tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post8200949312127061780..comments2024-02-01T14:06:20.674-06:00Comments on Knitted by God's Plan: Accepting a Tough Critique with Katy Huth JonesKendra E. Ardnekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03593051552921296108noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-26048452771780461872017-03-24T23:04:02.881-05:002017-03-24T23:04:02.881-05:00You're right, Erika. It's possible to over...You're right, Erika. It's possible to over-edit the humanity out of a piece until it becomes the editor's voice and not the writer's. I had to arm-wrestle my editor over my last trad published book. Much of what she wanted to change did help the story, but I "won" on those points I felt would have changed the heart of the story.Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-3644036559221536962017-03-24T22:26:40.697-05:002017-03-24T22:26:40.697-05:00There is the possibility of over-editing. I do wan...There is the possibility of over-editing. I do want my work to be human, not perfect and robotic. Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02320910373401276845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-7068022616319703162017-03-24T22:25:16.246-05:002017-03-24T22:25:16.246-05:00Exactly! ((Hugs back))
Exactly! ((Hugs back)) <br />Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02320910373401276845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-83253281346930801192017-03-24T21:55:14.392-05:002017-03-24T21:55:14.392-05:00Haha, I hope so, too ;). But if I need encourageme...Haha, I hope so, too ;). But if I need encouragement, I'll probably come back to your post <3. <br /><br />~ Savannah <br />scattered-scribblings.blogspot.comSavannah Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16668452024211579085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-12289619850188395912017-03-23T17:40:12.948-05:002017-03-23T17:40:12.948-05:00Definitely! Two editors or two agents or two beta ...Definitely! Two editors or two agents or two beta readers can have opposite critiques, so the writer should always go with what's best for the story.Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-20851578093716487972017-03-23T17:38:37.443-05:002017-03-23T17:38:37.443-05:00Thanks for reading, Abigayle! Yes, it's really...Thanks for reading, Abigayle! Yes, it's really painful at first, but like surgery hurts until it heals, constructive criticism makes our writing better in the end. (Ouch, that's a painful comparison, huh?)Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-23548501357242478052017-03-23T16:18:57.361-05:002017-03-23T16:18:57.361-05:00Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience so that we...Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience so that we can learn alongside you! :) It can be really really hard to hear, but constructive criticism is for our benefit!Abigayle Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01182504899939054458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-12106206944172555102017-03-23T15:42:05.106-05:002017-03-23T15:42:05.106-05:00I think pretty much anyone can be better than some...I think pretty much anyone can be better than somebody calling my writing "frustrating," "so dull," and attacking me for an unbelievable twist that actually wasn't even implied to have happened. (And not one other reader ever came away with that impression that said twist happened.) lol <br /><br />I think it's also healthy for writers to be able to walk away from criticism. They should just know why. Too many cooks in the kitchen can be a bad thing, even if any individual piece of advice is theoretically sound. Sometimes we just need to keep critique in a proper perspective, giving it neither too much nor too little consideration. J.J. Francesconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-19534481716719324452017-03-22T14:37:05.754-05:002017-03-22T14:37:05.754-05:00Definitely! One "again" for each submiss...Definitely! One "again" for each submission. LOLKaty Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-66633590411649310022017-03-22T14:36:31.507-05:002017-03-22T14:36:31.507-05:00You're welcome, Shay, and thanks for reading! ...You're welcome, Shay, and thanks for reading! Good for you, finding those bits within the criticism that you can use to make your writing even better!Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-54289824322323027512017-03-22T14:35:16.737-05:002017-03-22T14:35:16.737-05:00I definitely agree, J. J. and I don't personal...I definitely agree, J. J. and I don't personally use snark because I know how words can hurt. When I'm asked to critique someone's writing, I always try to point out what they're doing right before addressing the parts that need work.Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-74139985835273244262017-03-22T10:23:53.821-05:002017-03-22T10:23:53.821-05:00Thanks for sharing your experience, Katy! :)
