at least one way in which this blog community has affected you. Aside from the more obvious things like landing an agent and/or a book deal, you mentioned things like:
First, you responded with grace, strength, and the wisdom of experience to my OUCH post. Here I am, being all protective and believing I'm doing some damage control, and you all rise to the top like sweet cream, muscles rippling.
I am so proud of you. I am so blessed to be part of a group like this.
Then, you responded to my birthday request with a glorious assortment of personal stories, each one detailing at least one way in which this blog community has affected you. Aside from the more obvious things like landing an agent and/or a book deal, you mentioned things like:
- procedure
- perspective
- perseverance
(The 3 P's of MSFV?)
And, threaded thickly throughout the 87 comments: ENCOURAGEMENT. And oh, how important that is! We all need it desperately--daily, when things are rough. And it's hard to describe how humbling, and how profoundly gratifying, it is to know that, even on days when I feel like I have NOTHING to give, somebody is feeling encouraged by something I wrote.
Encouraged that their writing IS getting better, after all.
Encouraged that they are not alone on their journey.
Encouraged to know that others are succeeding, which makes success feel somehow less elusive.
Encouraged to WRITE FOR ONE MORE DAY.
Because sometimes it's a day to day struggle, right?
Thank you, Oh Eight-seven, for taking the time to comment your hearts. They are like food and drink to my spirit right now. (I can wax dramatic when I really put my mind to it, huh?) But seriously, I have felt so drained; so tired of the long, black wait. So tired of how slowly things move, how so much work and energy and lifeblood comes to a screeching halt while you are forced to Simply. Wait.
And sometimes it makes me want to run away to the ocean and never come back. And never write another word.
Know what stops me? You. Sure, I'm feisty as all get-out, and I'm NOT a giver-upper. But even non-giver-uppers scrape bottom sometimes, and I know I have to crawl back up again because your collective eyes are on me, and your collective journeys are part of mine.
And I LIKE it this way.
Thank you for being a lifeline for me. I've said it countless times, but this is truly a remarkable journey, and I'm convinced that each stage has a precise purpose (even if we can't see it at the time).
Last night, my husband looked into my eyes and said, "I believe in you." And that's the way you all make me feel, too. Like you believe in me. And this sense of believing-in-each-other is what keeps this blog alive and well for all of us.
Last night, my husband looked into my eyes and said, "I believe in you." And that's the way you all make me feel, too. Like you believe in me. And this sense of believing-in-each-other is what keeps this blog alive and well for all of us.
Rock on, everyone!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
I Need a Little Help, Please
So I've been working--slowly and intermittently--on my success story pages.
I'm almost finished with the PUBLISHED AUTHOR page, and am soon moving onto the SECRET AGENT CONTEST page.
Now, I'm actually fairly organized with all this. Fairly. As in, I've got success story emails sorted into folders and such.
But. My inbox volume is fairly ginormous. And the weeding-through process is overwhelming (hence my procrastination).
Here's where you come in. If yours is a success story either DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY related to your participation in a Secret Agent Contest, please send me a quick email with YOUR NAME and the word SUCCESS in the SUBJECT LINE. Even if you're pretty sure I already have your info.
In the body of the email, let me know if you WERE already announced on the blog, or if this is a NEW story. Or if you totally told me your story a year ago and are still waiting for me to post it.
Um. Yeah.
Anyway, this will really help me make sure I don't miss anyone. Which is, of course, never my intention.
It's just that I strive to be more organized than I actually am.
Emails go to facelesswords(at)gmail.com.
Many thanks!
I'm almost finished with the PUBLISHED AUTHOR page, and am soon moving onto the SECRET AGENT CONTEST page.
Now, I'm actually fairly organized with all this. Fairly. As in, I've got success story emails sorted into folders and such.
But. My inbox volume is fairly ginormous. And the weeding-through process is overwhelming (hence my procrastination).
Here's where you come in. If yours is a success story either DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY related to your participation in a Secret Agent Contest, please send me a quick email with YOUR NAME and the word SUCCESS in the SUBJECT LINE. Even if you're pretty sure I already have your info.
In the body of the email, let me know if you WERE already announced on the blog, or if this is a NEW story. Or if you totally told me your story a year ago and are still waiting for me to post it.
Um. Yeah.
Anyway, this will really help me make sure I don't miss anyone. Which is, of course, never my intention.
It's just that I strive to be more organized than I actually am.
Emails go to facelesswords(at)gmail.com.
Many thanks!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Dear Authoress
As perfect timing would have it, I received the following email yesterday, on Miss Snark's Victim's third birthday. The author has graciously given permission for me to post it here in its entirety. Because the letter is meant for all of you as much as it is meant for me.
Dear Authoress,
I'm a writer currently working on my first draft. (Well, okay, three first drafts but who's counting?) I have a very long way to go and for many, dull, reasons was starting to feel a bit down about the whole process Not that I ever want to stop writing, I just felt 'alone'. I follow a lot of writing blogs and, whilst they all have things to offer and teach, I don't feel qualified to comment on them. After all I'm not a 'real' writer yet (although I've changed that feeling now after reading your post on authors/writers!) So I just lurk quietly and concentrate on trying to get something finished.
Your blog has made me see things differently. People are at all stages - some (at least up to 2009 which is as far as I've got) are no further on than me, others have been published, but they are all equal. I love this and I love the sense of community you have managed to create. I'm reading through your archives and I want to rush through them so I can join in the conversations but I daren't as I'm learning so much on the way I don't want to miss something! I keep wanting to add to the comments then I remember how old the posts are. (Congratulatins on the ebook btw ;-))
It's almost like reading a story. When I get to April 2011 will Disorderly, and Lady Glamis and Merc (to name but a few) still be there or will there be new people who I feel as though I know despite never having exchanged a word? If Merc is still around I want to tell her that I've dragged my MC out of the bed she'd been sleeping in at the start of my WiP :-)
I'm not even sure if there's a point to this mail, I just wanted you to know that your blog has renewed my faith in myself. You've made me - and perhaps many others like me who have never commented - really believe that my words are worth something , even if nobody else ever reads them. For that I thank you and all the people who contribute to your blog.
I try to avoid cliches and cute sayings but I think this sums up how I feel; 'A stranger is a friend you haven't met'. I look forward to meeting you all - just as soon as I get through the archives!
If this sounds rambling or disjointed I apologise but I've been up all night reading :-) There is absolutely no need to feel you have to reply to me, I'm sure you're very busy. I just thought you should know that what you do helps people in ways you don't even know.
