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I hope she used a little bit of tact, Tigerprincess,
before she started ripping your story to shreds, but you did ask. Anyway, I'm glad to see you're still here.
posted by
Blanche.
on February 24, 2006 at 11:51 PM
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I am terrible for constant re-writing but yes critiques are always good...
posted by
Leafonariver
on February 20, 2006 at 9:03 AM
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i have written a children's story
had rewritten it a few times and was feeling pretty good about it. i gave it to my ten year old niece and asked her to edit it. i gave her a red ink pen and said she could cross out anything she didn't like and to leave comments at the sides. i let her take it home with her.
when i got it back it was so scratched out it looked like a doodle pad. she had very reasonable arguments for her decisions and was quite vehement in certain parts. being able to see it in a different light was educational. i had been working on it for some time and was so deep into my vision, i thought anybody could see what i saw.
the rewriting continues.
posted by
fourcats
on February 19, 2006 at 8:34 PM
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tigerprincess
Get a second or third opinion, tigerprincess, and ignore whatever doesn't feel right to you - after all, you are the creator.
posted by
johnmacnab
on February 19, 2006 at 9:29 AM
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Good post
but I think that Jack_flash's comment is also applicable. Sooner or later we have to cut through opposing views and make our own way - maybe gut instinct will be the driver? Most importantly though: don't give up.
posted by
malcolm
on February 19, 2006 at 3:54 AM
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tiger,
And never overestimate the value of a critique. A critique is only good insofar as it gives you food for thought. It may tell you more about the critic than about your work. Often a part that is criticized is something that you did intentionally. Or maybe it was something that came from your subconscious that you need to leave in and further develop.
A critique, no matter who it is from, is nothing more than an opinion. It is useful in evaluating your work, but it may be useful only in bringing up a point that you hadn't considered. It may be useful only for insight into your relationship with the critic.
Bottom line? Critique the critique. 
jack
posted by
Jack_Flash
on February 19, 2006 at 1:09 AM
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Quote:
Never underestimate the value of a critique.
Provided you can be certain the "critic" knows what he or she is talking about ... plus, is honest about their true feelings. I love my best friend like a sister ... but I would never trust her assessment of my work, as I have no doubt she would attempt to undermine my confidence in any way humanly possible ... as I would to her.
"Every time a friend succeeds, a little piece of me dies." ~ Gore Vidal
posted by
Mademoiselle
on February 18, 2006 at 11:59 PM
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foodforthought
Thanks for the warning. I have an uncle that has expressed an interest in seeing my blogs but the only time I see him is at family stuff and I can see my overly loud family acting pretty much the same way you indicated yours has.
posted by
tigerprincess
on February 18, 2006 at 9:44 PM
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Tigerprincess...
Sometimes close friends or relatives are not the best critics, since they take some of what they know about you into what they read. Generally, we write for complete strangers. I have given copies of my blogs for people to read at family gatherings (not aloud) but they are generally too distracted to pay attention or even finish them, so I won't make that mistake again.
posted by
food4thought
on February 18, 2006 at 9:38 PM
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