C is for Critique Partners and Cheerleaders

First things first -- the blog went through a COMPLETE redesign all thanks to blog extraordinaire Ginger Snaps (find her on Twitter at @GSnaps). We go waaaaaay back and I'm so glad that she decided not to charge me for her services to help me make the blog the frawesomesauceness that it is today. #hearts

Last Saturday's post touched on the importance of beta readers in the writing process. Again, it can't be said enough how invaluable some of the feedback I've gotten have been. It allowed me to see things that I may have otherwise missed because I was playing around on Twitter wasn't necessarily looking.

Critique Partners



Critique partners are much the same as beta readers, except in my definition they're the WIP Nazis amazingly honest people that tear your beloved work apart until it's all in bloody ruins. Overdramatic much? Yeah, okay, maybe a little. LOL

But their purpose is to basically look at your work from another writer's POV and tell you, from that differing perspective, what the hell is wrong with what you've written. Some critique partners tell it like it is and only point out what needs to be fixed or what suggestions can be made to even out the grammar, flow, structure, etc. Others will incorporate a little of the hard-ass critique with some lovin' for things that they liked throughout the chapter.

Fortunately for me, I have two amazing WIP Nazis critique partners who do the latter (see frawesomesauceness here and here) and I think the balance of good and bad help to both encourage and school me. Having just one side of the critique isn't very helpful because if all the feedback you're getting is bad, you end up feeling dejected and wanting to chuck your WIP into the flames of Hell hoping it'll burn up into itty bitty non-distinguishable pieces. *totally not from experience* LOL If all the feedback you get are good, it's a surefire road to complacency.

One of my CPs wrote an awesome post about the dangers of complacency. I mean, not that your work couldn't truly be awesome and fantastic, but let's face it, the writing can never stop getting better and there's always, ALWAYS room for improvement. I actually remember one of my CPs returning the first chapter to me filled with all kinds of suggestions, comments, changes, etc. and the first thing she said was "Please don't be scared off by the comments." The sea of red on my beloved chapter showed me (in a very nice concrit way) how to better my writing and also how to look beyond what was criticized and find a way for improvement. I'm so lucky to have other sets of eyes that aren't afraid to tell me the honest to goodness truth.

Cheerleaders



Just as important as beta readers and critique partners are the cheerleaders. They are the ones who are there to keep doling out encouragement to help get the book actually written. Another fortunate thing for me is that my beta readers and critique partners are also my cheerleaders. I can even picture @ashleighvegas going on with her pompoms and megaphone. Haha!

But cheerleaders are the support team that your writer stands on. They are the legs to the whole process because they are there when you get to that point where the delete button is looking mighty pretty or when you feel like all you've written is a piece of shit that no one else could possibly want to read. All writers have felt like that at some point in their journey, published and unpublished alike.

What are your thoughts on CPs and cheerleaders and how have they helped you in your journey?

B is for Beta Reader

Every writer knows that the writing journey is one that's difficult and full of moments that may or may not include hair pulling, thoughts of throwing current WIPs into the fire/trash/shredder/virtual trash can, but there are those who keep us going as much as the cheerleaders who encourage with sympathetic words. (more on Cheerleaders for Monday's post LOL)

So needless to say, the presence of beta readers are as essential to the writing process as any other tools used to hone and polish a writer's individual craft. I've been so blessed to find a few who give me critical insight on how the story's moving along, what things seem confusing, what characters are likeable and why/why not, and just overall readability.

My number one beta is one of my very best friends. She is literally the one I email directly after I type in the last word. (see her awesomeness at @ashleighvegas) Not being a writer herself, she can provide a reader's POV on the elements I've already mentioned. I can't say how many times she's talked me off the ledge when I whine and cry about what a sub-par writer I am (translation: complaints about my total and utter suckage). But when I get a text or Twitter @reply with multiple exclamations and WORDS IN CAPS, I'm totally geared up and excited to write the next chapter.

I have various other betas who also help with the process and I can't help but think to be grateful for these "firsts" who are taking the time to read something that I've crafted in my perpetually jumbled brains.

Now, critique partners are not the same as beta readers. Beta's are mainly for reading, while CPs are there to tear that shit apart. LOL (more on CPs in Monday's post :D) But the input of a beta reader is not overshadowed because they are part of the audience that you are writing for. I'd like to say "I only write for myself.", but that seems a little selfish and not even a little true.

I write because I know no other way. I write because I need to tell a story. I write because I hope that someday, others will love my characters as much as I love them. And that love affair begins with those who take the leap of faith in these characters I've created and this world that I've built; those who help to shape the outcome of my writing path and for that, I am forever indebted. :)