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Critque

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pathele:
I have a couple of questions about critques.
1) How long do you wait in your projects before you let someone critque it? (ie. first draft, second draft, when I'm satisfied)

2) Do you use a critque checklist? If so, how did you develope it?

I am about 3/4 of the way through the first draft of my current novel. My usual reader has asked when I am going to let her read it.
I haven't decided yet. But it got me wondering what the rest of you do.

-paul

Mickey Finn:
I do it by chapter, like Jim does. Alot of folks don't.

Darwinist:
I tried the by chapter suggestion and it got a bit frustrating. For an established series like Butcher's Codex and Dresden series, it's probably not so difficult because the premise, idea, characters, and scenery are already well established. But if you're starting from scratch with something new - it can be nerve racking imo if the beta reader has to wait between chapters. Details, ideas, characters tend to get forgotten.

meg_evonne:

--- Quote from: pathele on August 20, 2009, 03:10:27 PM ---1) How long do you wait in your projects before you let someone critque it? (ie. first draft, second draft, when I'm satisfied)-paul

--- End quote ---

And, uh, not to be mean or anything, but Mr Butcher is a pro and already has a solid outline and let's face it--is freaking, awesomely, good at what he does. (Same for Mickey, I'm sure!) 

For us--uhm, normal writers it's another world.  I suspect we would drive our readers insane with all the changes and we'd have to bug them forever.  (I'm not counting spouses and significant others, cause they sort of have to read as part of their commitment to you!)  To be honest, I prefer to wait until I've worked with my editor who can find the content mistakes that I missed.  Such as --"oh what do you mean, you didn't catch what I said back in Chapter 10?", "okay,let me go back and re-emphasize it cause I'm a clutz and an idiot."  Worse yet, how embarrassing to realize that a character did something that came out of left field--because I THOUGHT I included it earlier." 

I just finished a YA, 1st of 3, but didn't chart out all three completely--so, writing in two, realized I had to go back to 1 and handle problems to set up 2 and 3.  And guess what?  I know I'll have to do it again at least once or more.  Mr Butcher has 20 slotted and set.  Blows my mind.

Oh,yeah, definitely in the later department for me.  :-) Now watch Neurovoure, Liz, Rob, Seekmore and others give you an entirely different take!

 

Writing, I've learned is as individual as the writer.   edited as I used the wrong quote.

seekmore:

--- Quote from: pathele on August 20, 2009, 03:10:27 PM ---I have a couple of questions about critques.
1) How long do you wait in your projects before you let someone critque it? (ie. first draft, second draft, when I'm satisfied)
--- End quote ---

I have a handful of people I run initial ideas and various things by as I'm writing "Does this sound right...?", "This paragraph...is something off to you?", "My main character's reaction seems realistic here, right?"

When I've completed my first draft(which in actuality is hundreds of tiny drafts fitted together...I'm kind of anal about it), I have three people I send it to:

My brother: critical, a perfectionist, well-read
My mother: good with language, and great with a red pen
My friend: critical, unforgiving, and a good story-teller

Once they shoot holes through it, the second draft begins.

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