by Bobbie Christmas
Q: I’m unhappy with my critique circle, and it took me a long time to find this one. I need advice. Our circle is open, so anyone can show up and get feedback. It sounds ideal, but it isn’t. Quite often the crowd is so big that we never get around to critiquing the pages I’ve brought. Everything goes downhill from there, if that’s possible. During the critiques, the bravest, boldest, or loudest people jump in with suggestions for improvement, and many of the folks repeat the same things, which is a waste of time. If I have anything to add, I’m too overwhelmed—or maybe too polite—to jump in and speak.
It gets worse. Some people bring so many pages that there is hardly any time left for anyone else to read. When the leader asks who wants to go next, the boldest or loudest people get priority again.
In addition, some of the regulars email their pages—sometimes long chapters—for us to evaluate at home and bring in to the next circle, and that’s a problem too. I could spend all my time critiquing the work of others at home and have no time to write my own novels. It was hard enough to find this critique circle. Is something wrong with me? What can I do?
A: Shy people, quiet folks, introverts, and newcomers often find themselves overwhelmed in similar situations, so don’t beat yourself up. You’re not alone, and you have several good options.
If you want to improve the critique circle you’re in, you will have to take the leader aside or write the leader an email and outline your specific suggestions for improvement. Good leaders appreciate constructive suggestions. When I was in charge of a circle more than twenty years ago, someone in the circle approached me after a meeting and said she wanted to quit.
She said, “I have things to add, but everyone talks over me, and I can’t get a word in.” She made a good point, and I promised the next meeting would be better. At the next meeting I handed out a printed agenda of how our circle would operate. First, I would pick the first person to read up to five double-spaced pages, and no more. Next the person to that person’s right would give constructive criticism, followed by the next person to the right, until we went around the full circle. If something had already been said, rather than repeat the same suggestion, a participant was to say, “I pass,” or “I have nothing more to add.” After everyone had a chance to speak, the person to the right of the prior speaker read his or her five pages next, until everyone had a chance to read and critique, without interruption or repetition.
In a critique circle that’s always open to newcomers, I suggest the following: The first time people come to the critique circle, they should get to introduce themselves briefly and then listen and respond to other readers, but not read anything until they come a second time. When I had open circles, sometimes people came once and never came back, so not letting newbies get instant gratification helped keep things under control.
If indeed you decide you need to find another critique circle, though, I highly recommend starting your own. In that way you set the rules, you choose the members, you pick the genre or type of writing the circle will address, and you can decide whether it’s open or closed. I have a complete report on how to start and run a stress-free (no homework) critique circle. If you’d like the free report, send me an email at Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
Q: I composed a children’s book in Microsoft PowerPoint. The font is twenty-four-point Arial. I drew the illustrations myself, scanned them as separate documents, and copy/pasted them into the PowerPoint page containing the text. I may have violated a style/format rule by doing what I did, so I need to know if I have to reformat the document to meet the criteria for editing. Must I submit my electronic document as a Microsoft Word document? Is Word the prerequisite for all editors?
A: First, do not panic! Yes, Microsoft Word is the software program I prefer to accept when I edit electronically, and most editors prefer it as well. Publishers prefer it too, so a good habit to form is to write all manuscripts in Word in standard manuscript format (twelve-point Times New Roman, double-spaced). I will not edit in PowerPoint; however, you have several potential solutions. While I cannot speak for other editors and their requirements, I will accept files several ways. First, you can print out the pages and mail them to me. I will edit the hard copy with red ink and mail them back to you.
Your next alternative is to turn the file into a PDF document and email it, and I will print it out, edit the printed copy with red ink, and return it to you by mail.
You can also copy the text and paste it into a Word file and email it, to have me electronically edit it. You can then copy and paste the edited text into the PowerPoint document to replace the unedited text.
In short, even if you plan to self-publish, it’s always better to create the original manuscript in Word. Doing so makes it easier for you to make changes and makes editing easier as well. In addition Word is the program most publishers prefer. After the editing is completed, only then is it appropriate to design the layout of the actual book. If you have already made the mistake of laying out your book in a design program before the book is edited, though, all is not lost. As I have explained, most editors will find a way to work with you anyway. I cannot speak for potential publishers, though. I understand that most of them prefer a Word document, which they then lay out in a program such as InDesign.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.