Critiquing in Faith
by
Patricia
Reece Krugel
ACFW - Scribes 218
Recently,
while mulling over the aspects of writing an article on critiquing, I recalled the
blessings I had received. These were unexpected blessings that came as a direct
result of pouring over other writers’ chapters. It was from examining the
efforts of others that I received more knowledge on how to improve my writing—skills
I would need if I ever wanted to effectively labor for the Lord.
I
sat down at my keyboard to write that article. It occurred to me, then, I
really hadn’t thought that much about the technique, since I somehow managed to
do a reasonable job.
After
starting several drafts, struggling each time to explain what transpired, I realized
the only way to tell this was to forget about coming at it from a cerebral
perspective. I should write about the process. So I did, and here it is.
I
downloaded a chapter, selected “Review” on the menu and clicked on “Track Changes”.
The easy part behind me, I started to work through the chapter, looking for what
didn’t seem to flow or make sense to me. At the same time, I attempted to track
the contents for any unfinished thoughts or actions.
As
I read, something surprising happened. I lost my place and fell into the
chapter, unable to hold the complete story in my memory, thus making it
impossible for me to single out what could possibly help the writer. Unwilling
to give up, I started over and crawled through that chapter until I could point
out what didn’t seem to fit for me, the reader. It wasn’t easy, or quick, but I
stayed at it. A defeating spirit of fear attacked with thoughts such as, ‘You can’t say that. You’ll hurt their
feelings’, or ‘You’re not accurate.’
Finally, though, I did finish. I had poured over that chapter for just over two
hours.
My
penchant for small details had surfaced, too. A trait that drove my husband to the
point of eyeballs tipped up, whites showing. This became especially so, when I
acted on that little voice inside my head—the one that said, ‘You’ve got to tell that writer every little detail.
Don’t overlook a thing.’
Would
the small details of all those remarks twang the nerves of the person receiving
my critique? I didn’t know, but I had to be truthful with the writer. Reason
insisted I should leave something for others to comment on; however, that urge
to cover it all surged through me.
A
willingness to help kept me bent over my keyboard. I found that I would need more
time than I could spare to fulfill my obligations unless something changed. I
worked to absorb the chapters more quickly, while I still tracked the details.
After a while I managed to cut my two hours down to less than one.
I
developed a routine.
- First, do a read-through while I made notations.
- Then lay the chapter aside until later—in some cases the next day.
- Finally, go through it again, checking to see if the previous remarks still applied.
Soon,
my life settled into a daily struggle to write my own good story while I worked
to stay up with completing my partners’ critiques.
I
learned important things during those years. One significant discovery was that
critiquing the work of others made me a better writer.
The
instruction books that lined my coffee table, lay around my writing room, and inhabited
other areas of my home, were just one way of learning the skills needed for good
writing. When I critiqued another’s work, I gained more experience with the
organization of narrative and dialog, as well as how to use timed, effective
beats.
I
cannot point to any one person or manuscript as an example. Still, critiquing a
variety of genres while continuing to work on succeeding chapters by the same
writers, brought a better flow to my own work. I found my words and ideas fit
into my manuscript more easily than before I had joined a critique group.
Another
thing I found was how important the Lord was in my struggle to critique, as I took
my burdens to Him. “But…but, Lord, I didn’t mean to say it like that. Did I
hurt their feelings from marking so much that I thought needed an improvement?”
The quiet response resonated in my spirit. I was to always be honest in my
opinions.
Occasionally
I would go back to review my critiques, after they went out, just to be sure I
was satisfied with the job I’d done. This was especially good if I didn’t have any
communication with the person after that, although most writers send a thank
you. Then, once in a while, the Lord would
convict me on a callused response or an unclear or hastily written remark. When
that happened, I contacted the writer to more fully explain my remark. Through
all this, I found a kinder way to make my comments.
It
took me awhile to mature in my writing experience. Slowly, I learned to follow
the Lord’s instructions on what to focus on—what was important.
God
didn’t speak directly to me, but to my spirit. I understood so clearly that I had
a responsibility to His other Christian writers. Were they under attack from
the author of confusion, the great deceiver that comes to wreak havoc on the
Lord’s writers? I didn’t know what was going on in their lives, so I worked to
soften my responses—a kind of diplomacy I didn’t have before, if you will.
Every
so often I go back to the Lord with my uncertainties. He places that desire in
me to discount feelings or thoughts of inadequacy. Simply do the work and enjoy
it, as I learn.
It
has been ten years since I joined the craft of writing, and almost that long
since my discovery that I work for the Lord, not myself. I still marvel at some
of the things I experienced under His patient, guiding hand.
No one should ever
write alone. I think we must open our hearts and talents to help others. After I
become a published author, I’ll consider myself under assignment, taking my
instructions from the great author, Himself.
When
I shall come under attack from the deceiver as I write on the front lines for my
Lord, and I surely will, I will receive exactly what I have sown into my
efforts. No one has ever picked grapes from an apple tree, no matter how much
they desire a cluster. If I want patience with my work, I should be patient while
critiquing the work of others. Regardless of how many times I point out an issue.
Who knows, that person may learn by rote—repetition. If so, they have a
difficult enough time already.
One
problem for me was POV. How could I critique a writer’s work if I didn’t understand
that, myself? I was sure no one ever suffered like I did, trying to master that
elusive skill. But, largely from working with critique groups, I finally did
learn. Then I wanted to do cartwheels as I shouted that I now understood. If
you have just started to write, spend some time in the trenches critiquing
manuscripts. You’ll receive skills that you need.
There
is one important thing that the critique process has made clear to me in the
years I’ve struggled to write. God is good. He doesn’t call anyone to write
without providing what they need to be successful. We are required to learn. If
we don’t we won’t progress. But He will send people to us with suggestions or other
things we need to move forward. As long as we are faithful to write, He is
faithful to help us.
It’s
my firm belief that a writer is not blessed with a story only to have it not
succeed. It may be, in fact; that what we’re writing isn’t necessarily what
we’re called to write. That story stuck in our craw, the one we feel He’s put
in our spirit, could have been put there as an exercise in learning how to
write. The big one that we write could be yet to come. We have to trust Him in
all we do, believe that He will do exactly what His word says, because in the
end we can only do it through Him and expect to be content in our work.
When
I work for the Lord, I hold my position. Chapters that irritate me in a read-through
cause me to double down in prayer when I critique them. If you feel you’d like
to improve on your critiques, then ask the Lord to help you. Roll up your sleeves,
put away your doubts, and get started
God
is the giver of all good things. If He intends for a writer to succeed, they
will.
Copyright 2015
Patricia Reece Kriugel
