Bransforumsfest Critique Exchange

[Claudie]

Hey guys!

When we had the vote for what workshop we wanted during the Bransforumsfest, the Critique exchange came up strong. In order to get as much as we can out of it, we think it'd be best to exchange pages ahead of time. First, though, we need to pair all of you good folks together, and I'll need a bit of information for that.

So, if you are coming to Vegas and wish to participate in the Critique Exchange Workshop, I need to know:

a) Your genre
b) Your audience

I will try to pair people according to these factors. Uneven numbers will form triangles (A critiques B who critiques C who critiques A). If you are a sad panda, alone with your genre/audience, I will match you to the closest thing. Or entrust your fate to the Die God.

As soon as everyone is paired, I'll give you further instructions!

EDIT: The groups are formed! Follow the link to see who you are with, and get further instructions!

[dios4vida]

a) Fantasy (high, epic, sword-and-sorcery)
b) Adult

[Sommer Leigh]

a) Sci-fi
b) YA (older YA, 14 or 15+)

[Margo]

I will try to pair people according to these factors. Uneven numbers will form triangles (A critiques B who critiques C who critiques A).

It's more common (and more helpful, imo) to have groups of three or four or five with everyone critiquing everyone else's work, so each person gets multiple reactions. It's easier to separate a trend in comments from personal taste when you have several opinions to compare.

[Nicole R]

a) Fantasy
b) Adult (though I also have a couple MG pieces, so either audience works for me)

[CharleeVale]

A. Dystopian
B. YA (Older YA)

CV

[Claudie]

I will try to pair people according to these factors. Uneven numbers will form triangles (A critiques B who critiques C who critiques A).

It's more common (and more helpful, imo) to have groups of three or four or five with everyone critiquing everyone else's work, so each person gets multiple reactions. It's easier to separate a trend in comments from personal taste when you have several opinions to compare.

That's a good point, Margo. I think my brain got stuck at "exchange", as though that meant two person. More work, though. I'll build groups if I can, although there's a good chance that means mixing either genre or audience. Any objections to that, group? This isn't just for me, after all!

[dios4vida]

I'll build groups if I can, although there's a good chance that means mixing either genre or audience. Any objections to that, group? This isn't just for me, after all!

I don't have a problem with that. I think a perspective from similar but different genre writers would be awesome, also seeing what others are working on would be great. To be honest, I want to read everyone's WIP, so I'm game for just about anything.

[Claudie]

I don't have a problem with that. I think a perspective from similar but different genre writers would be awesome, also seeing what others are working on would be great. To be honest, I want to read everyone's WIP, so I'm game for just about anything.

Ditto. I'd read everyone's if I could, but the truth is I don't have the time to critique all of them. XD

[CharleeVale]

I agree with all. In fact, I find that critique from outside the genre is sometimes almost MORE helpful, as they don't have genre bias. As I talk about HERE (http://networkedblogs.com/s96yn) in my guest post about critique partners on Sommer's blog. (Shameless plug)

CV

[trixie]

Genre: Adventure w/slight fantasy
Audience: MG

I might be the only MG person, so I can use my YA fantasy piece if that helps.

[dios4vida]

I might be the only MG person, so I can use my YA fantasy piece if that helps.

I say bring the piece that's most ready and that you most want critique on. If you're the only MG person, then so be it. I think we can all learn something, no matter the genre/audience. (Especially since most of us tend to write in the same speculative fiction area.)

[Sommer Leigh]

Well, we could set up groups of 3 people for critiquing, but share our pieces with everyone and those outside the group can provide general feedback if they want to, or specific critiquing if they have time, or just read for fun. I think it will depend on how many people are involved in the critique. If there's only a few of us, it might just be ok for everyone to critique everyone.

My only problem with mixing audiences/genres for critiques is that there are usually some misunderstandings of what they are critiquing. I don't know how to explain this very well - but for example sometimes when I have someone read my work who does not read or write YA, they sometimes get hung up on things that wouldn't work for an adult audiences but are appropriate for the age group. Or they think something mature in the YA story is too mature for YA or that I need to dumb it down for teens because they haven't read YA since they were teens and don't realize how much the YA industry has changed. So my critiques only end up being kind of useful. I think it is important to have people critique you who have at least read recent stuff in that genre/audience age. It's not necessary of course, and I am open to all feedback. I think this group is a good mix of knowledge and backgrounds. I'm just saying in general having someone critique YA who doesn't read or write YA isn't always a good match.

[Cookie]

Genre: fantasy
Audience: adult

[dios4vida]

Genre: fantasy
Audience: adult

Methinks I know who I'm gonna be matched up with!!