Comments for K.L. Gore's Blog http://blog.klgore.com Author Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:38:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on How To Run a Successful Critique Group by Gore Wehner http://blog.klgore.com/2010/05/21/how-to-run-a-successful-critique-group/#comment-1129 Gore Wehner Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:16:14 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/05/21/how-to-run-a-successful-critique-group/#comment-1129 Very interesting comment you've made, Dave. Certainly if one wishes to receive harsh, honest feedback for one's work, a writer needs to be very receptive to criticism. As a fellow writer, I find this a difficult feat. No one wants to be told what they've just spent six months writing has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. Nor do biased opinions aid in the creative process. So what to do? As I mentioned in tip #3, you need to decide whether or not the person critiquing has any basis in what they are recommending. Someone who reads only crime novels may not be the perfect fit for a romance novel, for example. There are many overlaps within genres, such as character development and sentence structure. But a romance novel may have elements a crime writer might find irrelevant or even hackneyed. I happen to know your work is more of a psychological, literary bent. If you have written a story that others do not seem to understand, ask yourself these questions: Do these writers understand deep human psychology? Do they have valid points in their misunderstanding? Did they enjoy the story and get something out of it, even if they did not understand exactly what I was trying to say? Did they find reading this a waste of their time? You may wish to form your own group, seeking writers who write the type of stories you do. On-line critique groups are perfect for this. You can advertise your group on college campuses, say, where you are more likely to find literary writers. Many literary magazines are published through colleges. Seek these out. They may know of critique groups you can join. A great place to look into are the Yahoo on-line groups. I run one on there, and it's very easy to set up if you would like to start one. Or, if you prefer, there are many established writing groups you can search for through Yahoo Groups. In all, don't be discouraged. Remember, you are your best critic. Go with your gut. Even the most famous writers have had people reject or ridicule their work. Writing is very subjective. Not everyone will understand or like what you write every time. Good luck! Very interesting comment you’ve made, Dave. Certainly if one wishes to receive harsh, honest feedback for one’s work, a writer needs to be very receptive to criticism. As a fellow writer, I find this a difficult feat. No one wants to be told what they’ve just spent six months writing has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. Nor do biased opinions aid in the creative process. So what to do? As I mentioned in tip #3, you need to decide whether or not the person critiquing has any basis in what they are recommending. Someone who reads only crime novels may not be the perfect fit for a romance novel, for example. There are many overlaps within genres, such as character development and sentence structure. But a romance novel may have elements a crime writer might find irrelevant or even hackneyed.

I happen to know your work is more of a psychological, literary bent. If you have written a story that others do not seem to understand, ask yourself these questions: Do these writers understand deep human psychology? Do they have valid points in their misunderstanding? Did they enjoy the story and get something out of it, even if they did not understand exactly what I was trying to say? Did they find reading this a waste of their time?

You may wish to form your own group, seeking writers who write the type of stories you do. On-line critique groups are perfect for this. You can advertise your group on college campuses, say, where you are more likely to find literary writers. Many literary magazines are published through colleges. Seek these out. They may know of critique groups you can join.

A great place to look into are the Yahoo on-line groups. I run one on there, and it’s very easy to set up if you would like to start one. Or, if you prefer, there are many established writing groups you can search for through Yahoo Groups.

In all, don’t be discouraged. Remember, you are your best critic. Go with your gut. Even the most famous writers have had people reject or ridicule their work. Writing is very subjective. Not everyone will understand or like what you write every time.

Good luck!

