{"id":356,"date":"2013-12-16T23:36:12","date_gmt":"2013-12-17T04:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/?p=356"},"modified":"2013-12-16T19:51:56","modified_gmt":"2013-12-17T00:51:56","slug":"dealing-with-critique-on-your-novel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/dealing-with-critique-on-your-novel\/","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with critique on your novel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Criticism\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve received criticism on your novel. Now what?<\/b><\/p>\n

But, hopefully, you\u2019ll never see this on your manuscript!<\/p>\n

So you\u2019ve engaged beta readers, a critique partner or group, an editor, or someone else that has seen your work and has an opinion on what\u2019s not working and how to make it better. (I\u2019m assuming you trust the people you\u2019ve chosen and they have no ulterior motives. Pick your critiquers wisely.)<\/p>\n

Now what?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

You stare at the email, written ink on the page, or track changes in your manuscript and you _____ (fill in the blank).<\/p>\n

Before you even look at the critique, always assume positive intent. Then prepare yourself to read it and walk away afterwards. It takes time to process some critique.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a writer out there who hasn\u2019t received constructive criticism that hasn\u2019t ruffled their proverbial feathers. Now that you\u2019ve received it, how do you filter and process it?<\/p>\n

Start with this as your filter: \u201cWithin every critique there is a seed of truth.\u201d This is especially true if multiple people point out the same issue. If these people see it, so will an agent or a reviewer, only quicker.<\/p>\n

Bucket it into three categories in your mind: tweaks, small adjustments, and substantive developmental changes with ripples.<\/p>\n

The tweaks and typos are no-brainers. Just do them. Small adjustments that make sense? Just do them too. Comments that show the reader obviously missed a key point? Determine whether you need to add more for the reader, or if this person just missed it. The key to that one: if multiple people made the same comment, add more. If not, think carefully and possibly discard. Good rule of thumb I learned from one of my editors: don\u2019t \u201cdumb things down\u201d to your lowest common denominator. It\u2019s our job as the writer to make sure our reader\u2019s get it\u2014but within reason\u2014and without insulting the intelligence of the rest of our readers.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the larger issues, what then? Those require more thought, and that\u2019s where you need to put on your \u2018accept \/ reject\u2019 hat. But before you snap that beanie securely on your noggin, take a step back and ask yourself: would this requested change make my book better?<\/p>\n

To illustrate this for you: under a tight final copyedit deadline for my upcoming novel my die-hard core group of betas gave me a few substantive items:<\/p>\n