The Critique
May 1, 2002
7:16 a.m.
I got to work on another story this morning. This time I have only the vaguest of notions where I'm really going from moment to moment, but I like the character and his situation and I like where it's going to end. So I'm exploring.   I have not updated this page for a couple days. Here is why. As most writers do, I occasionally critique work by other writers. I had recently promised someone I would read their work and respond. They delivered it last week, and I tried to get right on it. The problem was that the work was "book one' of a series, and rang it at something over a hundred pages, nearly an official novel. I hunkered down, and got close to finishing over the weekend. I finished the read Monday morning by using time I normally apply to my own writing (and this site). Yes, I am a giving person sometimes. The good news was that I really didn't have to spend any time developing the usual write-up. I didn't have to do this, because, you see ... I used my normal writing time yesterday morning to deliver the critique. Yes, this writer actually came downstairs to my desk at 5:30 or so and listened to me talk about her work for nearly an hour. I told her it was a really good first draft--that I had read several other first drafts of this size that weren't nearly so good. I told her, in fact, that I had written first drafts this size that weren't nearly so good. But I also told her that it had (of course) issues. Then I proceeded to talk about her writing. She asked questions as we went, and when the conversation was done, she discussed ideas that had occurred to her and asked my opinion as to whether I thought they would help the story. Then I went up to take my shower. And Brigid turned around to her computer and started working on the second draft.  Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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