With very best wishes,
(Name Withheld)
Dear Authoress,
I'm a writer currently working on my first draft. (Well, okay, three first drafts but who's counting?) I have a very long way to go and for many, dull, reasons was starting to feel a bit down about the whole process Not that I ever want to stop writing, I just felt 'alone'. I follow a lot of writing blogs and, whilst they all have things to offer and teach, I don't feel qualified to comment on them. After all I'm not a 'real' writer yet (although I've changed that feeling now after reading your post on authors/writers!) So I just lurk quietly and concentrate on trying to get something finished.
Your blog has made me see things differently. People are at all stages - some (at least up to 2009 which is as far as I've got) are no further on than me, others have been published, but they are all equal. I love this and I love the sense of community you have managed to create. I'm reading through your archives and I want to rush through them so I can join in the conversations but I daren't as I'm learning so much on the way I don't want to miss something! I keep wanting to add to the comments then I remember how old the posts are. (Congratulatins on the ebook btw ;-))
It's almost like reading a story. When I get to April 2011 will Disorderly, and Lady Glamis and Merc (to name but a few) still be there or will there be new people who I feel as though I know despite never having exchanged a word? If Merc is still around I want to tell her that I've dragged my MC out of the bed she'd been sleeping in at the start of my WiP :-)
I'm not even sure if there's a point to this mail, I just wanted you to know that your blog has renewed my faith in myself. You've made me - and perhaps many others like me who have never commented - really believe that my words are worth something , even if nobody else ever reads them. For that I thank you and all the people who contribute to your blog.
I try to avoid cliches and cute sayings but I think this sums up how I feel; 'A stranger is a friend you haven't met'. I look forward to meeting you all - just as soon as I get through the archives!
If this sounds rambling or disjointed I apologise but I've been up all night reading :-) There is absolutely no need to feel you have to reply to me, I'm sure you're very busy. I just thought you should know that what you do helps people in ways you don't even know.
With very best wishes,
(Name Withheld)
Monday, January 24, 2011
And the button's back...
The donate button, that is. For all of you who have been, yanno, yankin' at the bit to click on it. (No, seriously. There aren't words adequate enough to express my appreciation for your support of this blog effort. And of me.)
So may I have your thoughts, please? I started removing the button during contests because an agent expressed concern that the button might be construed as having to "pay for agents to read," which is expressly against the tenets of the AAR. I disagree with this, since I'm not an agent and a donate button is not a "fee."
Not to mention the fact that a lot of you WANTED me to add the button. Or at least provide you with a way to send me chocolate and cashews.
But in the interest of avoiding confusion, I started removing it. And it's just one more Thing I have to remember to do during and after the contests.
What are your thoughts? Should I continue to remove it? Or is it okay to just leave it up there? I'll keep removing and replacing it if that's the best thing to do. But I thought I'd take your pulse on the matter, since you all are the ones who are donating. I'm just sitting here blushing. And trying to do the right thing.
Looking forward to your thoughts...
So may I have your thoughts, please? I started removing the button during contests because an agent expressed concern that the button might be construed as having to "pay for agents to read," which is expressly against the tenets of the AAR. I disagree with this, since I'm not an agent and a donate button is not a "fee."
Not to mention the fact that a lot of you WANTED me to add the button. Or at least provide you with a way to send me chocolate and cashews.
But in the interest of avoiding confusion, I started removing it. And it's just one more Thing I have to remember to do during and after the contests.
What are your thoughts? Should I continue to remove it? Or is it okay to just leave it up there? I'll keep removing and replacing it if that's the best thing to do. But I thought I'd take your pulse on the matter, since you all are the ones who are donating. I'm just sitting here blushing. And trying to do the right thing.
Looking forward to your thoughts...
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Submit Your Logline For Session One
Now that you know why I've been pushing the logline thing, let's jump right in and start getting some feedback on our loglines-in-progress.
Submissions are open RIGHT NOW for the first 25 log lines. Send to authoress.submissions(at)gmail.com, as always.
Format:
SCREEN NAME: (type it here)
TITLE: (type it here)
GENRE: (type it here)
(Type your logline here)
Word count is set at 100. SCREEN NAME, TITLE, and GENRE are NOT included in the word count, so if you get a rejection that claims you're over word count, it's because your word processor has added invisible junk to your document. Make sure you've typed it in PLAIN TEXT and sent it in a PLAIN TEXT email to avoid this problem.
Best way to avoid the trouble? Type your logline directly into a plain text email. No copy-pasting at all.
The loglines will begin posting at 1:00 pm Eastern. Readers, please leave your feedback! Namely, DOES THE LOGLINE MAKE ME WANT TO READ THE BOOK?
A few helpful tidbits:
From Blake Snyder's Save the Cat:
"A logline is the one- or two-sentence description of your [novel] that tells us what it is. It must contain a type of hero (that means a type of person plus an adjective that describes him), the antagonist (ditto), and the hero's primal goal. It must have irony, and it must bloom in our brains with potential."
From author Holly Bodger, the logline queen:
"When [MAIN CHARACTER] [INCITING INCIDENT], he [CONFLICT]. And if he doesn't [GOAL] he will [CONSEQUENCES]."
Please remember that there is no perfect formula for a logline. There are components that a strong logline needs, and this will flesh out in whatever way best portrays your story and its inherent conflict.
Okay, have at it! You may submit at any time. Submissions will close as soon as we've got 25 entries.
Submissions are open RIGHT NOW for the first 25 log lines. Send to authoress.submissions(at)gmail.com, as always.
Format:
SCREEN NAME: (type it here)
TITLE: (type it here)
GENRE: (type it here)
(Type your logline here)
Word count is set at 100. SCREEN NAME, TITLE, and GENRE are NOT included in the word count, so if you get a rejection that claims you're over word count, it's because your word processor has added invisible junk to your document. Make sure you've typed it in PLAIN TEXT and sent it in a PLAIN TEXT email to avoid this problem.
Best way to avoid the trouble? Type your logline directly into a plain text email. No copy-pasting at all.
The loglines will begin posting at 1:00 pm Eastern. Readers, please leave your feedback! Namely, DOES THE LOGLINE MAKE ME WANT TO READ THE BOOK?
A few helpful tidbits:
From Blake Snyder's Save the Cat:
"A logline is the one- or two-sentence description of your [novel] that tells us what it is. It must contain a type of hero (that means a type of person plus an adjective that describes him), the antagonist (ditto), and the hero's primal goal. It must have irony, and it must bloom in our brains with potential."
