Quotes and Cookies: My new favorite quote on critiques

New York was INCREDIBLE! So. Very. Incredible. I am still lagging way behind in the game of catch-up, and haven't even gotten a chance to look at my pictures yet, but I will do a post on it soon.

I recently ran across a quote that I think is brilliant! For a long time, I've heard (and totally believe in) two different pieces of advice that I've had a hard time reconciling.

The first piece of advice is that you need to have a good (and very strong) sense of your book, so when critiquers suggest you do different things, you know which voices to listen to. If you don't, your book will head a million different directions, trying to please everyone, and it'll end up worse than when you started.

I totally believe in this.

The second I'm not sure if I've ever heard, or if it's just the way I feel. Whenever I hear about an issue from a critique partner, I figure that person represents a slice of the bigger pie that will one day be my readers. If I don't find a way to address that issue, then all the people that critique partner represents will have the same issue.

I totally believe in this, too.

Yet they seem to be at odds with each other.

Then I ran across a quote from Neil Gaiman that explains why those two can both be true, and coexist. Are you ready? Here it is:

"Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."

~Neil Gaiman

I had never heard this quote before, which surprises me. The thing is pure gold! There's a big difference between a critique partner bringing an issue to your attention, and them telling you how to fix it. (Which explains why you sometimes really bristle at a suggestion.) And of course, asking a critique partner to brainstorm ways in which the issue could be fixed is something else entirely, and can be so so so helpful.

Now that we've had such a breakthrough, let's skip the cookies and go straight for the donuts, shall we?

Thank you, Shutterstock.com!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!!

Auction: **TODAY ONLY!**

Hey, guys! How the heck are you? I’m doing GREAT! I finished second round revisions on Friday (which feels SO unbelievably good!), and now I’m on vacation with my family. Right now, I am probably.... playing a board game, or swimming in the pool.

BUT, I’ve got to tell you something! Have you heard of Crits for Water? It is an amazing three month even that Kat Brauer organizes every year to auction off critiques to raise money to get drinkable water in third world countries. It’s made an incredible difference! The extra cool thing is, in these villages that have been helped, the kids no longer have to walk for 4 or 5 hours a day to haul water into town, so they can now go to school. It’s one of those charities that just makes you warm all over.

This year, a critique of mine, along with two other Luckies, is being auctioned! I was so excited when Kat asked me to participate!

Now obviously I really want you guys to consider going to bid on my critique. I’m a little weirded out by selling myself, so Infomercial Announcer Dave has graciously offered to do it for me. Take it away, Dave!

And up today, we have a critique of 2500 words! Peggy will give suggestions on how to make your manuscript stronger, and let you know where it’s strengths are. (If you're looking for positive affirmations and only want to hear the strengths-- Peggy looks like a fairly nice person. I bet that could be arranged.) 

And for the icing on the cake, you get critiques by two authors! The second is by the lovely and talented Caroline Carlson. These two authors will not collaborate on their critiques, so if one author suggests something, but you wonder if it's something that's just that one author's preference or a broader issue, you can also see if the other author had the same suggestion!

Aaaaand for the sprinkles on the icing, the fabulous Stephanie Kuehn will also critique your query and synopsis, getting you ready for submission! All for the same auction bid!

Need further convincing? I have four of Peggy’s critique partners here, to let you know what to expect from a critique. Come on down, CPs! Tell us what you think!

“Peggy is an exceptional critiquer. Not only is she prompt, 

but she is also dedicated, honest, and positive. I can always

count on Peggy for direct feedback expressed in a way that

helps me make my story better.”

~Jessie Humphries

“Peggy Eddleman has a great sense of story and character, 

and her critiques help me take my story where I really want

it to go without losing any of my own style.”

~Jason Manwaring

“I've worked with Peggy Eddleman for the last few years. 

She's helped me mold my writing and develop my skill. In 

fact, she once critiqued my query letter, giving me key tips

 that landed me a half dozen requests for my manuscript. 

Her skill in finding what isn't working with a manuscript is 

worth gold.”

~Erin Summerill

“In short, Peggy is my refiner's fire. I can give her the most 

polished material, read and approved by several, and she 

manages to spot the real problems and brings them to my 

attention, in a feel-good way. She's knows her stuff. Any 

aspiring or accomplished writer would do themselves well 

by having her critique their work.”

~David Powers King

So head on over to Crits for Water right away! The auction ends TONIGHT. Yes, folks, Monday night at midnight, EST. So hurry! 

Here you go, Peggy. The mike is yours.

Thanks, Infomercial Announcer Dave! And if you want to see what crits are coming up for auction, go here. Not only can you get a great crit, but you are HELPING VILLAGES GET WATER. One of the most basic needs in the world, and you can help them get it. How freaking cool is that?