]]> Comment on How To Run a Successful Critique Group by Dave http://blog.klgore.com/2010/05/21/how-to-run-a-successful-critique-group/#comment-1113 Dave Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:42:22 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/05/21/how-to-run-a-successful-critique-group/#comment-1113 Hi Kim, Do you know any groups that function like this? One thing I am personally trying is attending another writing group for the first time on Wednesday night. I think that an interesting bit of truth in what you've written in the 2nd paragraph. The problem is that eventually, even when you start out as strangers, the more times you meet with people, the more familiar you are with them, and they with you. Obviously, trust is going to be a big issue if this familiarity is encountered. If you have read my short story "The Cafe for Lacklustre Writers", (There are some people who have totally misunderstood the meaning of the story. That perhaps, is what is missing from my story, and that is my fault as an author. I wrote that story twenty years ago however, and if the meaning of that story is still not clear, than obviously I have failed for a long time as an author. And that was the first story I presented in my writing group I participate in now.)The story was inspired by thinking of an article I read about Samuel Beckett a long time ago in Esquire magazine. Beckett was described in many negative terms by the members of writing critique group that formed in a Paris cafe (They were all established and famous writers). Despite his abrasiveness, his criticism was validated by his honesty. It's not that I wanted to a jerk, but I wanted, want, to find a place where we place writing principles above author's personality. I wanted then, as I do now, to find a way to belong to such a group. I wanted to find a group that would want me to be a part of it. I was a lacklustre writer, I wanted to find a place to belong. Anyways, here is a brief description of Beckett's opinions: "Beckett debunks modernism's epistemological concerns and depicts the mind's autonomy as hopelessly vulnerable to the extramental and excremental contingencies of the body as the object of pleasure, pain, social power, and death."(Alexander McKee Breaking the Habit: Samuel Beckett's Critique of Irish-Ireland New Hibernia Review - Volume 14, Number 1, Earrach/Spring 2010, pp. 42-58) You see, even Beckett could be respected by what he added to the group, even though it was unlikely that there would be a lot of subjective bonding which, as you point out, can inhibit good critiquing from people who are afraid of "hurting your feelings". As authors, though, we should be striving to rise above the mediocre and the cliche and really be the best we can be. Hi Kim,
Do you know any groups that function like this? One thing I am personally trying is attending another writing group for the first time on Wednesday night. I think that an interesting bit of truth in what you’ve written in the 2nd paragraph. The problem is that eventually, even when you start out as strangers, the more times you meet with people, the more familiar you are with them, and they with you. Obviously, trust is going to be a big issue if this familiarity is encountered. If you have read my short story “The Cafe for Lacklustre Writers”, (There are some people who have totally misunderstood the meaning of the story. That perhaps, is what is missing from my story, and that is my fault as an author. I wrote that story twenty years ago however, and if the meaning of that story is still not clear, than obviously I have failed for a long time as an author. And that was the first story I presented in my writing group I participate in now.)The story was inspired by thinking of an article I read about Samuel Beckett a long time ago in Esquire magazine. Beckett was described in many negative terms by the members of writing critique group that formed in a Paris cafe (They were all established and famous writers). Despite his abrasiveness, his criticism was validated by his honesty. It’s not that I wanted to a jerk, but I wanted, want, to find a place where we place writing principles above author’s personality. I wanted then, as I do now, to find a way to belong to such a group. I wanted to find a group that would want me to be a part of it. I was a lacklustre writer, I wanted to find a place to belong. Anyways, here is a brief description of Beckett’s opinions: “Beckett debunks modernism’s epistemological concerns and depicts the mind’s autonomy as hopelessly vulnerable to the extramental and excremental contingencies of the body as the object of pleasure, pain, social power, and death.”(Alexander McKee
Breaking the Habit: Samuel Beckett’s Critique of Irish-Ireland
New Hibernia Review - Volume 14, Number 1, Earrach/Spring 2010, pp. 42-58)

You see, even Beckett could be respected by what he added to the group, even though it was unlikely that there would be a lot of subjective bonding which, as you point out, can inhibit good critiquing from people who are afraid of “hurting your feelings”.

As authors, though, we should be striving to rise above the mediocre and the cliche and really be the best we can be.

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Gore Wehner http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1075 Gore Wehner Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:24:37 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1075 No problem, Steve. What I have learned as far as novels go is that on the cover sheet of your novel, if you are without agent representation, place your real name along with your contact information in the upper left hand corner (or wherever the submission guidelines asks you to place it). Then, below where you type your title (around the middle of the page), write "by (your pseudonym)." If you have agent representation, simply use your pseudonym. You won't need your contact information, because you will have your agent's contact information on the cover sheet instead. As far as magazines go, again, use your real name with the contact information at the upper left hand corner of the first page of your story (no cover sheets necessary for a magazine submission). Then, a third of the way down type your title and "by (your pseudonym)." No problem, Steve.

What I have learned as far as novels go is that on the cover sheet of your novel, if you are without agent representation, place your real name along with your contact information in the upper left hand corner (or wherever the submission guidelines asks you to place it). Then, below where you type your title (around the middle of the page), write “by (your pseudonym).”

If you have agent representation, simply use your pseudonym. You won’t need your contact information, because you will have your agent’s contact information on the cover sheet instead.

As far as magazines go, again, use your real name with the contact information at the upper left hand corner of the first page of your story (no cover sheets necessary for a magazine submission). Then, a third of the way down type your title and “by (your pseudonym).”

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Steve http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1073 Steve Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:18:11 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1073 Dave, Every story I have submitted has dealt with the pen-name issue during the submission process and/or after the story has been accepted. Just follow the guidelines to the letter and you will be able to address the pseudonym issue at a later date. (Kim, I’m sorry if I intruded on your territory.) Dave,
Every story I have submitted has dealt with the pen-name issue during the submission process and/or after the story has been accepted. Just follow the guidelines to the letter and you will be able to address the pseudonym issue at a later date.
(Kim, I’m sorry if I intruded on your territory.)

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Dave http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1068 Dave Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:15:13 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1068 Hi Kim, I was wondering, because you wanted us to ask some questions about the writing process, how does an author write under a pseudonym, or pen name? Does he or she submit under one name, but request it be published under another name? The only reason to worry about this I suppose, is if you want to get paid. Having a check in a name you could cash is helpful. Hi Kim,
I was wondering, because you wanted us to ask some questions about the writing process, how does an author write under a pseudonym, or pen name? Does he or she submit under one name, but request it be published under another name? The only reason to worry about this I suppose, is if you want to get paid. Having a check in a name you could cash is helpful.