From author Holly Bodger, the logline queen:
"When [MAIN CHARACTER] [INCITING INCIDENT], he [CONFLICT]. And if he doesn't [GOAL] he will [CONSEQUENCES]."
Please remember that there is no perfect formula for a logline. There are components that a strong logline needs, and this will flesh out in whatever way best portrays your story and its inherent conflict.
Okay, have at it! You may submit at any time. Submissions will close as soon as we've got 25 entries.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
On The Do-Nothing Hero and Why He Kills Your Story
Blake Snyder, in Save the Cat, states it concisely:
A common mistake in a lot of rough drafts is the problem of the inactive hero.
Not that I wasn't already aware that the main character in my YA Dystopian needed to grow some...man parts. I had that revelation a few weeks ago. But for some reason, when I read the above sentence, it really hit home. REALLY.
It's one of those things you don't necessarily "hear" in the feedback you're getting. Or if it's pointed out directly, it may not resonate. "What do you mean, my hero is inactive?! Did you see what he had to go through? All that angst and pain and fear and struggle?"
Well, yeah. But in the course of the story, did your hero propel things by his actions and decisions? Or was he sorta...dragged along?
It's ironic, really. My belief that I couldn't write a novel (being a self-proclaimed anecdotal essayist) was shattered as I read The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge and thought, "This is bad. I think I could write a better story." My reason? The heroine is propelled through the entire story by external circumstances! Everything is convenient, pat, and painfully predictable.
It's accurate to say, I think, that the heroine really doesn't do anything except REACT. A truly disappointing read.
So what have I gone and done? I've written a novel with an inactive hero! Over the past eight months, I've received all sorts of feedback on the story, touching on everything from worldbuilding to character development to voice and back again. But woven throughout those comments was a thread of "Eric needs to be active" that I totally missed.
Until now.
Here comes the bare-nekkid part--actual agent comments on my manuscript. Some of these are from revision requests and some are from rejections on fulls. One was even from an extreme-near-miss, I-almost-offered rejection. And ALL of them point to an inherent activity problem with my hero:
I found myself less engaged by the character.
It was difficult to concretely understand what the characters were fighting for.
I couldn't get Eric to resonate as a stand out for me. Part if this may have to do with his lack of evolution as a character.
I worry that you get to be almost half way through before you get a sense of where the book is going.
Eric never really has it out with Vann--you're kinda hoping at some point that they'd have a real conversation.
And my all-time favorite, which pretty much says it all:
Eric is inert the first half the book.
(Ouch.)
Well, she was right. One day, I'll tell her she was right. And thank her.
So now I've begun what can only be described as an exhilarating revision journey. Truly. Eric is going to DO things. Right from page one. As in, the story has opened and he's got a knife in his hand.
And it ain't a butter knife.
What about you? Is your hero the true leader he needs to be? And how can you be sure?
Blake Snyder offers a four-item check-list:
1. Is your hero's goal clearly stated in the set-up?
2. Do clues of what to do next just come to your hero or does he seek them out?
3. Is your hero active or passive?
4. Do other characters tell your hero what to do or does he tell them?
(And yes. I really do recommend you read the whole book. It's that good.)
No one wants to read a story with a main character who leaves us with a "what's the point of all this?" feeling. Action, fueled by clear motivation, will drive our main characters--and our readers!--compellingly through the story. We'll want to cheer for him. Because he'll deserve it.
Here's to your next, awesome, unstoppable hero!
A common mistake in a lot of rough drafts is the problem of the inactive hero.
Not that I wasn't already aware that the main character in my YA Dystopian needed to grow some...man parts. I had that revelation a few weeks ago. But for some reason, when I read the above sentence, it really hit home. REALLY.
It's one of those things you don't necessarily "hear" in the feedback you're getting. Or if it's pointed out directly, it may not resonate. "What do you mean, my hero is inactive?! Did you see what he had to go through? All that angst and pain and fear and struggle?"
Well, yeah. But in the course of the story, did your hero propel things by his actions and decisions? Or was he sorta...dragged along?
It's ironic, really. My belief that I couldn't write a novel (being a self-proclaimed anecdotal essayist) was shattered as I read The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge and thought, "This is bad. I think I could write a better story." My reason? The heroine is propelled through the entire story by external circumstances! Everything is convenient, pat, and painfully predictable.
It's accurate to say, I think, that the heroine really doesn't do anything except REACT. A truly disappointing read.
So what have I gone and done? I've written a novel with an inactive hero! Over the past eight months, I've received all sorts of feedback on the story, touching on everything from worldbuilding to character development to voice and back again. But woven throughout those comments was a thread of "Eric needs to be active" that I totally missed.
Until now.
Here comes the bare-nekkid part--actual agent comments on my manuscript. Some of these are from revision requests and some are from rejections on fulls. One was even from an extreme-near-miss, I-almost-offered rejection. And ALL of them point to an inherent activity problem with my hero:
I found myself less engaged by the character.
It was difficult to concretely understand what the characters were fighting for.
I couldn't get Eric to resonate as a stand out for me. Part if this may have to do with his lack of evolution as a character.
I worry that you get to be almost half way through before you get a sense of where the book is going.
Eric never really has it out with Vann--you're kinda hoping at some point that they'd have a real conversation.
And my all-time favorite, which pretty much says it all:
Eric is inert the first half the book.
(Ouch.)
Well, she was right. One day, I'll tell her she was right. And thank her.
So now I've begun what can only be described as an exhilarating revision journey. Truly. Eric is going to DO things. Right from page one. As in, the story has opened and he's got a knife in his hand.
And it ain't a butter knife.
What about you? Is your hero the true leader he needs to be? And how can you be sure?
Blake Snyder offers a four-item check-list:
1. Is your hero's goal clearly stated in the set-up?
2. Do clues of what to do next just come to your hero or does he seek them out?
3. Is your hero active or passive?
4. Do other characters tell your hero what to do or does he tell them?
(And yes. I really do recommend you read the whole book. It's that good.)
No one wants to read a story with a main character who leaves us with a "what's the point of all this?" feeling. Action, fueled by clear motivation, will drive our main characters--and our readers!--compellingly through the story. We'll want to cheer for him. Because he'll deserve it.
Here's to your next, awesome, unstoppable hero!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
And Now...Getting REALLY Naked
So yesterday was all about encouragement. As in, never allow negative critiques to squash your dreams. Press on. Ne'er say die. That sort of thing.
Today, I offer a different sort of encouragement. The kind that comes from...baring myself.
Here it is: Post #176 is mine.
*grand pause while you peek*
Did you notice all the "not hookeds" under my excerpt?
