Critiquing.
We talk about it a lot in writerly circles. The value of having a critique partner or a critique group. The value of getting objective feedback. How it’s a necessary endeavor if we want to grow and succeed as writers.
But that’s not what I want to explore today.
Today, I want to explore that tricky combination of voice and critiquing. I want to explore how we do the latter without diminishing the former. How do we offer critiques, without muting a writer’s voice? How do we receive critiques, without losing that mysterious, beautiful thing that makes us who we are?
When I first started critiquing, I marked people’s manuscripts with ALL kinds of track changes. I’d read sentences or whole paragraphs and think – I know a better way. I thought I was helping the author, and I’m sure some of my comments were helpful. But looking back, a lot of my critiques weren’t about making the story stronger. A lot of my critiques were about making the story sound more like mine.
Here’s the thing. We like our own voice. It’s sort of how, as parents, we look at other kids and secretly think, “My kid’s cuter.” In an objective world, that may not be true, and honestly, how can we compare babies or kids in regards to cuteness? They’re all cute and lovely in their unique way. But we prefer our kid’s face, because it’s familiar and meaningful and part of us. I think that’s the same with voice.
But the more I critiqued, the more I realized it wasn’t my place to change somebody’s voice. Slash unnecessary adverbs, yes. Look for repetitive words and sentence construction, yes. Look for character inconsistencies, plot holes, sagging middles, cliches, head hops, confusing passages. Yes, yes, and yes. But leave voice alone.
Don’t mess with it.
So what should we do in regards to critiquing voice?
Encourage your critique partner to explore it. Encourage him or her to work harder on bringing out his or her voice on the page. But whatever you do, don’t change it to make it sound more like yours.
How do we do this?
Here are two experiences that helped me:
- I once got a paid critique from Camy Tang. She highlighted places in my manuscript where my voice dripped off the page and encouraged me to find ways to bring out that same voice in other areas of the manuscript. She pointed out MY voice and encouraged me to use it more often.
- After one of my books made it through editorial, an editor from the publishing house emailed my agent and told her they were (and still are) excited about the book. They love, love, love the prologue. My voice is engaging and strong. But when chapter one starts, my voice loses its sparkle. This editor encouraged me to make the voice in chapter one truer to the voice in the prologue.
During a lengthy phone conversation with my agent, I asked, “How in the world do I do this?” and hoped for a concrete answer, but of course she couldn’t give one. Rachelle couldn’t say, “Oh, honey, just cut this adverb here, add a short sentence there, change this verb to that verb, and you’re golden.” Of course she couldn’t. Because voice is all me. It’s something I have to figure out.
She did give me some guidance though. She told me to read the prologue out loud. Get a feel for the mood, the cadence and rhythm. Then go through the first couple chapters of my manuscript and find ways to evoke that same mood. She admitted it wouldn’t be easy. It would involve exploring my thoughts and feelings, looking deep inside, and figuring out what I have to offer the page. It was a very insightful exercise. I’m not sure I got it right, but I do think I learned loads about my voice.
All this to say: When you critique somebody’s work, don’t change things that don’t need changing just because you think it sounds better your way. And when you receive a critique, don’t jump on every suggested change. Take some time. Evaluate the critique. Figure out, is this a voice thing, or is this a craft thing?
Happy critiquing! And thanks to my two fabulous critique partners, Jeannie Campbell and Erica Vetsch for not taking my voice away.
Questions to Ponder: How do you check yourself when you’re critiquing? How do you make sure you’re not changing the writer’s voice? How do you stay true to your voice but listen to feedback? Please share! This is definitely not something I’ve got figured out!
I know I'm late to find this post, but it's so essential that I'm going to tweet it. I recognise so well those stages you describe. My early attempts to help friends write (tho at that time I was as clueless as them) involved merciless and insensitive rewriting. Now, I pinpoint where the writer's voice is strongest and most authoritative and urge them to find the essence of that. I find it helps not to line-edit, but to write a report – then I'm not tempted to get a red pen and micro-manage.
lots of love going to you!! can't wait to see you next month!!
I love this post. Thanks for reminding me of the things in life that are important. I jumped down Gene's throat today, too. Must. Go. Apologize.
Love the girl in your class. An author. How cool is that?
I love you Katie. Have a super weekend. 🙂
Fabulous post- love it!
Good thing to understand in critiquing. It's all too easy for the writer in all of us to simply want to re-write the whole thing for them… but then that would be missing the point 🙂
Hi Katie! How's school going? Are you surviving the first weeks?
As far as critiquing, I've never really had many critique partners. I wish I did. But, when I've read people's books, I have the tendency like you to over-correct and this is a good reminder that people's voices are different.
I think we all want to be helpful when we first start critiquing, but you said it–we can get overzealous. Luckily, I haven't had that experience with my cp's.
And I recently had a similar experience as you! My voice just wasn't coming through that first chapter, but it was loud and clear from chapter two on. After several rewrites, I think I've nailed it.
Hope your back-to-school time went well!
