Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer
As a children’s editor and book reviewer, I’ve read lots of manuscripts and books, and it’s easy to tell which authors haven’t bother to have their work critiqued.
Any advice I give on writing for children or writing in general, I always include the importance of honing your skills and belonging to a critique group. Even experienced authors depend on the unique perspective and extra eyes that each critique member provides.
The critique group can catch a number of potential problems with your manuscript:
1. Grammatical errors
2. Holes in your story
3. Unclear sentences, paragraphs, or dialogue
4. The forward movement of the story
5. Overuse of a particular word, adjectives, and adverbs
6. Unnecessary words that should be removed to help create a tight story
7. Dangling teasers – particular content in the story that may leave the reader dangling if not developed and followed through with
8. Inappropriate word usage, especially in the case of young children’s stories
9. Inappropriate actions on the part of the protagonist, specifically in the case of young children’s stories
10. Consistency
The list goes on and on.
And there are many more potential problems to be watched for when writing for children. It's nearly impossible for even experienced writers to catch all their own errors.
Here’s what else a critique group can do for you.
Objective Feedback:
Your critique partners will also provide objective feedback and constructive criticism of your work. This feedback will help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your writing, helping you to improve your writing skills.
Note here that it is up to you whether to heed those suggestions and comments, but if all the members of your group suggest you rewrite a particular sentence for clarity, hopefully, a light will go off and you'll pay attention.
With those extra sets of eyes to help, you will begin to see your writing improve. You will also be able to find your errors and those of others much quicker. A critique group will help you become a better and more confident writer.
Diverse Perspectives:
Different members bring unique perspectives, enriching the feedback with various viewpoints and ideas that can enhance your work.
Accountability:
Regular meetings and deadlines can help you stay motivated and productive, providing a sense of accountability.
Exposure to Different Genres:
Depending on the type of group you join, engaging with writers that write in various genres can broaden your horizons and inspire new ideas.
Learning to Critique: Giving feedback to others will hone your critical skills, which can be applied to your own work.
Summing It Up
While the critique group does not take the place of an editor, they do help you get to the point where you think you're ready for submission. At this point, it’s always advisable to seek an editor to catch what you and your critique group missed.
When considering joining a critique group, be sure the group includes both new and experienced writers. The experienced writers will help you hone your craft just through their critiques of your work.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. If you need help with your story, visit Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi.
Karen also offers authors:
FICTION WRITING FOR CHILDREN ECOURSE
A guided self-study course and mentoring program.
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK
A DIY book to help you write your own children’s book.
WRITERS ON THE MOVE PRESS
Self-publishing help for children’s authors.
6 comments:
Karen,
What a great article about the importance of a critique group and getting help before you send in your material. Whether you are just starting or have been writing for a long time, it's important to have fresh eyes on your work before you hit SEND. It's also important to be with the right people for this feedback. I've been in some groups where I dropped out because it wasn't the right fit for me or my writing.
Terry
author of Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Revised Edition) [Follow the Link for a FREE copy]
Terry, that's so true. Thanks for bringing up that you need to find a group that works for you. It's not a one-size fits all.
Yes! critique is so important. good advice!
Thanks, Nina. And yep, critiques can make a huge difference in the finished product.
I agree, critique is very important. I've been in many types of critique groups too. My latest one disbanded this summer due to scheduling difficulties. I have decided to go with beta readers and professional editors, at least for now. My SCBWI New Mexico organization has a critique group that meets on Saturdays. I plan on attending those meetings (on Zoom) as well. I've found having my writing peers as critique partners works best (rather than simply relying on family and friends).
Wise choice, Linda. Family and friends don't have the same writing eye as writing peers.
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