Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Being Thankful

Since Thanksgiving is two days away, it seems appropriate, and perhaps corny, to reflect on all that we are thankful for.

I am thankful for my critique group. (I am thankful for a great many other things as well, but since this is a blog about writing and critiquing, I'll spare you my list.)

I recently had an online experience that made me appreciate the thoughtful, thorough, and honest critiques that come from the members of this group. Perhaps I went into the online experience with the wrong expectations. Perhaps I am spoiled in expecting fellow writers to give constructive criticism instead of comments like, "I don't think this is well written" or "This isn't my thing". What is an author supposed to take from a comment like that? I suppose one could just ignore them, but then what is the point of them being posted in the first place?

Like many experiences in life, I try to learn something good from the bad. I've learned to keep things in perspective and appreciate what I do have rather than what I don't.

Thank you, Linda, Gale, Judy, Janice, Brianna, Valerie, Eileen, and Robin for your constructive and supportive critiques. I hope I give as good as I get.

What are you thankful for?

9 comments:

  1. It is a time of the year to stop for a minute and express thankful thoughts about family.

    I consider my critique groups as extended family. So yes, a thank you to my fellow wordsmiths. I have more in common with you than I do with some of my relatives!

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  2. I'm thankful for our fabulous fearless leader. Kidding.

    Seriously, this is the best damn critique group I've ever been in. (I just ended a sentence with a preposition. Critique that!) Between everyone's spot-on critiques, encouragement, overall likability, and talent, I couldn't ask for more--except a male member. That sounds a little risque, doesn't it?

    Happy thanksgiving!

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  3. Oh, how I miss you all!! I'm thankful that I'm able to continue our relationship in cyberspace. While it doesn't take the place of the real thing, it makes me feel a little less lonely in this writing journey.

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  4. I'm thankful that my time in this critique group has led me to love and appreciate children's literature even more than I did before joining. And I'm thankful to have fellow children's writers to turn to when others don't understand that writing for children is real writing.

    I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was beautiful on the Boardwalk.

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  5. I have a long-suffering, honest critique group which I have had to take a long vacation from, and I am thankful that they haven't dumped me yet. I'm also grateful that I have reread my two completed ms and spotted their flaws for myself. I could cry my eyes right out, but I'm still grateful.

    And I am very grateful for the online groups where I have met so many helpful fellow writers! VKs has given me worlds of support and encouragement.

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  6. Uh oh -- that should be 'VK's'. I forget the apostrophe...

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  7. Oh for pity's sake -- I meant 'forgot'.

    I blame it on my teenagers. I've been hemming up jeans and my fingers are sore...

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  8. Mary - At least your teens let you hem their pants! Mine used to just let them drag on the ground.

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  9. See - there is always SOMETHING for which to be thankful!

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