And yeah, I wrinkle my nose whenever I read one. But then I get over it.
Sure, I can justify. Can't we all? It's a first draft. It's a "book two", so both characters are already well known by the audience.
And yes, of COURSE there are buckets of water along the perimeter of the bonfire. The dorm matron would never allow a bonfire without taking precautions!
But, yanno, that's exactly the sort of thing WE SHOULD NEVER DO in response to critique.
Never justify.
Never explain.
Never whine.
Now, if a critter asks SPECIFICALLY for you to clarify something, then by all means, knock yourself out. Otherwise, be quiet.
Be very, very quiet.
I know a loud voice in your head is SCREAMING to express what your critters have obviously missed. I am gently advising you to silence that voice. Read the critiques, learn to smile at misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Because you know what? The same thing is going to happen with agents when they request your partial or full. Trust me. I know.
I recently received a rejection on a requested partial. A SUPER nice rejection, by the way--personal, kind, filled with all sorts of feedback. (Disclaimer: This is not the norm!) But in the end? I scratched my head at some of the things this agent said about my work. It was so...off. The reality was that she simply didn't "get" my novel. It didn't resonate. No sparks. And that's okay.
How do I know it was a "this isn't resonating" versus a "your writing sucks"? Because of my collective other experiences with this work. It's important to weigh things not only against our own judgment, but against any patterns we see forming in responses from others. For example: are 90% of the agents saying they don't like your protagonist's voice? You've got a problem! Has only ONE agent out of ten said she doesn't like your protagonist's voice? Most likely not a problem for you; only for the agent. That's when you know to let it go, walk away smiling.
So, am I going to ignore all the comments on my excerpt that say, "Nope, not hooked"? No. I will weigh everything. But since this is from a first draft, I'm going to weigh everything with an extra large grain of salt. Because...well, it's a first draft, right? 'Nuff said.
And yes, I threw mine in as a last minute thing. After all those posts? One more didn't seem like it would kill me. I don't get to "play" much around here, after all.
So there you have it. Authoress dealing with not hooking some of her beloved readers. I'm so over it. And I still love you.
Today, I offer a different sort of encouragement. The kind that comes from...baring myself.
Here it is: Post #176 is mine.
*grand pause while you peek*
Did you notice all the "not hookeds" under my excerpt?
And yeah, I wrinkle my nose whenever I read one. But then I get over it.
Sure, I can justify. Can't we all? It's a first draft. It's a "book two", so both characters are already well known by the audience.
And yes, of COURSE there are buckets of water along the perimeter of the bonfire. The dorm matron would never allow a bonfire without taking precautions!
But, yanno, that's exactly the sort of thing WE SHOULD NEVER DO in response to critique.
Never justify.
Never explain.
Never whine.
Now, if a critter asks SPECIFICALLY for you to clarify something, then by all means, knock yourself out. Otherwise, be quiet.
Be very, very quiet.
I know a loud voice in your head is SCREAMING to express what your critters have obviously missed. I am gently advising you to silence that voice. Read the critiques, learn to smile at misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Because you know what? The same thing is going to happen with agents when they request your partial or full. Trust me. I know.
I recently received a rejection on a requested partial. A SUPER nice rejection, by the way--personal, kind, filled with all sorts of feedback. (Disclaimer: This is not the norm!) But in the end? I scratched my head at some of the things this agent said about my work. It was so...off. The reality was that she simply didn't "get" my novel. It didn't resonate. No sparks. And that's okay.
How do I know it was a "this isn't resonating" versus a "your writing sucks"? Because of my collective other experiences with this work. It's important to weigh things not only against our own judgment, but against any patterns we see forming in responses from others. For example: are 90% of the agents saying they don't like your protagonist's voice? You've got a problem! Has only ONE agent out of ten said she doesn't like your protagonist's voice? Most likely not a problem for you; only for the agent. That's when you know to let it go, walk away smiling.
So, am I going to ignore all the comments on my excerpt that say, "Nope, not hooked"? No. I will weigh everything. But since this is from a first draft, I'm going to weigh everything with an extra large grain of salt. Because...well, it's a first draft, right? 'Nuff said.
And yes, I threw mine in as a last minute thing. After all those posts? One more didn't seem like it would kill me. I don't get to "play" much around here, after all.
So there you have it. Authoress dealing with not hooking some of her beloved readers. I'm so over it. And I still love you.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Turning "Bad" Into GOOD
Thank you for your valuable feedback on the 25-vs-50 words. I think we'll definitely do a 50-word critique next time, though the 25-word has garnered enough popularity to warrant a repeat at some point.
Hooray!
Also, having two separate submission windows was a great suggestion, too. 50 at a time. Yes!
The most encouraging thing I've read, over and over, is how so many of you have taken "meh" or "poo" critiques and used them to your benefit. In short, you LISTENED without offense and made your work stronger. Brilliant! Of course that's what this is all about. This is how we grow as writers. We may go into things like this knowing--well, sort of knowing--that we'll probably get some feedback that isn't all starbeams and sparkles. As in, "Nope. Not hooked." Or a variation thereof.
But oh! So many of you have prevailed. And that's awesome.
Sadly, I had to write the following email to a contestant who was so upset by negative feedback that he wanted me to remove his entry (I have not removed it, so don't waste your time trying to figure out which entry it was. *grin*):
I will certainly remove the content of [your post] after the contest is over if you would like. But please allow me to point out that nobody is "ridiculing" your work. I have read the comments, and nothing has been written in a mean spirit. If it were, I would have deleted it immediately.
When we put our work out there, we have to be willing to hear both positive and negative. If the negative seems to outweigh the positive, it's the perfect opportunity for us to examine our work thoroughly--which is, of course, the point of this entire exercise.
If we pull our work out of view and run away, how will we learn? How will we grow as writers? It takes courage to put our stuff out there for others to read (which you have done). It takes more courage to KEEP it out there, sorting through the critiques, applying those that resonate, ignoring those that don't.
Reader reactions to your opening lines are not a reflection of you as a writer, or as a person. If someone says he is not "hooked" by your opening, he is not "ridiculing" you. He is sharing his response. Isn't that what we want--honest responses? Because then we can dig in and find out what we need to do to make our work better.
Again, I want to stress to you that, while the reactions may have felt harsh, there was nothing inappropriate. It may simply be that you have chosen to start your story at the wrong place, which is actually a common problem. We might have a terrific story, but if we "drop" the reader into it at the wrong place, he won't want to keep going. The fix could be as simple as that.