I thi...Thanks for sharing your experience, Katy! :)<br />I think the harshest criticism I've gotten on my work would be...probably my sisters. Of course, they're trying to get me to live up to the legacy of Tolkien, which I know right now I'll never do. But I try to always consider what they have to say, and use it to re-shape my work. :DShayhttp://www.elvenpadawan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-63425141086550005812017-03-22T09:29:27.969-05:002017-03-22T09:29:27.969-05:00I think criticism needs to be done properly. I onc...I think criticism needs to be done properly. I once had some criticism that wasn't short on bite but I couldn't find many who thought the advice was good. It was all over the place and the person didn't even seem to have read my story at some places. <br />I think criticism can and should be "tough" at times. We need it. But if the advice gets lost in the sea of snark, it might not hit it's target the way it should. J.J. Francesconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-75284572411938709022017-03-22T09:26:22.685-05:002017-03-22T09:26:22.685-05:00The 9 "agains" feel unnecessary. I think...The 9 "agains" feel unnecessary. I think 3 would've sufficed. :P ;) J.J. Francesconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-83941513208867958652017-03-22T08:08:00.830-05:002017-03-22T08:08:00.830-05:00You're welcome, Sarah! Thanks for reading!You're welcome, Sarah! Thanks for reading!Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-69332881469991710792017-03-22T06:09:51.664-05:002017-03-22T06:09:51.664-05:00Thanks for the encouragement and the advice. Thanks for the encouragement and the advice. Sarah Penningtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377945004067760298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-20975933088079024552017-03-21T15:57:09.024-05:002017-03-21T15:57:09.024-05:00It's the ultimate paradox for any kind of arti...It's the ultimate paradox for any kind of artist (writing, visual arts, music). We must be sensitive in order to create, yet develop a thick skin to keep from crumbling when rejection and criticism come our way. ((HUG))Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-36692474105193682972017-03-21T15:55:06.082-05:002017-03-21T15:55:06.082-05:00It was tough love (for me; the characters knew the...It was tough love (for me; the characters knew their story all along, but I wasn't listening carefully). Thanks for reading, Laura! I highly recommend trying it with a draft that isn't working....Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-86527332767178360422017-03-21T15:52:49.713-05:002017-03-21T15:52:49.713-05:00Aw, I'd forgotten about that! Glad we're s...Aw, I'd forgotten about that! Glad we're still friends, even after my tough critique!Katy Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-53785695707892592572017-03-21T14:48:11.297-05:002017-03-21T14:48:11.297-05:00Wow. It's one thing when someone is intensely ...Wow. It's one thing when someone is intensely critical yet encouraging, but it's something else if it's just all-around harsh and discouraging. Learning to handle it is a valuable, if tough, life lesson.Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02320910373401276845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-51282137814595217182017-03-21T14:45:31.422-05:002017-03-21T14:45:31.422-05:00Wow. You " threw away all but the opening sce...Wow. You " threw away all but the opening scene and asked the main characters, 'Will you tell me your story?' "<br /><br />How amazing is this statement? I think I need to do the same with an old draft. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.Laura Hilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04393914692472097388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-31374124881990425502017-03-21T14:44:23.473-05:002017-03-21T14:44:23.473-05:00Katy can take and learn from a tough critique - an...Katy can take and learn from a tough critique - and she can hand it out as well! Around twenty years ago (yikes! that long?!?) Katy reviewed a manuscript for me and added detailed notes starting on page one. The three chapters were annotated with numerous editorial and proof readers marks, and I read them all carefully.<br />At the end of the manuscript she included a numbered list of things I needed to consider. And she ended it thus:<br /><br />"On second thought, you need to get rid of the first section."<br /><br />I was floored! But as I read over the story again, trying to view it dispassionately, I realized she was correct. The first section that I thought so highly of did not fit. I did manage to insert it at a later point, somewhat rewritten.<br />But the lessons I learned from her hard, honest, and detailed critique has stayed with me, and I think made me a better writer.<br />The words can be changed at need; it's the story that counts. And she never criticized the story.<br />I count Katy as one of my best friends, and am proud she accorded me the respect she did then.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18227674086298894584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-21471873151694183112017-03-21T13:57:44.710-05:002017-03-21T13:57:44.710-05:00Glad you found it helpful, Savannah, and I pray yo...Glad you found it helpful, Savannah, and I pray you never have to receive such a harsh critique. But if you do, hopefully you'll learn from it more quickly than I did. LOLKaty Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-18834569987916588572017-03-21T13:56:12.285-05:002017-03-21T13:56:12.285-05:00Thanks for reading, Tammy! Because I'm a pack ...Thanks for reading, Tammy! Because I'm a pack rat, I saved that letter, so I could verify there were nine. LOLKaty Huth Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070461471031851970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-70953895663447414462017-03-21T13:27:58.124-05:002017-03-21T13:27:58.124-05:00This was great, Katy. I have yet to receive a hars...This was great, Katy. I have yet to receive a harsh critique for any of my work, but this was a very helpful post nonetheless. Thank you for sharing this with us! <3 <br /><br />~ Savannah <br />scattered-scribblings.blogspot.comSavannah Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16668452024211579085noreply@blogger.com