This is such a great post, Katie. And it gets at the essence of what makes a good writer really shine… which is not a formula or a 10-step process. It's unique to each one, and it's sort of undefinable.
Thanks for tweeting this!
ahh…voice.
I'm still trying to find mine.
Rewriting the first 50 pages with stronger characters is teaching me a lot.
Throughout my years studying for a CW degree, voice was a victim to the grind of rule-following. But it has since bounced back, thankfully. My current critique partner has gotten used to my voice and no longer tries to overlay my words with his fast-paced, tight writing style. Sometimes my writing voice is too much of what it is, and it needs tempering, so I always listen to critiques. I don't allow myself to be stubborn.
But about critiquing others' work–I just try to step back and look at it objectively. I don't know that I always succeed.
Thank you! I think like you said we all love the sound and style of our own voice and it is easy to want to mold someone like ours. I will be very careful when i critique even more so now.
What I fear is telling someone I can't hear their voice cause sometimes it is too generic and I don't want to hurt their feelings.
Hi Katie –
I'm wary when someone tries to change the entire thrust of my story based on a few pages or their own biases. Such critiques send me to my prayer closet for His opinion on the matter.
Someone recently commented about a line in my manuscript: "Who talks to themselves like that?" I simply replied, "I do." My voice encompasses the way I express my characters' personality, my word choices, the scenes I paint, and all that has made me who I am.
Hope that makes sense.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
Voice is something so unique to us it's invaluable. What a great editor to help you diagnose such an important issue! Now I'm dying to read your prologue!!
This is a great post. I admit, I haven't considered voice a lot when I'm critiquing and I realize that I've done the same thing you pointed out–tried to change things because maybe I thought they'd sound more appealing to a reader if it was written my way. I'm going to keep a look out for that when I'm critiquing from now on. Thanks!
Yay for great crit partners! I'm blessed to have you and Georgiana critting for me.
Critiquing, like writing fiction, is a learned skill, and we never stop learning.
I learn a LOT about critiquing whenever I have my work critted by someone new, too. Everyone has their own style, or even their own 'critique voice' that they bring to the table.
Just as we find books we like based on the author's voice, so we can find crit partners we like based on their critique voice. There are some folks who can tell me that my story is ugly, but their voice is one I 'get' so it doesn't sound as harsh as someone else's might.
What a wonderful post, Katie. Your suggestions are spot on.
One of the things I learned to do after being in critique partnerships for two years was to develop a style sheet for each of my CPs. I pay particular attention to how they use words and note those usages in their style sheets. That way, I'm not as likely to suggest changing something to make it conform to my style.
Awesome advice and very helpful. I'm guilty of doing the same thing to crit partners and I'm trying to reform.
Very helpful post Katie! I'm new to critiquing and I think I may have made some of these mistakes~ yikes!
Lesson learned:)
I wish I'd read this post before trying to help friends edit their work. I'm afraid that I made the same error early on of turning their words into my voice instead of providing critique. That was some valuable feedback about reading the prologue aloud to evoke the "feel" of your voice when it's at its best. Thanks for the thoughtful post!
You are lucky to have such great crit partners, Katie.
I am a better writer now than I was when I first started and I'm a better critter now than I was when I started. It all goes with the territory.
And Katie! Your voice drips off the pages of your blog and it will in your MS, too. And reading aloud is the best way to hear your voice. Actually, the best way is to have someone else read it for you. That way you can really hear it.
Excellent post, my friend. *hugs*
Thank you for the post, Katie
I'm just trying to find a crit partner at the moment, and I'm not so strong at critiquing myself. But we all need to start somewhere. Your advice is great and valuable.
Regards,
Sasha
I did the same thing when I started critiquing. The funny thing is, I was still trying to find my OWN voice at the time. 🙂
Great partners and good wisdom. :O)
I LOVE Camy's suggestions and even sent my last proposal (Reclaiming Lily) to her.
Sigh. I think it's VERY hard for you to lose your voice. It's like losing your fingerprints. They'd have to chop off your hands to do it.
Blessings,
Patti
It's so true! Unfortunately, there's a learning curve with critting too. Writers just have to take that into account!
Hi–critiqueing is art, just like original writing. If you aren't pointing out what reads odd to YOU, you aren't giving the writer the complete benefit of your experience. It is up to them to decide what doesn't fit their voice. — Regards, Mac
Something I'm trying to work on with my own writing right now.
When I critique I like to point out if the flow has stopped and things of that nature but b/c I appreciate varying voices so much I hope I don't try to stomp any voices out unless they're muddling the work.
~ Wendy
Voice. Oh yes. It is that very hard to define thing that I dread losing and am not sure where I find. My crit buddies love my voice, so I am lucky. They never try to change it. They do however point out where my voice is weaker and where it is stronger. It helps me to refine who I am rather than become them.
That was helpful advise from Rachel. I am doing edits right now for an agent (that as not as of yet committed to representing me) and restructuring text without losing my voice is one of my biggest battles. All the best for your book Katie 🙂
Good post!