You're going to have to grow a very tough skin in order to move forward. The critiques on this blog are a safe environment for that. Resist the urge to run away, to hide your work when it's not getting the response you desired. Instead, examine the response as objectively as you can, and see how you can apply whatever you've learned to your work.
I am sorry you've had such a negative experience. I would encourage you to turn that around by taking something away from this experience that will lend strength to your writing and propel you forward.
(And by the way, have you ever read the story on my blog about WHY I named the blog Miss Snark's First Victim? You'll find the link near the top of the left side bar. Basically, she ripped my writing apart on her blog. And it ultimately changed my life as a writer. Because...I didn't run away.)
I truly wish you the best!
Indeed, I don't think this writer's struggle is uncommon. That's why I've posted my response. Something tells me there are others of you sitting quietly, feeling like you've been "slammed" by negative feedback. This letter is for all of you.
Don't. Give. Up.
Hooray!
Also, having two separate submission windows was a great suggestion, too. 50 at a time. Yes!
The most encouraging thing I've read, over and over, is how so many of you have taken "meh" or "poo" critiques and used them to your benefit. In short, you LISTENED without offense and made your work stronger. Brilliant! Of course that's what this is all about. This is how we grow as writers. We may go into things like this knowing--well, sort of knowing--that we'll probably get some feedback that isn't all starbeams and sparkles. As in, "Nope. Not hooked." Or a variation thereof.
But oh! So many of you have prevailed. And that's awesome.
Sadly, I had to write the following email to a contestant who was so upset by negative feedback that he wanted me to remove his entry (I have not removed it, so don't waste your time trying to figure out which entry it was. *grin*):
I will certainly remove the content of [your post] after the contest is over if you would like. But please allow me to point out that nobody is "ridiculing" your work. I have read the comments, and nothing has been written in a mean spirit. If it were, I would have deleted it immediately.
When we put our work out there, we have to be willing to hear both positive and negative. If the negative seems to outweigh the positive, it's the perfect opportunity for us to examine our work thoroughly--which is, of course, the point of this entire exercise.
If we pull our work out of view and run away, how will we learn? How will we grow as writers? It takes courage to put our stuff out there for others to read (which you have done). It takes more courage to KEEP it out there, sorting through the critiques, applying those that resonate, ignoring those that don't.
Reader reactions to your opening lines are not a reflection of you as a writer, or as a person. If someone says he is not "hooked" by your opening, he is not "ridiculing" you. He is sharing his response. Isn't that what we want--honest responses? Because then we can dig in and find out what we need to do to make our work better.
Again, I want to stress to you that, while the reactions may have felt harsh, there was nothing inappropriate. It may simply be that you have chosen to start your story at the wrong place, which is actually a common problem. We might have a terrific story, but if we "drop" the reader into it at the wrong place, he won't want to keep going. The fix could be as simple as that.
You're going to have to grow a very tough skin in order to move forward. The critiques on this blog are a safe environment for that. Resist the urge to run away, to hide your work when it's not getting the response you desired. Instead, examine the response as objectively as you can, and see how you can apply whatever you've learned to your work.
I am sorry you've had such a negative experience. I would encourage you to turn that around by taking something away from this experience that will lend strength to your writing and propel you forward.
(And by the way, have you ever read the story on my blog about WHY I named the blog Miss Snark's First Victim? You'll find the link near the top of the left side bar. Basically, she ripped my writing apart on her blog. And it ultimately changed my life as a writer. Because...I didn't run away.)
I truly wish you the best!
Indeed, I don't think this writer's struggle is uncommon. That's why I've posted my response. Something tells me there are others of you sitting quietly, feeling like you've been "slammed" by negative feedback. This letter is for all of you.
Don't. Give. Up.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Craving Your Feedback!!
I'm on a time crunch with my word count today, so I'll throw this out quickly.
Several of you mentioned in Friday's comment box that 50 words might be better than 25. I find myself tantalized, but I want to be sure I take the pulse of the masses.
When we do this again (notice I said "when" and not "if"!), would you prefer we do the first 50?
Mind you, it's not going to be super soon. We've got a Secret Agent contest coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm hoping my awesome automators will finish their work before I do another marathon like last week's. It's never too early to collect data, though, so please let me know.
Would 50 be better than 25?
Also, I think I'll have to limit the number of entries next time. I really (really really!) wanted everyone who entered to have a chance this time. I can't tell you how much I HATE sending those "I'm sorry, we've reached our limit" emails. (Which is another beauty of the upcoming automated system. I won't have to send them; it'll all happen automatically!)
So, first 50 words, first 100 entrants? How does that sound?
TALK! I'm uber-listening. :)
Several of you mentioned in Friday's comment box that 50 words might be better than 25. I find myself tantalized, but I want to be sure I take the pulse of the masses.
When we do this again (notice I said "when" and not "if"!), would you prefer we do the first 50?
Mind you, it's not going to be super soon. We've got a Secret Agent contest coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm hoping my awesome automators will finish their work before I do another marathon like last week's. It's never too early to collect data, though, so please let me know.
Would 50 be better than 25?
Also, I think I'll have to limit the number of entries next time. I really (really really!) wanted everyone who entered to have a chance this time. I can't tell you how much I HATE sending those "I'm sorry, we've reached our limit" emails. (Which is another beauty of the upcoming automated system. I won't have to send them; it'll all happen automatically!)
So, first 50 words, first 100 entrants? How does that sound?
TALK! I'm uber-listening. :)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Bits and Bobs
I'm chomping on cajun-seasoned nachos and enjoying the freedom of a secret-agentless blog.
I know you understand. Love the contests, love a break from the contests.
At any rate, I wanted to let you know that:
"Happies" include, but are not limited to:
I know you understand. Love the contests, love a break from the contests.
At any rate, I wanted to let you know that:
- we're going to have a couple of 1000-word critiques tomorrow, and
- I'll be announcing a Very Fun Christmas Contest with Cool Prize next week!
"Happies" include, but are not limited to:
- Positive results on your query letter (particularly after reading AGENT: DEMYSTIFIED)
- Request for material from agent after feedback on the blog
- Representation from an agent after feedback on the blog
- Representation from a SECRET AGENT after winning a contest
- Book deal after feedback on the blog
- Book deal, period!
- Any quantifiable improvement in your writing, boost in your morale, infusion of encouragement you've received as a fellow aspiring author. It's ALL GOOD!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Some Clarification, With Love
Rest assured that, once my brandnewshiny blog is up and running next year, all the information you need will be at your cute lil' fingertips. In the meantime, I'm going to answer a couple of questions that were posed to me via email, since the answers are something you'll all benefit by hearing.
