Comments on: Growing Pains–Meet "Critique Jerk"

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By: Jenni Holbrook

Jenni Holbrook — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:58:13 +0000

When I first started writing I had an old friend offer to “critique” my work. He had one book published non-fiction book about 20 years ago and since then he has been trying to sell his fiction work (still unpublished to this day). I had never read his un published fiction, though we had many conversations about writing, so I figured why not. No one had ever read my work before. A few days later I got an email back that stated the following “Jen. I don’t know how to tell you this, but no editor or agent would get past the first sentence before sending this manuscript to the paper shredder.” There was more, but it just gets worse. Now, I have a tough skin, just ask Kristen, or even Bob, as they both have “ripped” my work a part. Brutal. Kidding, sort of. I want to know what is wrong, so I can fix it. However, I read that, closed my laptop, and cried for two weeks. I didn’t write. I couldn’t. I sucked. I figured, why bother. Then I got pissed. How dare he? I mean, that was just plain mean. There are nicer ways to say, um, seriously sweetheart, this needs a major overhaul. I went back to the email, read the entire email (which I hadn’t before) and opened up the actual manscript with he’s very few comments. I then, tried to figure out what made sense, and what didn’t. I realized something, I didn’t suck, though in all fairness, it wasn’t very good, but there was something there. I knew. Either that, or my own judgment could not be trusted. The comments had nothing to do with the book, the characters, the ideas, or how I presented it. The comments were hurtful, nothing more, nothing less. This is when I decided to learn from the real experts. Not that you can’t learn from other writers who are not published, or newly published, you can, however, in order to gain the confidence to be able to decipher what is good honest feedback, and what isn’t you need to learn about craft, study it, study successful authors, their books, what works, what doesn’t, etc. There is always someone out there that just wants to tear someone down. That manuscript, while I have revised, has finaled in 4 RWA writing contests, won two (The Beacon and The Molly) and will be published by The Wild Rose Press in November.

By: Bob Mayer

Bob Mayer — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:18:59 +0000

I actually had a friend take the opening chapter of one of my published books to a workshop run by a ‘Visiting Writer’ at the local university. She read it in his class and he told her it was complete crap.
Of course he’s had two books published in 35 years, but he was an expert. One book as a collection of 5 short stories published, you got it, 35 years ago, and the other was his AA journal.
I just got invited to teach at an MFA program in January. I was amazed that the Director told me their goal was to produce students who could get PUBLISHED. Not just get a piece of paper. So things are changing in some places.

By: Jason Myers

Jason Myers — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:13:31 +0000

In reply to Anasazi Stories by Jeff Posey.

HA! Yes, Kristen can make your hackles rise up. Well, they did mine, originally, but now…NOW…I want her to feedback. If you had her help writing a story, your story would be significantly better than if you did it alone. She’s given me so many good ideas, and 99% of them have made their way into my stories. She has a knack for turning pedestrian prose into something amazing.

By: ruthsims

ruthsims — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:09:36 +0000

That story about says it all, doesn’t it. Maybe evolution hasn’t taken us as far away from the animal kingdom as we like to think it has.

Come to think about it, those crabs sound like our (US)political party candidates at primary election time.

By: Anasazi Stories by Jeff Posey

Anasazi Stories by Jeff Posey — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:44:02 +0000

This conversation reminds me of a story I dumped into my “Quotes” file twenty-five years ago (From “How Would Confucius Ask for a Raise?: One Hundred Enlightened Solutions For Tough Business Problems” by Carol Orsborn, William Morrow and Company Inc., © 1994.:

In Australia there is a certain type of crab used for fish bait. Once caught, they are kept in open buckets on the pier.

These crabs are excellent climbers. Any one of these crabs could easily crawl up the side of the bucket and over the edge to freedom. But the fishermen don’t need to worry about this.

Why?

That the crabs don’t escape is not for lack of trying. One crab or another is always on his way up, scrambling toward the light.

However, as soon as the crab separates himself from the pile and makes a run for it, the other crabs reach out for him and pull him back down. No crab has ever been known to escape.

Yet.

By: ruthsims

ruthsims — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:43:19 +0000

>>>And they do teach by being mean and horrible….just not writing, LOL. They teach us to have the courage to move beyond a toxic situation.<<<

I yield! — lol You are so right. If it had happened to me I would have been furious, hurt, cried in my car, then turned the air blue by referring in private to their entire matriarchal and patriarchal heritage, intelligence, species, and the unnatural things they could do to themselves on a city street at high noon. And then I would have forgot about it;I don't bruise easily. But what made it so unforgettable and vicious was that they caused such lasting pain to someone I care about, even though they knew she was a novice, and anyone with an IQ over 10 could see that it had taken all the courage she possessed to read her effort.

But you are right. Jerks are part of us. That still doesn't keep me from imagining them on a city street at high noon…. (g)

I'm new to this blog, but I must say I have enjoyed being able to vent about the jerks.

By: warriorwriters

warriorwriters — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:20:22 +0000

In reply to ruthsims.

True…but the plain fact is that there are mean people everywhere. We have to work on ourselves to limit the power they have over our dreams. If you read Bob Mayer’s book “Who Dares Wins,” he talks about how those steeped in mediocrity will actually attack those with talent with the most voracity. When we made a decision to be elite, we have to expect resistance, sometimes NASTY resistance. Anyone who even finishes a book (even a crappy one) is way ahead of the curve and already among a rare percentage.

Those who like the status quo will often react and sabotage.

The purpose of this blog is to point out the pink elephant in the room and empower people. By saying, “Yeah, jerks are everywherre,” we deflate the power they hold by reminding ourselves that, ultimately, we are in charge of our future. And, truthfully, if you aren’t being criticised, then you aren’t attempting anything worthwhile, :D.

And they do teach by being mean and horrible….just not writing, LOL. They teach us to have the courage to move beyond a toxic situation. We are part of the human condition, and sadly…jerks are a part of it.

By: ruthsims

ruthsims — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:56:37 +0000

>>She was correct. It was crap. Worse still, I had an inflated ego and was unteachable (at the time). She punctured that and tore down my bravado….and in the end I am a better writer than I ever imagined. The best revenge is success…<<.

I'm so glad it has worked out for you. And I think every piece of writing can be improved. Lord knows I revise to the point of madness!

Your first effort might very well have been as bad as she (and you) thought. And my friend's writing needed improvement. She was an admitted beginner. But there just is no justification for cruelty and feelings of superiority disguised as criticism, is there. No good teacher ever taught anything through meanness and sheer cussedness.

By: warriorwriters

warriorwriters — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:58:50 +0000

In reply to ruthsims.

Well, my heart breaks that your friend had to go through that. But, it isn’t over until you’re dead. Maybe send her by this blog. Sadly, there are groups like that. I know the first time I was ever critiqued, one woman (a published author) snapped, “This is crap!” and tossed my pages over her shoulder. I sat in the car and cried…and then I got angry. I went back to the drawing board, and worked harder than ever. Looking back? She was correct. It was crap. Worse still, I had an inflated ego and was unteachable (at the time). She punctured that and tore down my bravado….and in the end I am a better writer than I ever imagined. The best revenge is success…. 🙂