[stylist] Plot and Character Development?

[Chris Kuell]

David,

Every successful writer has had either a critique group, or a close circle
of readers who will read and give them honest feedback about their work. It
is impossible to improve without this. Hemmingway, Faulkner, King--all had
people who gave them honest, sometimes blunt, feedback.

The trick is knowing which feedback to trust and implement, and which to
ignore. To develop this knowledge I believe a writer should educate
themselves about their craft. This means reading books on how to improve
your craft, and of course, reading and reading and studying the type of work
you want to write so you figure out what works, and what doesn't. You also
need to get to know your critiquers. Do they know what they are talking
about, or do they just like to hear themselves talk? 

I've belonged to a small online critique group for 15 years or so, and
sometimes the feedback is invaluable. Other times, not so much. But I do
know each person who is critiquing, and what their strengths are. Some
people focus on nitpicky little stuff, and others give 'big picture'
criticisms. Equipped with this knowledge you can take in the criticism and
mull it over, deciding for yourself if they have a good point, or not.

It is of course impossible to comment on the person who critiqued you
without reading your story. I can say, generally speaking, it is difficult
to do much character development in a 1500 word short story. Most stories of
this length are necessarily plot driven. However, there are billions of
stories out there, and equally as many ways to tell them. As Bridgit said, a
critique group can be a good gauge as to how your particular story telling
went. If everybody responds positively, obviously that's good. If a lot of
people had critiques, you might need to do further revising. Either way, the
best critic should be you. If you have studied your craft, and know the ins
and out of good writing, and have read both good and bad writing, you will
be the best judge of your work and what to do with it.

Chris