1. Concerning the 1000-Word critiques: I don't understand why people should redact and then resubmit, if entering the secret agent contests. Could you explain.
Yep. It isn't about agents or "getting discovered" or Authoress deciding to make life difficult. It's about time and effort sacrificed by the critters. And it's also about getting feedback on the same writing, twice. Close together.
When you enter your work into ANYTHING on this blog--contest or non-contest--you are receiving (hopefully valuable) feedback. If you enter a Secret Agent contest, get feedback, and then very next week the SAME WORK is posted in the 1000-word critique (albeit a slightly longer version), several things may happen:
Well, it might be. Or it might not. The policy stands. In all things (and I really mean this) I strive for fairness. We ALL want our work read. We ALL crave helpful feedback. And with the limited slots available, we need to be gracious and patient and all that warm fuzzy stuff, for the sake of allowing as many folks as possible the opportunity for public critique.
2. You had a query contest, which basically focused on the query, the 250 were tacked on I believe for the agent's pleasure if she wanted to read more. Many of us aren't used to or need critique help with their queries and therefore entered hoping to learn from the process (I did). Basically, I don't see the logical correlation to the secret agent contests.
When did I promise to be logical? *grin*
Honestly, I've had lots of questions, via email and comment box, concerning the rules of re-submitting (for those of you who were in the query contest). My decisions have been based, once again, on fairness, and also on the genres represented by specific Secret Agents. The reason I restricted entry during the Ginger Clark round is because she represents fantasy and science fiction, which SCADS of you are writing. Uber-scads, even. And I wanted to make it a tiny bit easier for some new SF/F blood to get in the game.
This time around, we're dealing with a non-SF/F agent. Therefore, if you were in the query contest with Jodi Meadows and you would like to submit your work to next week's Secret Agent contest, you may do so.
In future, there will be no delineation between a Secret Agent contest and a Query contest (if I ever host another one). It's important for folks to step back so that others can step forward. Like a dance. Or a fencing match.
My closing remarks (and please don't take them amiss): The rules are the rules. They're given lots of thought, I promise. It's all about equity. And I don't mind clarifying things or reading suggestions from time to time. But in the end? The rules are the rules. I need you to honor them, abide by them. It will make everybody's ride that much smoother.
And if it makes you feel better? I have to follow them, too. Not that I could submit my work in a fair manner at this point! No, I've been sitting back WRITHING in my seat, dying to enter. Imagine the pain of missing out on comments from Ginger Clark (fantasy! sci/fi!) and KNOWING my loss. Imagine sitting on my hands while Lauren MacLeod (I LOVE this agent!) left her wonderful critiques.
I'm not whining. I'm just...saying. I strive for integrity. And I want all of you to have the best experience possible here.
That's it, really. That, and the fact that you're a stinkin' awesome group of writers. But I've told you that before.
1. Concerning the 1000-Word critiques: I don't understand why people should redact and then resubmit, if entering the secret agent contests. Could you explain.
Yep. It isn't about agents or "getting discovered" or Authoress deciding to make life difficult. It's about time and effort sacrificed by the critters. And it's also about getting feedback on the same writing, twice. Close together.
When you enter your work into ANYTHING on this blog--contest or non-contest--you are receiving (hopefully valuable) feedback. If you enter a Secret Agent contest, get feedback, and then very next week the SAME WORK is posted in the 1000-word critique (albeit a slightly longer version), several things may happen:
- The same critters will leave the same feedback, which is useless to you as a writer.
- The critters will recognize the work and feel annoyed, and not leave any feedback, which is equally useless.
- The feedback you received during the Secret Agent contest will lead you to changes that will take longer to accomplish than the few days that will pass before your "number" comes up in the 1000-word critique.
- You are allowing another aspiring author who has NOT had recent feedback to receive some.
- You are allowing YOURSELF time to make edits in your work, so that the feedback you eventually receive in the 1000-word critique is more relevant.
Well, it might be. Or it might not. The policy stands. In all things (and I really mean this) I strive for fairness. We ALL want our work read. We ALL crave helpful feedback. And with the limited slots available, we need to be gracious and patient and all that warm fuzzy stuff, for the sake of allowing as many folks as possible the opportunity for public critique.
2. You had a query contest, which basically focused on the query, the 250 were tacked on I believe for the agent's pleasure if she wanted to read more. Many of us aren't used to or need critique help with their queries and therefore entered hoping to learn from the process (I did). Basically, I don't see the logical correlation to the secret agent contests.
When did I promise to be logical? *grin*
Honestly, I've had lots of questions, via email and comment box, concerning the rules of re-submitting (for those of you who were in the query contest). My decisions have been based, once again, on fairness, and also on the genres represented by specific Secret Agents. The reason I restricted entry during the Ginger Clark round is because she represents fantasy and science fiction, which SCADS of you are writing. Uber-scads, even. And I wanted to make it a tiny bit easier for some new SF/F blood to get in the game.
This time around, we're dealing with a non-SF/F agent. Therefore, if you were in the query contest with Jodi Meadows and you would like to submit your work to next week's Secret Agent contest, you may do so.
In future, there will be no delineation between a Secret Agent contest and a Query contest (if I ever host another one). It's important for folks to step back so that others can step forward. Like a dance. Or a fencing match.
My closing remarks (and please don't take them amiss): The rules are the rules. They're given lots of thought, I promise. It's all about equity. And I don't mind clarifying things or reading suggestions from time to time. But in the end? The rules are the rules. I need you to honor them, abide by them. It will make everybody's ride that much smoother.
And if it makes you feel better? I have to follow them, too. Not that I could submit my work in a fair manner at this point! No, I've been sitting back WRITHING in my seat, dying to enter. Imagine the pain of missing out on comments from Ginger Clark (fantasy! sci/fi!) and KNOWING my loss. Imagine sitting on my hands while Lauren MacLeod (I LOVE this agent!) left her wonderful critiques.
I'm not whining. I'm just...saying. I strive for integrity. And I want all of you to have the best experience possible here.
That's it, really. That, and the fact that you're a stinkin' awesome group of writers. But I've told you that before.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tell Me What You Want
I really want to hear it.
As I ramp down for vacation and look forward to a complete blog break for the rest of the month, I find myself thinking (too hard, probably) about the direction of this blog.
Yep, we've got several more Secret Agent contests lined up.
Yep, we're working on automating the submissions process.
Yep, we've got a decent queue of entries for our 1000-word crits.
But. The amazing shift between Huge Readership (during Secret Agent contests) and Big-But-Not-Remotely-Huge Readership (in between Secret Agent contests) is becoming more disconcerting.
