[stylist] posting, critiquing and editing

[Barbara Hammel]

Like I said, as soon as I finish reading this book--I'm about halfway 
through it--I will also try your exercise.  And I won't cheat by putting one 
here that I've already written.  I'll put one here and try convincing myself 
that it's a rough draft to be improved upon.
Barbara




Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay 
any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose 
any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John 
F. Kennedy
-----Original Message----- 
From: Chris Kuell
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 3:44 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] posting, critiquing and editing

Barbara (and others)

One of the best ways to improve your self-editing and writing skills is to
critique others work. And don't take critique to mean harsh comments, but
rather, how might I make that better? I'm not a poet, and don't feel in the
least qualified to critique poetry, but I do enjoy poetry, and I know I
prefer shorter poems that are subtle, use symbolism and leave me wondering.
I love a strong image that is expressed in a way that has never occurred to
me.

I'm more comfortable critiquing prose. I think I have fairly good editing
skills in that area, in part because I've been studying others work for
years. I know most of the rules, yes, but I also recognize things that don't
work, or when a writer overuses a certain word or phrase, or has a POV
shift, or has flat, cookie-cutter characters, etc... It's much easier to
spot in others work, but it also helps me to see it in my own.

One idea on sparking life into this group is to post and do writing
exercises. An example would be to write something--poem, short story,
memoir, whatever--about Christmas. Set a deadline and everybody post
something, and comment/critique others posts. I believe it would help us all
to grow as writers, but when I tried this a few years ago it went over about
as well aspickle flavored ice cream.

chris



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