There’s nothing like a good critique of your work, is there? But how do you go about getting it?

Long, long ago–maybe about two years (I have a short attention span)–I was afraid to share my words with the world. I was scared that someone would steal my stories, and so I was hesitant to allow anyone to read them. When I did finally break down to hand my manuscripts to people to read, I limited the exposure to friends and family. The drawback is that typically all I received in feedback was, “That was nice!” or “I liked it!” which is great, except it doesn’t help. I wanted to know what was wrong with it. I know now that my first manuscript sucks as far as style and grammar go, but still, the only feedback I’ve ever received is positive.

The solution must be to give my manuscripts to people who will dissect them.  Pull them apart, tear the words to shreds and hand them back to me in a green garbage bag to put back together. Still, for fear of seeming mean, unless I’m paying someone to do it, it’s difficult to find somebody with that sort of gumption.  But I’m guilty of the same thing! I fully acknowledge that critiquing is a difficult task. Telling someone what they’ve spent the last year bleeding from the soul on needs a complete overhaul is painful for everyone. And believe me, I’ve wanted to tell authors that their hard work sucks dusty ping-pong balls, yet I either found it difficult or avoided it altogether.

Is it better to leave the job to a professional? Or do you ask those who have an emotional attachment to the task? Personally, I say pay for that whipping, baby! It’ll probably make you a better writer.

 

 For the short fiction that goes with this post, please visit my fiction blog here: C is for … Can’t Get No Satisfaction.