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Friday, June 30, 2006

Devil's Advocate

I love my crit partner.

She read THE ROAD TO HELL in one day. She got back to me immediately, highlighting the parts that she adored and worked very well, and putting a magnifying glass to those parts that didn't work so well.

We backed and forthed in email, played with some plot ideas, discarded others. After a false start, I got broadsided with an epiphany. I ran it by my crit partner. And she said it was fantastic.

And so I've been tweaking the draft. Next draft. Whatever it's called. Added 4,000 words, a new chapter, and moved one part of the story up to the front. I'm tightening the plot to make sure character motivation is clear...and that the plot is streamlined. And I really think this will kick me out of "character-driven" into "plot-driven." Small changes that add up to big-ticket items.

So hats off to the Devil's Advocate, my very own crit partner. If THE ROAD TO HELL works, it's all her fault.

Smooches, C.P. :-*

4 Comments:

At 1:05 PM, Ewoh Nairb said...: I would venture to say that it is all your fault... and your crit-partner is just an accomplice.

I talked to my longest-time writing buddy about being my crit-partner... but I'm just not getting the feedback that I need from them.

Might have to stick with the writers groups for crit until I find someone I click with. They aren't bad, but there is so much conflicting or opposing feedback it makes it much more difficult to wade through and choose direction.

Sorry for the ramble, but I thought you could use some comments on your blog and no one else was stepping up to bat.

I'll need to start cracking on finding you new and awesome swag to use for the promo of this new book. I got lucky on the idea I found for you for HB. Now I have to live up to that stroke of luck :D
At 11:15 PM, Stacia D. Kelly said...: *goes and hides because she's been a horrible crit-partner lately*

Having a good crit-partner is truly cruical to helping one tighten their stories. Glad you have a great one to help you with that!!!
At 11:51 AM, Ewoh Nairb said...: Sybir, that came out harsher than I meant.

You are just busy and trying to write too. It's just hard to schedule time with you is all.

I'm sorry if my comment sounded like you weren't good at reviews and crits.
At 11:36 PM, Jackie said...: Sorry, I've been kidnapped by MySpace!

Ewoh, it's not easy finding the right crit partner. I have a number of fabulous readers, including the folks in my crit group. But a reader isn't the same thing as a crit partner. Sometimes, it's trial and error. Me, I got lucky. :)

And Sybir, I bet you're an awesome crit partner. :-*