- Joined
- Feb 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,016
- Reaction score
- 1,094
- Location
- Bend, OR
- Website
- www.karenduvall.blogspot.com
Oh, woe is me. I've been with my critique group for a little over 10 years and these folks are terrific. That's not the woe part. The woe has to do with one member who doesn't "get" the story I'm writing and her critiques are woefully unhelpful.
We all write in different genres and I'm the only one who writes fantasy. It's always been somewhat of a problem because a couple of the older members get really confused over anything that doesn't mesh with the real world, but I'd just grit my teeth and take what I could from their feedback.
My latest work is extremely different from anything I've written before, and is very much out there. I love it, it's the best work I've done, and my agent is excited for me to finish it. But this one crit group member (she's in her mid seventies) is struggling with this story because it's dark (to her), and disturbing, and she doesn't understand the plot, and she doesn't like the characters at all. So I get to read through her confused comments and silly questions, and it's driving me just a little insane.
What can I do? I love this group otherwise. We've been together for a long time, we understand each other, and they're brilliant for the most part. They've helped me so much, all except for this one member. I've told her she doesn't have to read my work if it makes her uncomfortable, but I think she feels obligated to as a member of the group. I don't want to upset her, she's a sweet old lady, but I really don't want her to critique my stuff anymore. Can anyone here offer me some advice?
We all write in different genres and I'm the only one who writes fantasy. It's always been somewhat of a problem because a couple of the older members get really confused over anything that doesn't mesh with the real world, but I'd just grit my teeth and take what I could from their feedback.
My latest work is extremely different from anything I've written before, and is very much out there. I love it, it's the best work I've done, and my agent is excited for me to finish it. But this one crit group member (she's in her mid seventies) is struggling with this story because it's dark (to her), and disturbing, and she doesn't understand the plot, and she doesn't like the characters at all. So I get to read through her confused comments and silly questions, and it's driving me just a little insane.
What can I do? I love this group otherwise. We've been together for a long time, we understand each other, and they're brilliant for the most part. They've helped me so much, all except for this one member. I've told her she doesn't have to read my work if it makes her uncomfortable, but I think she feels obligated to as a member of the group. I don't want to upset her, she's a sweet old lady, but I really don't want her to critique my stuff anymore. Can anyone here offer me some advice?