tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post1472524369619329225..comments2024-01-24T16:57:52.487-05:00Comments on Writing Unleashed with Laura M. Harkins: Editing vs CritiquingLaura M. Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07118305776404765529noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post-13015795383984004532011-02-21T10:05:33.249-05:002011-02-21T10:05:33.249-05:00I agree a writer's quirks and pet words should...I agree a writer's quirks and pet words should be addressed when critiquing a peer's work. It helps strengthen the writing. Keeping an eye out for inconsistencies is very important as well, especially if you're workshopping a sections of a novel. Sometimes, as writers, we are too close to see these small imperfections.Laura M. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07118305776404765529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post-30905906117721608142011-02-18T17:52:56.515-05:002011-02-18T17:52:56.515-05:00I really like your advice, Laura, particularly the...I really like your advice, Laura, particularly the part about not being afraid, even if you are a newbie, to give 'robust' feedback. For me, it's the reactions from 'readers' not necessary 'writers' that I'm most interested in.Alex Villasantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109677049281615295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post-51090802708331028692011-02-18T17:39:06.607-05:002011-02-18T17:39:06.607-05:00I think editing first needs to b done by the autho...I think editing first needs to b done by the author who will understand where the story's going. Most critics are like readers - they need to feel that the story works froma commericial / reader point of view. Both are equally important and a book can't be successful without each one.D. U. Okonkwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12900694425526387930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post-77923806610161180252011-02-18T10:57:20.605-05:002011-02-18T10:57:20.605-05:00I'm a better editor than I am a critic. When I...I'm a better editor than I am a critic. When I read, I critically read for intent behind the words and for inconsistencies. I also look for what I consider bad writing...able to spot adverbs propping up weak sentences and dangling prepositions, etc. and I point them out because I would want the same done for me. However, I'm blind to my own work :/ so I repeat the mistakes that I see other people do.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876524428745638996.post-1534658529929768902011-02-18T10:13:36.012-05:002011-02-18T10:13:36.012-05:00I would argue that if you find consistent small th...I would argue that if you find consistent small things in the writing, a bit of the editor should come out in the critique sessions. This doesn't mean that people should obnoxiously circle every comma splice, but every writer has their quirks, and sometimes it's useful to point them out so that the writer can work on technique in his or her own time.<br /><br />I personally don't like the critique process because it has been my experience that people are generally over-vague when it comes to giving feedback. Telling me "I don't really like this part" does nothing to help me fix it. As Amie pointed out, it's important to find a critique partner who is compatible with your critique style.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961332983813359209noreply@blogger.com