Kimberly McCreight's Blog, page 94

Thank you so much Reading Between The Wines BookClub of Austin...

Thank you so much Reading Between The Wines BookClub of Austin Texas for this incredibly touching thank you gift!!

Writing Advice: The Importance of Feedback

Writing, by definition, is a solitary pursuit.  But it’s also really hard to do well without reaching out of the void and sharing your work with others.  After all, eventually the goal of most writers is to have an audience of some kind.  It’s helpful to know in advance how your work will be perceived–or misperceived–so that you can course correct as necessary.

When in your own process to share something is a really personal question, however.  For instance, I’m never ready for feedback until I have a really solid, complete draft–usually draft three or four for me.  Until I’ve essentially made all the changes I can think to make. To engage with an audience earlier than that would really interrupt my process.  If someone were to make suggestions about how to finish something before I had taken my own stab at it, I’m not sure what would happen. But I do know it wouldn’t be good.

But I know other writers who like to have feedback as they’re working on something (it makes me break out into a cold sweat just thinking about it).  But they like feedback to inform their writing process while it’s still ongoing.  Never mind that I think that’s insane, it works great for them.

In addition to deciding when you want to get feedback, I think it’s useful to think carefully about who you want feedback from.  This can change depending on when you’re getting the feedback.  Sometimes you don’t want insightful notes.  Sometimes you just want–need even–someone to tell you how great you are.  This can happen when a book is already on submission and there’s nothing you can do to make it better anyway.  In this case I recommend a spouse and I recommend telling them EXACTLY what you want to hear.  Otherwise, they’ll have no idea.  Especially, if they’re not a writer.  I promise, it’s not obvious.  You can ask my husband.  And you’ll both be miserable.

Other times, you’ll need real feedback on improvements that can be made before submission.  In that case, try to find a trusted critique partner or writing group.  It helps if these people are good at giving feedback, because it’s a true skill to be honest and helpful without injuring the writer’s feelings.  There are lots of people who are good at criticizing instead of critiquing–they are actually two totally different things.

If you don’t think you know the difference, you do.  They feel totally different.  One will make your writing better while the other will just make you want to go hide under the bed. Good feedback also helps you turn your piece into the best version of what it is.  It does not try to change you into a different writer or make your book into a different kind of book–it respects what you are trying to do.

A critique group–several people–helps protect against unhelpful feedback if only because of the number of opinions.  But beware of group think.  I have seen an entire writers group cave and fall in line with one person’s opinion until someone else disagrees. Also, be sure to read between the lines.  Oftentimes, even those who are excellent at providing insightful feedback will sometimes be wrong about what it is exactly they don’t like–they’ll just know they don’t like something.  Listen to what they say is the problem, but also peek between the lines.  Sometimes, that’s where the real problem lies.

Whoever is critiquing you–writing partner, professor, agent, editor–ultimately you need to ask yourself whether the feedback resonates and be willing to stand your ground when it absolutely doesn’t. At the same time, you have to be willing to recognize when you are holding blindly and stubbornly to something for all the wrong reasons.

Trust me, you’ll know that difference in your gut, too.  Not that I do.  I’d never do that.  You can ask my husband.

The signs as writers

Writes non-stop but doesn't share it with anyone: Scorpio, Capricorn, Leo

Writes like 5 chapters then gives up: Aries, Gemini, Aquarius

Writes like 9 books in 10 days: Taurus, Virgo, Sagittarius

In a constant state of writer's block: Cancer, Libra, Pisces

SPECIAL E-BOOK!

lauren-oliver:

Did you know that when you order the BIF e-book from Amazon or B&N, you’ll receive the special enhanced edition??? Good freekin’ deal!

Skeevy teachers and grabby Santas: don’t leave our girls alone

authorsarahdessen:

shannonhale:

Reading A. Hope Jahren’s great piece in the NYT and her subsequent tweets on the subject and remembering something that happened in high school.

I was a sophomore. My friend was a senior. She was an aide in the counselor’s office one period. 

“Come with me,” she asked. “One of the counselors there is a skeev.”

She felt unsafe. She felt uncomfortable. He hadn’t done anything TOO drastic. It was just the way he looked at her. Talked to her. Sometimes touched her. A brush here, a hand there. 

I skipped class two days in a row to go be with her. Back her up. Help her feel safe. It never occurred to me to doubt her. I trusted her instinct. It also never occurred to me to tell another adult about it. Who would we have told? What would we have said? What would they have done in 1989 anyway?

My friend ended up dropping out of high school. He wasn’t the only reason, but he didn’t help. She eventually got her GED.

15 years later, that same counselor is in jail for raping a 14-year-old girl. 

Or what about that other time I never told any adults about, when I was 13 years old, and my friend and I sat on Santa’s lap at a Christmas tree festival, knowing we were too old and feeling silly and fun. And the man being Santa grabbed my butt and told me that he wanted me. And I didn’t tell anyone, because I was already learning, at age 13, that this is how men treated girls. Who would we have told anyway? And what would they have done about it in 1987? 

How many other girls did that Santa grab after me? What else did he do because no one made him stop? Because no one helped me to know that if stuff like that happens it is WRONG, not my fault, and that someone would hear me, believe me, and make it stop?

A. Hope Jahren has made me realize it’s not enough to wait till something happens and act appropriately. Many men in this world feel entitled to girls and women and their bodies, their attention, their affection. Those men will not wait. We can’t either. We need to talk to our kids today. We need to believe them and support them with the small stuff so they know they can trust us with the big stuff.

Important reading! I bet MANY women and girls have similar stories. I know I do. 

THIS.

#Repost @mirandabw1 with @repostapp.・・・Today’s reading:...

#Repost @mirandabw1 with @repostapp.

・・・

Today’s reading: @kimberlymccreight’s delicious The Outliers, in anticipation of our event with @robinwassermanwrites, @tracysoneill, and Keija Parssinen next Thursday at 7pm at @bookcourtbk (part of the @sackettstreet reading series)!

In love with my current subway companion. Made a lady in the...

In love with my current subway companion. Made a lady in the doctors office super jealous that I had it @marykubica!

#Repost @fantasyandscifibooks with @repostapp.・・・So many great...

#Repost @fantasyandscifibooks with @repostapp.

・・・

So many great books!!!

Love is taking the day off to celebrate your wife submitting her...

Love is taking the day off to celebrate your wife submitting her book even if that means going with her to a totally unnecessary echocardiogram. It’s all good–we just shared a cookie from @city_bakery_ and are now seeing @thewitchmovie. And I am very grateful.

Thanks @yakobooks for giving The Outliers such lovely friends.

Thanks @yakobooks for giving The Outliers such lovely friends.