tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post5303464147980316361..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Who Do I Believe -- My Gut Or My Critique Partners?Chemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-60973274092325800762016-05-20T11:31:36.722-04:002016-05-20T11:31:36.722-04:00Well, I guess there's nothing for me to add ot...Well, I guess there's nothing for me to add other than, "What they said!" Go with your gut and revise if needed later. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-59521606708594637422016-05-19T12:24:28.461-04:002016-05-19T12:24:28.461-04:00My rule of thumb (we learned this in screenwriting...My rule of thumb (we learned this in screenwriting, when talking about taking notes): If one person says it, I think about it, see if it resonates; if 2 people say it, I need to give it serious consideration; if 3 or more people say it, it almost certainly needs to be changed. But you can save heavy editing for after the first draft is done, unless the changes will significantly impact how you continue. Don't get caught in a writing loop that keeps you from making progress.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13464393340517511305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-66919680899337005882016-05-19T07:58:13.962-04:002016-05-19T07:58:13.962-04:00Usually when this sort of thing happens, I find so...Usually when this sort of thing happens, I find some more CPs and see what their response is. <br /><br />That said, if you have a reason to keep the chapter as is, make note of the niggle here and get back to it later when the rest of your book is done. (If I remember right, you mentioned you recently started sending chapters you're writing specifically for the critique session?)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-45739510409746972492016-05-18T21:09:26.377-04:002016-05-18T21:09:26.377-04:00I get lots of good feedback from my critique group...I get lots of good feedback from my critique group, but their advice is often tempered by the fact they're reading my novel in pieces, usually spread apart over a year. That gives me a lot of latitude to explain away their comments.Jacquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10666529326328156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-87467378404328635542016-05-18T17:09:12.932-04:002016-05-18T17:09:12.932-04:00Go with your gut, especially since your gut is agr...Go with your gut, especially since your gut is agreeing with a majority of your critique. I'm with Alex and Crystal. Don't let one person change your story. Keep on writing and keep it yours. Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-33421696021670262352016-05-18T15:59:19.760-04:002016-05-18T15:59:19.760-04:00Definitely go with your gut. If one person mention...Definitely go with your gut. If one person mentions it, it's just their opinion. If all mention it, then there's a problem. And it sounds like you have a clear understanding of what you want the final chapter to do. Not every story needs a ton of action at the end. You can't please everyone.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-12914334137402451022016-05-18T14:58:05.022-04:002016-05-18T14:58:05.022-04:00I'm with Alex. In order to validate a change l...I'm with Alex. In order to validate a change like that, I have to hear it from at least 2 people or more. I've had too many critique partners with whom I completely disagreed. You never know how this person would feel if they could experience the whole story at once as well, so keep that in mind.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-88680474473936379412016-05-18T13:01:41.154-04:002016-05-18T13:01:41.154-04:00If the others didn't mention it, I wouldn'...If the others didn't mention it, I wouldn't change it for now. As Dianne said, let it go through a few rounds of edits and then check the pacing.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-15800884639547229122016-05-18T11:18:20.519-04:002016-05-18T11:18:20.519-04:00If this is an early draft of your book, leave it. ...If this is an early draft of your book, leave it. It usually takes me several drafts before I get the pacing right. I agree with you that there should be time to catch your breath between action sequences. As to whether or not the information revealed/exchanged in that chapter "moves the story forward" is something that might become clear later on. Maybe the problem is not the lack of action in the chapter but what you used the chapter for?<br /><br />I'm having a similar gut vs feedback issue right now. My MC is an apprentice for Tesla who is spying for Edison. Right before the climax begins, his conscience makes him tell Edison that he won't do it anymore. Angry at losing his spy, Edison deliberately leaks what he's done to someone who knows Tesla, and the MC gets fired. <br /><br />Some CPs (and one big name editor!!!) think it was wrong of me to have him decide to stop spying on his own. The editor thought it made him less engaging because he changed on his own rather than being changed by circumstances.<br /><br />But my gut says that having him decide to do the right thing and then have it backfire on him is more interesting than him just getting caught.<br /><br />I still haven't decided what to do ...Dianne K. Salernihttp://diannesalerni.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com