As in, I know this blog has more to offer than the contests. Granted, it's probably THE most exciting thing around here. Heck, it affords me the most fun, too! Working with these agents behind the scenes reaffirms all the good stuff you've heard and read about them. I haven't had a single nasty experience and I don't expect to.
Seriously!
But this is your blog, because you're the ones who read it, learn from it, invest time in helping others through it. So tell me what you'd like to see in between the contests and crits.
Or...perhaps you don't need anything at all. And that's okay, too.
Just let me know what's on your mind. I've put a lot into this blog and I'm willing to put more. But I need to make sure your collective cookies will be flipped. So bring on the feedback! I'm going to sit back and really, really read it. And mull it over. And eat some chocolate. And mull it over some more.
You're an amazing community and I want to provide you with the best.
As I ramp down for vacation and look forward to a complete blog break for the rest of the month, I find myself thinking (too hard, probably) about the direction of this blog.
Yep, we've got several more Secret Agent contests lined up.
Yep, we're working on automating the submissions process.
Yep, we've got a decent queue of entries for our 1000-word crits.
But. The amazing shift between Huge Readership (during Secret Agent contests) and Big-But-Not-Remotely-Huge Readership (in between Secret Agent contests) is becoming more disconcerting.
As in, I know this blog has more to offer than the contests. Granted, it's probably THE most exciting thing around here. Heck, it affords me the most fun, too! Working with these agents behind the scenes reaffirms all the good stuff you've heard and read about them. I haven't had a single nasty experience and I don't expect to.
Seriously!
But this is your blog, because you're the ones who read it, learn from it, invest time in helping others through it. So tell me what you'd like to see in between the contests and crits.
Or...perhaps you don't need anything at all. And that's okay, too.
Just let me know what's on your mind. I've put a lot into this blog and I'm willing to put more. But I need to make sure your collective cookies will be flipped. So bring on the feedback! I'm going to sit back and really, really read it. And mull it over. And eat some chocolate. And mull it over some more.
You're an amazing community and I want to provide you with the best.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Two Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Finalists in the House!
I'm proud to announce that two of our beloved "regulars" here at MSFV have had their novels chosen as finalists in the Amazon Breatkthrough Novel Awards.
All "final quarter" novel excerpts are now available on Amazon.com to read and review. So I'm sending you over to read and, if you've been HOOKED, leave those shiny gold stars for these aspiring authors:
The Edge of Memory by H. L. Dyer (under General Fiction)
Control Issues by Elana J. (under SciFi)
Congratulations, Heather and Elana! (Weeeeeeeeee!)
All "final quarter" novel excerpts are now available on Amazon.com to read and review. So I'm sending you over to read and, if you've been HOOKED, leave those shiny gold stars for these aspiring authors:
The Edge of Memory by H. L. Dyer (under General Fiction)
Control Issues by Elana J. (under SciFi)
Congratulations, Heather and Elana! (Weeeeeeeeee!)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Two Very Happy Things
Good morning one and all!
'Tis a Monday of happy announcements, so here they come:
1. Our next Secret Agent contest launches on Monday, March 16 (that's one week from today). I will post the genres and submission guidelines tomorrow, so keep a lookout.
2. I've mulled over the suggestions concerning some sort of in-house critique session dealing with longer excerpts. Wonder of wonders, I think I've come up with something that just may work! Please understand that this is an "experiment" of sorts, so we'll be tweaking as we go. At any rate, read this over and tell me what you think:
And please -- don't send anything right now! I'm asking for feedback today, not submissions. Once the kinks are worked out and the questions answered, I will post specific submission instructions for this critique.
The comment box is now open -- have at it!
'Tis a Monday of happy announcements, so here they come:
1. Our next Secret Agent contest launches on Monday, March 16 (that's one week from today). I will post the genres and submission guidelines tomorrow, so keep a lookout.
2. I've mulled over the suggestions concerning some sort of in-house critique session dealing with longer excerpts. Wonder of wonders, I think I've come up with something that just may work! Please understand that this is an "experiment" of sorts, so we'll be tweaking as we go. At any rate, read this over and tell me what you think:
- I will accept submissions of the first 1000 words of your novel.
- These submissions will be accepted on a regular basis; that is, you can email your submission whenever you'd like, and I will save it in an ongoing queue.
- Once you send in your submission, you will be assigned a post number. That's "your" number, and it'll show up in its own due time.
- The 1000-word excerpts will be posted in batches of ten. I'll give you a one-day heads up to let you know it's coming. The next ten, consecutive excerpts sitting in my "1000-word" email file will be posted for public critique.
- Once you have received a public critique, you may then submit a new excerpt, which will be added at the back of the queue. You may not, however, have two separate excerpts in the queue at the same time.
- This will be an ongoing, in-house critique that will occur several times a month. Unlike our other critiques, there will not be a call for submissions with a time and number limit. Submissions will always be open, and I will always have a queue from which to take the next ten excerpts.
And please -- don't send anything right now! I'm asking for feedback today, not submissions. Once the kinks are worked out and the questions answered, I will post specific submission instructions for this critique.
The comment box is now open -- have at it!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Authors Revealed -- Let's Talk!
The results of this small critique experiment have exceeded my expectations. Really, I don't know why things around here keep exceeding my expectations. I need an expectation adjustment.
At any rate, here's what you've been reading and critiquing since yesterday morning:
Critique #1: from from Airman by Eoin Colfer
Hyperion, 2008
Highlights from the comment box:
To be sure, the novel has a Prologue that tells us more of Conor's unusual start in life (he was born in a hot air balloon -- in the air). Reading the prologue may or may not have had an impact on whether or not the above paragraphs drew you in.
Critique #2: from Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye
Aladdin, 2005
Highlights from the comment box:
Critique #3: from Current Work In Progress by Authoress
Miss Snark's First Victim, 2009
Highlights from the comment box:
It was terrifying. Believe me, I had no delusions of grandeur. I knew I was setting myself up for some potentially crushing blows.
But it was worth the terror. And much to my delight, many of you were hooked and want to read more! (I'm sorry, there isn't any more. I mean, not much. I'm still in the middle of the first chapter.)
So my rough, barely begun WIP grabbed as much -- or more -- attention than two already-on-the-shelves books.
It's not because my excerpt is stellar. It isn't. It's a first pass with a minor tweak or two before I posted it yesterday morning. I didn't knock you all over with my Amazing Writing Abilities. (Well, maybe I knocked over Joe Novella. I'm nominating him for the president of my fan club, I swear.)
