On Writing: "Critical" Thinking (Critique Group Thoughts)

As mentioned in a previous post, I've been a part of a small critique group called Cannot Stop Writers since the fall of last year. The experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and I can't stress enough the many ways in which both my writing and my ability to edit has grown. We're talking leaps and bounds.

But now we come to my latest struggle. I tend to be a bottom-line thinker when it comes to critique. Oh, I'm detail-oriented enough when it comes to the creative process, but drop me into crit-mode, and it's pretty cut and dry, or seems so to me. The problem is: I really don't want to shred someone's work rather than offering helpful suggestions.

So this is me, brainstorming...

First, I think it's important to recognize differences in style. One group member has an incredible way of creating these stark metaphoric pictures to describe her character's internal emotions. Beautiful. And my feeling is that it fits her genre. (I write Young Adult, remember, and tend to be a little more streamlined than some other genres.) So I don't want my critique suggestions to be tampering with her style, unless it's a metaphor that I don't think really works or something.

It's also very important to make notes on what does work. Lines that sparkle, really get you. Yes, it's nice to have that little ego stroke, but that's not the only reason. It's also a big help to know what works, what made someone laugh (which was hopefully intentional!), etc.

This will probably sound like a cheesy "group therapy" line, but that doesn't make it moot-- I believe it's also important to use opinion-oriented statements. "I think..." "It seems to me..." Etc. It helps keep those comments in their place-- as suggestions from other writers. Sometimes I take the suggestions from the critique group. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I make a change, but not the suggested one. I want those whose precious words I am reading to feel that same way. That my suggestions are simply that and no more.

So I guess some of that comes down to humility. Just being humble as a writer and as a critique partner. Being willing to share something and receive feedback, but also stepping out and being willing to offer suggestions, but not as the be-all, end-all critique partner.

Which I suppose means, above all, that I continue to learn...