Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Danger, Will Robinson!


I know I'm giving away my age with this picture, but when I was a little girl, I used to love watching Lost In Space.  The Robinson's family robot was one of my favorite characters because it fascinated me whenever that robot would say, "Danger, Will Robinson!" and start flapping those arms.  That family had ventured into the unknown world of outer space and every week I would hold my breath to see if they would survive all the dangers which surrounded them.  Thankfully, they had that robot.


When I was 21 I decided to move from Lafayette, Louisiana to Dallas, Texas and one of the obstacles in my way was the bridge over the Sabine River which connected the two states.  If you were traveling from east to west, the middle of the bridge had a sign at the very top welcoming you to Texas.  I hated that bridge.  It was VERY tall, VERY scary and I didn't have someone like the Robinson's robot to help guide and protect me while I traveled into the unknown life waiting for me in Texas.


Today, writers have people available to guide them on their travels toward becoming a published author. They are called a critique group...a group of like-minded individuals...who are willing to read each other's work and provide input on a variety of topics to improve each other's writing.

But there are some dangers involved that naturally come with belonging to a critique group.  In Kristen Lamb's blog ( http://www.warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/can-critique-groups-do-more-harm-than-good.html ), Kristen brings up valid points for new writers to watch out for when they are choosing a critique group to join.

Unlike those lemmings, I don't want to just hear sugar coated praise about my stories.  I'm a big girl.  I can take it.  I want the truth.  Input that will challenge me to grow as a writer.  A new pair of eyes that will find the flaws in my writing and help me to cull  unnecessary words.  A support group that cares enough about me to offer "tough love" in order for me to polish my manuscript to the brightest, strongest version of itself.


If the life of a writer includes the ups and downs of a roller coaster ride, then a well chosen critique group are the people sitting next to you in that cart.  They are ready to cheer you on and celebrate each victory along the way.  The Robinsons might have had that robot, but I've got my rocking roller coaster buddies.

Hang on everybody, it's going to be an interesting ride!




18 comments:

  1. I love Lost in Space!!!

    And those critique groups are tricky. I've found my best people online. I don't know, maybe it's easier to be brutally honest when you're not face-to-face.

    Those praise-happy groups are worthless!

    sf

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  2. Another wonderful post, Donna! (I just thought of the irony of that! Ha! --But lemmings aside, I meant it!) My critique group has a rule: Be kind, but brutal!

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    1. Hahaha...I do see the irony, Annie! Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you found a group that works for YOU! Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. Thanks, Sarah, for stopping by! My critique groups are online as well and I agree with you...sometimes I think it's easier to say what needs to be said when you are not face to face. But I still say that doesn't help ME if it's just fluff and nothing I can work with...;0)

    I'm glad you are now following my blog and it's not too late to still enter my New Year's contest for some great writer reference books. Check it out...
    http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-yeara-new-easy-contest.html

    Hope you have a wonderful writing day!

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  4. I remember Lost in Space! I think you can catch reruns on one of my TV channels now.

    I'm going to check out that link. I found a great crit group online for the genre I wrote in, but I need to find a more generic-genre group at some point. I agree, online critting is GREAT, and you figure out pretty quickly the critters you can trust to give accurate and helpful feedback.

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    1. Heather, I think you will find many helpful tips on Kristen's blog. She is an established published author and I really enjoy her informative posts! Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Great post, I also remember Lost in Space, though we didn't watch it very often.

    I've been trying to find a crit group near me, but haven't found one yet...

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Melissa. I have a couple of online critique groups but since I work at night, it's hard to find one locally that would meet early in the morning which is when I would need them to meet. Come back any time!

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  6. "Never fear, Smith is here!"

    You're right, praise-lemmings are really no 'aid' at all. I agree with that wholeheartedly, having seen the value of having one-on-one critique/feedback on manuscripts. I'm still working up my courage to find a critique group -- preferably online, that deals with a variety of genres. I need people who are willing to say 'that does not compute' when things don't work.

    On the topic of Lost in Space, have you seen Angela Cartwright's blog? She does some very interesting things in art, altered photography, cool stuff. Calls herself "an unruly artist"

    http://acartwrightstudio.blogspot.com/

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  7. Thanks, scb, for stopping by! And thanks for telling me about that other blog...I will check it out. Come back any time!

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  8. Me too, me too. I am so thankful for my critique group which we have named The Lit Ladies! :) They keep me working on my creative fiction.

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  9. Hi, Margo! Isn't having the right critique group a wonderful thing? Thanks for stopping by and please come back any time!

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  10. Oh gosh... did I comment as scb? Sorry to make you think you had another reader. I must have been signed in to my personal blog. SCB is Small City Beth -- me.

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    1. Lol...that's too funny, Beth! I can barely keep up with this blog since I post every day so I can't imagine handling a second blog as well. I just received a wonderful follower through Network Blog and that amazing lady handles something like 32 blogs! She must be superwoman because I KNOW I couldn't do it...;0)

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    2. 32 blogs? Does she do anything else (including eating and sleeping?) I've been blogging daily with my little mini-series during the comment challenge, but that will wrap up next week. My other blog gets short shrift these days, I'll admit.

      And speaking of short shrift... other things have been getting short shrift around my place as well. I am now going to take down the christmas tree! (fortunately it's small and fake... no needles falling everywhere!)

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  11. Lol...that's funny, Beth. Yeah, I'm presuming that she is what I would definitely call a professional blogger...;0)

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  12. Oh Gosh I read this the other day and when I tried to come back to comment the internet went down. Sorry Donna.
    I loved the Swiss Family Robinson..... gulp that explains my age dosen't it. I smiled at the bridge and your comment of East to West. Here where I live your can go from one side of the country in my city West to East in half an hour...lol.
    As for critique group..... yeah, I hope to soon! Just a tad nervous.

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    1. Diane, I grew up in a small town of about 1500 people so I know what you mean about not having to go far to get to the other end of town. Then again, I lived in a huge city like Dallas, Texas for eight years where there are sections of that city that I NEVER got to see...and maybe that was a good thing!

      As long as you select a group that has YOUR best interests in mind, you will do fine and can only grow as a writer...

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