Criticism vs. Critiques

I had an email conversation with another writer yesterday and we ended up dissecting a rather harsh critique they had received.

Now, I have written seriously for 10 years. I've run writing groups as well as run screaming from writing groups. I've rubbed elbows with best-selling well-known authors and no name nobodies. What I'm saying, is I've been around. I've seen things. (Some I wish I could unsee, but that's a different story.)

There is a difference between criticism and critiques.

Both are (usually) honest, but criticism demeans and critiques leave the work better than it started. A critique should improve the work. It should give the author direction.

A criticism stops the author, puts up a brick wall and then pounds their head into it just for kicks.

So when you get a harsh crit from someone, evaluate, does it help? Is there anything that resonates as true? If yes, then set it aside and go back when the emotions aren't running so hot. If no, it's a criticism and can be safely ignored.

What do I mean by resonates? Truth rings like a bell. Any one who has received their fair share of crits knows that moment of 'Oh Yeah! They're right! Why didn't I see that?'. That's resonance and it's how our work improves.

Sometimes the resonance isn't quite so positive. The truth is ringing loud and clear, but you don't want to hear. These are the hard things to change. A beloved line. A special moment or turn of phrase. Sometimes beauty has to be sacrificed. This is where art grows.

When we face the hard truths, we change as a writer, we get better. We also learn what a good crit feels like and develop that inner sense that tells us the difference between a tear-down criticism and build-up crit.

When you are critiquing someone's work, ask yourself are you building up or tearing down? 

Believe it or not, there are best selling authors who don't know the difference and nobodies who do.

E-Publishing in 5 Easy Steps

Someone recently asked me for help in understanding what it took to publish a book online. I showed them the ropes and gave them the following homework:

1. Read the KindleBoards daily  (and join up, of course!).

2.Read J.A. Konrath's Blog daily (and participate!).

3. Join Goodreads and get involved in reader's groups.

4.Read this thread outlining the basics of epublishing.

5.Read Red Adept Reviews.

Committing to these five steps on a daily (or at least weekly) basis will keep you abreast of the industry trends, what readers like and don't like, what influential reviewers think and cover the nuts and bolts of e-publishing your book.

There is a learning curve when it comes to marketing, formatting and writing for ebooks. Don't forget to tend to the business side of the process while working on the next great American novel.