One more word on critiquing
Loved this post from writer Diana Peterfreund:
But more importantly, what I’m really looking for in a critque is not just to fix the bad stuff, but to make the good stuff better. I’ve been thinking a lot about that old critiquing maxim, “Don’t just say everything’s good.” I used to think that meant pointing out the bad stuff, even if it may hurt the artist’s sensitive feelings about her baby. Now I’m thinking it means that you shouldn’t just let good rest on its laurels. You should point it out when there’s good stuff that can be great.
I remember, last year, getting into debates with other writers who talked about their work being as good as such and such book, or good enough to be published, or good enough to compare with such and such. I don’t think good enough is what we’re striving for. This isn’t government work.
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