Comments on: Can Critique Groups Do More Harm than Good?

By: M

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 23:17:19 +0000

online critique groups are terrible, they either only read the first chapter, (then you get a bunch of other people reading just the first chapter.) and give lots of great critiques, yay. And you revise it work harder and learn. they critique the first chapter again and point out more flaws, leaning more on opinion then before as there’s less errors. Okay fine I’ll listen. Revised again. and it revised to death. The same problem can happen in writing platforms but worse. Group think is a huge problem on sites like Wattpad where if you get one harsh critique then you’re bound to get more, even if you’ve already fix everything that they pointed out, and the critic said it’s great now. Now the more part. Lazy fake critiques will follow and simply change the old critique comments into how they would word it without even reading the chapter or checking the date of the old critique. (One a person mirrored was several years old.)

So I say this: critique groups are the best thing for new writers, but the moment you see any of the above happen, it’s time to jump out of the nest and go on your own they can’t help you any more. Also remember to take a look at their writing before asking for a critique… trust what you know you can spot mistakes after correcting your own for so long.

It makes me really sad because I want feedback but if what I get is along the lines of ‘deep pov is passive’ or outlines bad they kill creativity when it’s not i’m going to star a war! (Not really, my idea of war is to push myself to write faster and finish this book. I would have dumped it ages ago but that ‘muse’ says not to and I trust it. Lol. I’m almost finished so that’s good.

Please write more articles like this the reality check is needed.

A quote from an article that really shook me, and helped me wake up a bit. I have it saved as a file.

“Also, logic dictates that if your novel plot lines are a series of circumstances, reversals, and events that tie together (like “Harry Potter”?), it only makes sense that you better know how point A gets to point M before you will know how point M gets to point Z.

Consider, do screenplay writers or playwrights just begin writing without planning? Of course not. So why should the novel be different? And we’re not talking about Beckett or Joycean flights of fancy, we’re talking about the vast bulk of commercial novels, whether they be upmarket or genre.

I”m in a workshop and this came up today. Of course, the least experienced writer argued for not outlining.”

I don’t post my email online if I can help it the spam is so annoying, here: vaporlight AT aol DOT com

By: Writing critique groups, good or bad? | Sabrina Bramble

Writing critique groups, good or bad? | Sabrina Bramble — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:05:00 +0000

[…] https://authorkristenlamb.com/2012/01/can-critique-groups-do-more-harm-than-good/ […]

By: Critique Groups and Beta Readers – Michelle F Goddard

Critique Groups and Beta Readers – Michelle F Goddard — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 17:04:33 +0000

[…] involved in a critique group. And because I try to be balanced in my view, here is an article from Kristen Lamb that might make you more aware of some of the […]

By: Dido's Desolate Domain

Dido's Desolate Domain — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 16:00:07 +0000

I’m the kind of person who prefers beta-readers and editors to work with me. I think critique groups are a great resource, though.

By: sarahsbookreflections

sarahsbookreflections — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 20:48:34 +0000

Dear Ms. Lamb, Thanks for your interesting blog on critique groups. I’m planning to add a link to it in the Carteret Writers newsletter, “The Write Stuff.” We are located in eastern North Carolina. You are welcome to check us out at http://www.carteretwriters.org. if you email me through my blog, I’ll send you a copy of the newsletter, but don’t think I can publish it on your blog. Sarah Maury Swan, author of “Terror’s Identity.” http:://sarahsbookreflections.com

By: Why a Critique Group? | annemariesblog

Why a Critique Group? | annemariesblog — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:44:12 +0000

[…] said, there can be a downside to over-reliance on critique groups. I’ll link to this post by Kristen Lamb, who explains it all much better than I […]

By: How criticism can ruin a story – The Write Tribe

How criticism can ruin a story – The Write Tribe — Fri, 20 May 2016 00:25:01 +0000

[…] the second blog post, ‘Can critique groups do more harm than good?’, Kristen Lamb covers a series of points about how writing groups can actually hurt a story. […]

By: Franken-novels and Other Writing Group Problems – Cheri Scotch

Franken-novels and Other Writing Group Problems – Cheri Scotch — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 02:40:59 +0000

[…] is or how one is created, you need to get over to writer Kristen Lamb’s website and read her post on writing groups. It’s painful, because sometimes Truth is […]

By: E.K.

E.K. — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 22:28:56 +0000

I had my first critique this week. I found a group, went a few times to gauge the writers and their input, and read this week for the first time. I left puzzled. I’m not above criticism; I went because I wanted it. However, most of the comments were directed to parts of the piece that were missing precisely because I only read an excerpt. Comments like, “I need to know who this person is, I need to know where they came from, I need to know why we are in this setting, I need to know the location (meaning, which US city are we in!), when was this house built, are there biking trails nearby, Try putting a preposition here…” and the list of ridiculous comments rolled on. I’m the new kid so I smiled and thanked everyone, and there were a few good comments that I hope to use to improve my prose, but I really will have to take them all with a grain of salt.

What really resonated in this was post was the fear I have of turning a decent book into a mess because I am critiquing it in1000 word excerpts. Also, that I find it near impossible to critique anyone else because I need to read it on a page – not listen to it. It makes me wonder if others in the group have this problem as well. I think this is a fine staring point, but I will continue to look around for other options.

By: Make sure your advice-givers are qualified to advise you | Marcie Brock, Book Marketing Maven

Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:08:09 +0000

[…] CON: https://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/can-critique-groups-do-more-harm-than-good […]