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Helpful Criticism #IWSG

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Loni Townsend

Today, I’m not insecure. One might think I have some great tidbit of wisdom on how to achieve such a state. I don’t. But I can tell you how I got there, at least for today.

I know some of my primary weaknesses in writing, one of which is building/conveying emotions. Lately, I’ve been working on that. I knew, based on feedback, that a prologue of mine didn’t build reader empathy. I tried to correct it on my own. Maybe I needed a “Save the Cat!” scene for my characters? I revised, and then hit up my group in the IWSG Critique Circle.

My changes didn’t quite pull off the positive effect I was hoping for.

My partners in the IWSGCC made some actionable suggestions. Have the character put up more of a fight. Give more face time with the bad guy. Have the character show more concern.

I already knew I have an issue with inappropriately unconcerned characters. It happens with all of my characters.

Cera: Oh, my guardian is dying? How about I go on date.
Derek: Oh, my hand is numb and I have weird black veins. Man, I’m hungry.
MaTisha: Oh, my blood is the wrong color. Can I get something to drink?

Unfortunately, when I tried to correct that with LaTonya, it went to the melodramatic side. Ah well. But after getting feedback, I realized the key to emotions is more in the timing and narration clues. I haven’t mastered that yet. But with practice, I should be able to get there.

I have direction. Because of that, I’m not insecure.

What are you insecure about? What are your major writing downfalls? Do you have someone who can help you overcome them?

About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
InsecureWritersSupportGroup
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.

37 thoughts on “Helpful Criticism #IWSG”

  1. CD Gallant-King says:
    June 3, 2015 at 9:37 AM

    My biggest downfall is hitting “publish” before I’m 100% ready.

    Seriously though, I think I need to sign up for one of the critique circles…

    Congratulations on making progress and positive strides! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Arlee Bird says:
    June 3, 2015 at 9:42 AM

    The awareness of what needs to be done to succeed is the biggest step toward defeating insecurity.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Road trippin’ with A to Z
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  3. Beth says:
    June 3, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    awesome post! you’re aware and that’s all that matters! I had a Save the Cat moment too recently. Sometimes my characters come across shallow so I’m working extra hard to get those moments in early on now!

    Reply
  4. Kai Strand says:
    June 3, 2015 at 10:11 AM

    You’re examples of inappropriate character responses are hysterical. I have the same problem. I get so focused on what’s happening I forget the characters involved will react. Good constructive input is great, isn’t it. Glad you have a good circle. I love my critters.

    Reply
  5. Emma Adams says:
    June 3, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    I struggle writing character emotions, too, though I’ve got better at it. My characters all used to act like robots. 😛

    Reply
  6. Julie Flanders says:
    June 3, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    I could really use some direction right now. I have been floundering more than a little bit lately. Kudos to you!

    Reply
  7. Melissa Maygrove says:
    June 3, 2015 at 10:44 AM

    I just sent my MS to my beta readers. I have plenty to be insecure about. LOL But my hero saves the cat–literally! 😛

    IWSG #126 until Alex culls the list again.

    Reply
  8. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    June 3, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    That’s awesome the Critique Circle group was able to help. Knowing what we are lacking is half the battle.

    Reply
  9. Tracy says:
    June 3, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    Having direction is always huge! That is what will stop me when I’m not sure which way to go. Wonderful that you’re feeling good today!

    Reply
  10. C.G.Coppola says:
    June 3, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    You’re working on your stuff – really paying attention to what you need to improve on (and everyone has something) Glad you’re in a good mood today too!

    Reply
  11. Michael Di Gesu says:
    June 3, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Hi, Loni…

    LOVED your character’s responses… but I do see the problem. LOL. I know you’ll work theme out. Just put YOURSELF in their place and react….

    Thankfully emotion and atmosphere are my trademarks as a writer, so no insecurities about that. But in life….

    Reply
  12. Lori L. MacLaughlin says:
    June 3, 2015 at 12:02 PM

    You sound so confident, and that’s great! It’s such a good feeling to know where you’re going and what you need to work on.

    Reply
  13. Southpaw HR Sinclair says:
    June 3, 2015 at 12:31 PM

    “Oh, my hand is numb and I have weird black veins. Man, I’m hungry.”

    The tickled my funny bone.

    Reply
  14. Tyrean Martinson says:
    June 3, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    That’s awesome that you have direction! I struggle with description – as in, not enough of it. I don’t describe scenes or characters well even if I know what they look like in my head. This also falls over into showing character emotion . . . agh.
    However, I have had some recent help with description and I’ve appreciated it.

    Reply
  15. Chrys Fey says:
    June 3, 2015 at 12:41 PM

    I will always remember the original ending for This World Bites and how Cera was so nonchalant about what happened to Duke. Hehe! 😛

    I’ve actually been working on adding more emotion to my characters and the things they do. I thought I was good as it but a beta reader told me otherwise. I guess you can’t have enough emotional response.

    Reply
  16. Liz Blocker (@lizblocker) says:
    June 3, 2015 at 1:59 PM

    Actionable crits are the ONLY crits that help – I’m so so so glad you got some of those! And I think the best any of us can do is know our weaknesses and work on them. No one is without weaknesses, even the greats, but the process of figuring out what they are is NOT easy. So I think you’re in a great spot.

    And hey, sometimes when your characters are inappropriately unconcerned, it’s really funny, in a very good way 🙂

    Reply
  17. Madeline says:
    June 3, 2015 at 2:05 PM

    Having a direction to go in is a wonderful thing. Good luck, Loni! You can do it!