In fact, some of you were quick to point out the weaknesses in my writing. I can't argue with you. I mean, it's a first draft. First, with a capital "F". Yes, there's some awkward writing. Yes, there's a cliche or two. The refining process hasn't even begun.
Despite all that, some of you were drawn into the story.
What's my point?
My point is this: The utter subjectivity of Readers At Large is alive and well. As we struggle to perfect our craft, to tighten our prose, to create the Perfect Hook to grab an agent's attention, we must continually bear in mind the fact that there is no such thing as the perfect formula.
I'll say it again.
There is no such thing as the perfect formula!
There is something about effective writing that goes beyond the well-known "HOOK ME!" that we almost always look for in the first page or two of a novel. Then, too, there is something to be said for already-published novels that don't do anything for us -- and may even cause us to wonder how in the world they ever did anything for an agent, let alone a publisher.
So what, then, should we be striving for as we spin our tales? How do we know where to find that "perfect" beginning for our novels? How do we achieve tension, voice, world-building...all within the first couple of pages?
Let's talk.
What are your thoughts, now that I've disclosed the authors? What have you learned? What insight can you share?
Methinks this comment box is going to give us a lot on which to chew.
At any rate, here's what you've been reading and critiquing since yesterday morning:
Critique #1: from from Airman by Eoin Colfer
Hyperion, 2008
Highlights from the comment box:
- I am not hooked at all.
- I like the last paragraph, but the rest is just telling.
- I'm not interested in the character yet.
- I read all three paragraphs, and I have no idea what’s going on here.
- With the right back-of-book blurb or query I could keep reading for a few more pages just to see where this is going.
- This is all telling.
- Not quite my genre of choice...but it is very well written for sure.
- I'm also not hooked and bored.
- Connor may be remarkable, but unfortunately, this writing isn't.
- Didn't like this much at all.
- All tell and no show, and by the third paragraph I'm bored.
- There is a simplicity in this writing that I like, that takes me to another time, another place. I would read on.
To be sure, the novel has a Prologue that tells us more of Conor's unusual start in life (he was born in a hot air balloon -- in the air). Reading the prologue may or may not have had an impact on whether or not the above paragraphs drew you in.
Critique #2: from Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye
Aladdin, 2005
Highlights from the comment box:
- I liked it.
- Get to the point already!
- I really really liked the first sentence, but I think everything after it is redundant.
- This didn’t hold my attention.
- This excerpt didn't have a classic hook, but I liked the writing and the voice!
- I'm not inclined to read further.
- Sorry, but I couldn't find a hook and probably wouldn't read any more.
- Nice imagery. Interesting start, but there's no protagonist and no hook.
- I wouldn't say it's very hook-y per se, but it doesn't turn me off, either.
- I like the literary feel of it! I would definitely read on.
- I would read on.
- I didn't mind the writing. I also like the first line - but I'm not hooked.
- This is the kind of writing I love, so I'm already hooked.
- No way. This is drowning in useless description and information.
- I love the voice, but I got a little bored after a while.
- Not a fan, sorry.
- The voice is fantastic, and would carry me on for a while longer.
Critique #3: from Current Work In Progress by Authoress
Miss Snark's First Victim, 2009
Highlights from the comment box:
- I'm interested in the content, but not in the style or voice.
- I would read on.
- It's close, but not quite.
- I want to read this. I love dystopian fiction.
- I wouldn't read further, because I haven't been given a reason to care about Eric...yet.
- I found this excerpt to be confusing.
- Yes. I love this. I was snagged right at the first line.
- I think the writing is good, but not special.
- I do like this, and I would definitely read on.
- The writer projects good imagery, but the voice wavers a bit here and there.
- I'm absolutely hooked. I love the premise, the narrative voice, and the internal narrative.
- In the end, not hooked, sorry.
- See, this I like. This grabs me.
- I really like this. The writer has created an atmosphere which requires enormous skill to do.
It was terrifying. Believe me, I had no delusions of grandeur. I knew I was setting myself up for some potentially crushing blows.
But it was worth the terror. And much to my delight, many of you were hooked and want to read more! (I'm sorry, there isn't any more. I mean, not much. I'm still in the middle of the first chapter.)
So my rough, barely begun WIP grabbed as much -- or more -- attention than two already-on-the-shelves books.
It's not because my excerpt is stellar. It isn't. It's a first pass with a minor tweak or two before I posted it yesterday morning. I didn't knock you all over with my Amazing Writing Abilities. (Well, maybe I knocked over Joe Novella. I'm nominating him for the president of my fan club, I swear.)
In fact, some of you were quick to point out the weaknesses in my writing. I can't argue with you. I mean, it's a first draft. First, with a capital "F". Yes, there's some awkward writing. Yes, there's a cliche or two. The refining process hasn't even begun.
Despite all that, some of you were drawn into the story.
What's my point?
My point is this: The utter subjectivity of Readers At Large is alive and well. As we struggle to perfect our craft, to tighten our prose, to create the Perfect Hook to grab an agent's attention, we must continually bear in mind the fact that there is no such thing as the perfect formula.
I'll say it again.
There is no such thing as the perfect formula!
There is something about effective writing that goes beyond the well-known "HOOK ME!" that we almost always look for in the first page or two of a novel. Then, too, there is something to be said for already-published novels that don't do anything for us -- and may even cause us to wonder how in the world they ever did anything for an agent, let alone a publisher.
So what, then, should we be striving for as we spin our tales? How do we know where to find that "perfect" beginning for our novels? How do we achieve tension, voice, world-building...all within the first couple of pages?
Let's talk.
What are your thoughts, now that I've disclosed the authors? What have you learned? What insight can you share?
Methinks this comment box is going to give us a lot on which to chew.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Okay, critters! Tear into the three excerpts below...
You're not going to hurt anyone's feelings.
Both excerpts are from a novel's first few paragraphs; a classic "Are You Hooked?", as it were. Read them, decide whether they "work" for you and why.
Is the writing good enough to pull you in? Is there a "hook"? If so, what is it? If not, do you want to read on anyway? Why or why not?
Each one is written by a different author. I'll give credit later.
Okay, go for it! I'm ever so eager to read your critiques.
Both excerpts are from a novel's first few paragraphs; a classic "Are You Hooked?", as it were. Read them, decide whether they "work" for you and why.
Is the writing good enough to pull you in? Is there a "hook"? If so, what is it? If not, do you want to read on anyway? Why or why not?
Each one is written by a different author. I'll give credit later.
Okay, go for it! I'm ever so eager to read your critiques.
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