Color Critiques for Conferences

Hi folks!

Spring is Conference time. In April I participated in a peer critique group at a PA SCBWI conference and in June I will be meeting the authors of the novels I am currently critiquing. All together, I have critiqued 165 pages. That’s the size of a whole novel.

So what did I observe when critiquing these awesome samples of writing?

1. Creating tension is essential to keep those pages turning. How do we do that?

Here are some examples:

1. Show, don't tell!
2. The fewer blocks of description or passive writing, the better.
3. Avoid "info dumps."
4. Use realistic dialogue. Make sure your characters speak like today’s teens.
5. Impart information through action scenes.

  2. Make your "danger" believable.

             a.  Don’t throw in a scene that sounds scary or exciting just because every writing book suggests you do. The danger your character exoeriences must relate to his/her story.

   3. Throw a monkey wrench in the middle of the drama. Include something unexpected to make the reader want to keep going.

    4. Pay attention to pacing.

            a. too fast? Slow it down with some basic description, not flowery over the top double adjective description.

                   1. use longer sentences

            b. too slow? Add dialogue.

                   1. incorporate short, staccato sentences to make scenes more suspenseful.

                    2. Make scenes take place in a shorter rather than longer time frame.

5. Use hooks at the end of each chapter to keep reader turning the pages.

Activity: Since agents and editors want to be sucked into your story immediately go back to your first scene in your first chapter and:

1.    Highlight tension in RED.

2.    Highlight character’s feelings in PINK.

3.    Highlight actions in BLUE.

4.    Highlight dialogue in PURPLE.

5.    Highlight character’s inner thoughts in GREEN.

                  Well, I’m off to splatter my critique partners’ pages with color. Together we can create a masterpiece. Try using this color critique method with your next critique group.

How to Write a Good Critique

Attending an SCBWI Conference is special. 

First, you find out which ones sound interesting and valuable to you. 

Then, must register months in advance.

Sometimes that involves sending five pages of a manuscript you want seen by an editor or agent. You must polish it to perfection before it goes out.

Then there is the peer critique group, fifteen pages of a WIP for your colleagues to evaluate, comment and make revision suggestions for your manuscript.

It is this last component I would like to discuss today. Being a good critiquer is sometimes harder than being a good writer.

You must put yourself in the author’s position and dole out your criticisms and comments with a dose of honey to sweeten the sting of critique. Some writers welcome other’s opinions. After all, that’s what agents and editors do when you submit to them. They make suggestions to improve the manuscript. We, as peer critiquers, serve the same purpose. We are only trying to make your work better.

Currently, I am caught up in critiquing six other YA novels for the upcoming Eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI Pocono Retreat (a wonderful conference which I will discuss on this blog at a later date).

Two are historical.

Two are contemporary.

Two are paranormal.

So, I thought I’d give a few tips for critiquing today, at least the way I do it.

1^st - I’d read the entire body of work.

2^nd - I go back and highlight areas I think need work.

3^rd - I comment on word choice or too many adverbs, etc… that changing could benefit the story.

4^th – I write a little note to the author highlighting what parts of the manuscript I think are exceptional, or at least good, in some cases. ***ALWAYS START WITH A POSITIVE COMMENT***

5^th – Then I list areas of possible concern, being careful not to say that it doesn’t work, but suggesting that it could be stronger.

6^th – My last section of the critique is of general comments, such as Your MC was very interesting and believable. I love the voice of your MC etc…

7^th – I choose a favorite scene and tell why it stuck with me. Sometimes it’s not the reason why the author intended it to be so memorable, but at least it gives them a different perspective.

8^th – My conclusion discusses what I learned from the work. Inevitably a reader will learn something they didn’t know before, whether it be a fact or a writing strategy.

9^th – And then I sign my name and include my email address. Sometimes the writers you are assigned to in a peer critique session become lifelong critiquer partners are at the very least beta readers for each other.

So, I hope I’ve helped you with writing critiques. Now I have to get back to a ballet dancer who would rather be step dancing, a girl who is hoping to be asked to the prom by the right guy, a young girl who was taken hostage by an Indian tribe, a siren who has one day to live, a ghost who won’t go away, and a social outcast who has fey blood.

I think I’ll be busy for a while! J