    Reply
  18. Cherie Reich says:
    June 3, 2015 at 2:11 PM

    We all have weaknesses to work on. I think the key is knowing your weaknesses and taking strides to do better, which it sounds like you’re doing. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Jennifer L. Hawes says:
    June 3, 2015 at 3:53 PM

    Feedback is so vitally important in this business! I wish I could be totally secure in my writing. The more I write though, the better my writing becomes and the more confident I feel. Hope you have a great month!

    Reply
  20. Jay Noel says:
    June 3, 2015 at 6:07 PM

    I think many of us are insecure about the unknowns. Being aware of where you are, what you’re doing, and what needs to be done does tend to push aside the fears and insecurities. Me, I’m always running around like crazy, so insecurity is my friend.

    Reply
  21. Christine Rains says:
    June 3, 2015 at 8:33 PM

    Your characters made me laugh! Happy to hear you’re not insecure and that you’re working hard. I’m lucky to have some great CPs that keep me on track. Me, sometimes I move things along too quickly, and they poke me to slow things down.

    Reply
  22. Nick Wilford says:
    June 3, 2015 at 9:54 PM

    Good for you for knowing what needs fixed, you’ll get there I’m sure. CPs are worth their weight in gold, I would be totally floundering without mine!

    Reply
  23. Roland Clarke says:
    June 4, 2015 at 4:16 AM

    Biggest downfall, in my writing, is probably my use of clever/obscure phrases. Scene is straighforwardish and then I throw in a phrase to make the reader think…. that’s clever NOT; what the hell does he mean. Great brake in reader attention 🙁

    Reply
  24. Rachna Chhabria says:
    June 4, 2015 at 10:55 AM

    If you are aware of your writing mistakes, then its half the battle won. Now, all you have to do is to fix it. I have strong critique partners to point out my mistakes.

    Rachna Chhabria
    Co-host IWSG
    Rachna’s Scriptorium

    Reply
  25. stephen tremp says:
    June 4, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    My editor helps me with my downfalls. We connect on so many things that I could not imagine bot having his input on any project.

    Stephen Tremp
    http://www.stephentremp.com

    Reply
  26. al diaz says:
    June 4, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    It’s a great help that you have people available who can tell you what you need to do to improve. It is even greater that you can deal with criticism the right way and feel enthusiastic about working harder and getting better at what you do. No doubt with time, you’ll be able to build emotion as you need. 🙂 Keep working!

    Reply
  27. Jeri says:
    June 4, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    My biggest writing challenge continues to be focus. I wrote a novel, but turns out I’m more drawn to creative nonfiction. Go figure. All that’s on the back burner for now, but at least with the editing gigs I can still be part of the literary world while I think about the types of books I ultimately want to publish. I’m definitely not of the camp who knows beyond a doubt what sort of books I am best served to write. So I guess knowing I haven’t found my “true” focus is a good teacher in and of itself.

    Reply
  28. Lexa Cain says:
    June 4, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    I’m just like you – sort of a Spock-ish writer. I feel uncomfortable writing emotion. But I’ve been at it for a long time and my CPs have helped a lot. Don’t worry – you’ll hit the sweet spot between unconcern and melodrama with practice!

    Reply
  29. Ava Quinn says:
    June 4, 2015 at 3:01 PM

    So glad you got the direction you needed! Way to go crit group! I don’t think there’s enough room on the comment form to share all the things I’m insecure about right now.

    Reply
  30. Patricia Lynne says:
    June 4, 2015 at 3:44 PM

    Having direction should help you figure out how to strength what you want. Good luck.

    Reply
  31. Mason T. Matchak says:
    June 4, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    I never thought about it that way, but you’re right – knowing that you have issues and figuring out how to fix them goes a long way toward fighting insecurity.

    I know that one of my own issues is making sure I’m conveying in the text what the characters are actually doing. I’ll see them doing things in my head, but I have to make sure the text actually says that. But it’s something I know to watch out for, so I don’t worry about it as much. I just try to be really careful about that.

    Reply
  32. M.J. Fifield says:
    June 5, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    It’s always nice to have direction, as well as people who can help you out. These days, I’m feeling as though everything I do is a writing downfall, but I sent some pages off to a trusted beta and waiting for the opinion of someone who isn’t me.

    Happy writing!

    Reply
  33. Sarah says:
    June 5, 2015 at 4:55 PM

    Hahaha! 😀 Love the dialogue you’ve got going on with your IUCs (inappropriately unconcerned characters). I suppose a “Save the Cat!” scene couldn’t hurt. (No, please don’t. Much as I adore cats…) Your writing is awesome so trust your instincts. Also, so wonderful that you have your group.

    Reply
  34. dolorah says:
    June 6, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    It is hard to get the emotions exactly right. Even when you know what needs to be done. Grrgh.

    Reply
  35. Milo James Fowler says:
    June 7, 2015 at 11:14 AM

    I think we might get insecure when we feel lost. With a clear direction, there’s no need to be insecure. Atta girl!

    Reply
  36. TB Markinson says:
    June 9, 2015 at 6:57 AM

    Knowing the issue is a big step and it’ll take time and advice from your partners to work out the kinks. We all have areas we need to work on.

    Reply
  37. Kristin Smith says:
    June 10, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    I had to laugh at your character examples! But I think that’s great that you recognize your weakness and are trying to improve! We all have things we need to improve in our writing. I know I do… 🙂

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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