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Gore Wehner http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1008 Gore Wehner Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:47:35 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1008 Thanks for your response, Steve. (And yes, he is a friend of mine! I recommend his blog.) Hi Dave (another friend of mine!). Never "write down" to your perceived audience. No matter how heightened and metaphoric your work, you will find an audience for it. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "accepted" writer. Certainly it has nothing to do with being an advanced writer. Unless, of course, you're relating that with mass market publishing. And in that case, you're equating being published with being a successful writer, which isn't always the case. My best advice is to follow your gut. If you feel you've written to the best of your abilities and the problem now lies in the reader, and not in what you have written, it's time to seek different counsel. Seek out authors who write in your scope. Find out who their editors and agents are. Submit your work to them. Some of them may attend writer's conferences, and sometimes for a fee you can receive a ten-page critique from them. Search for these opportunities. Same goes for literary journal contests. Sometimes the participants receive critiques (again, for a nominal fee). But if you aren't getting what you want from the people reading your work, it's time to search for people who are more like-minded. Hope this helps! Thanks for your response, Steve. (And yes, he is a friend of mine! I recommend his blog.)

Hi Dave (another friend of mine!). Never “write down” to your perceived audience. No matter how heightened and metaphoric your work, you will find an audience for it. I’m not quite sure what you mean by “accepted” writer. Certainly it has nothing to do with being an advanced writer. Unless, of course, you’re relating that with mass market publishing. And in that case, you’re equating being published with being a successful writer, which isn’t always the case. My best advice is to follow your gut. If you feel you’ve written to the best of your abilities and the problem now lies in the reader, and not in what you have written, it’s time to seek different counsel. Seek out authors who write in your scope. Find out who their editors and agents are. Submit your work to them. Some of them may attend writer’s conferences, and sometimes for a fee you can receive a ten-page critique from them. Search for these opportunities. Same goes for literary journal contests. Sometimes the participants receive critiques (again, for a nominal fee). But if you aren’t getting what you want from the people reading your work, it’s time to search for people who are more like-minded. Hope this helps!

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Dave http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1000 Dave Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:22:02 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-1000 Hi Kim, I'm not a beginning writer, but I have a hard time finding people who write (and read) at the same level as me. So do I have to lower my vocabulary, cut back on the ideas and references and put more emphasis on word count (i.e less quantity means more quality)? I'm not an advanced writer because I don't have the experience of being acknowledged as an 'accepted' writer. So, basically, am I in literary limbo? I can't be in Hell, because the doorway over the entrance to Hell (In Dante's Inferno) read "Abandon All Hope, All Ye Who Enter)and I still have hope that I can be a good writer. Sinvce I still have hope, do I just need to find new readers? Hi Kim,
I’m not a beginning writer, but I have a hard time finding people who write (and read) at the same level as me. So do I have to lower my vocabulary, cut back on the ideas and references and put more emphasis on word count (i.e less quantity means more quality)? I’m not an advanced writer because I don’t have the experience of being acknowledged as an ‘accepted’ writer.
So, basically, am I in literary limbo? I can’t be in Hell, because the doorway over the entrance to Hell (In Dante’s Inferno) read “Abandon All Hope, All Ye Who Enter)and I still have hope that I can be a good writer. Sinvce I still have hope, do I just need to find new readers?

]]> Comment on Alert! Beginner! by Steve http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-991 Steve Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:55:47 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/08/21/alert-beginner/#comment-991 In reference to #3, I think you need to make it clear that your statement is far more encompassing than it sounds. I reference you to a wonderful bog I read the other day. Look at Tuesday, April 20, 2010 on http://writingsbysay.blogspot.com/ I think you will find that people know more than they know they know -- and need to be encouraged to look beyond the obvious. (LOVE the blog. Thank you for writing it.) In reference to #3, I think you need to make it clear that your statement is far more encompassing than it sounds. I reference you to a wonderful bog I read the other day. Look at Tuesday, April 20, 2010 on http://writingsbysay.blogspot.com/

I think you will find that people know more than they know they know — and need to be encouraged to look beyond the obvious.

(LOVE the blog. Thank you for writing it.)

]]> Comment on What I Learned at the NJ SCBWI Conference-Picture Books by Steve http://blog.klgore.com/2010/06/12/what-i-learned-at-the-nj-scbwi-conference-picture-books/#comment-637 Steve Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:01:41 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/06/12/what-i-learned-at-the-nj-scbwi-conference-picture-books/#comment-637 So, if I understand this correctly, when a picture book of my life is done, I can trust the illustrator to draw a traffic wreck. Then why would you need any words? So, if I understand this correctly, when a picture book of my life is done, I can trust the illustrator to draw a traffic wreck. Then why would you need any words?

]]> Comment on What I Learned from the SCBWI NJ Conference-Characterization by Steve http://blog.klgore.com/2010/06/09/what-i-learned-from-the-scbwi-nj-conference-characterization/#comment-608 Steve Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:42:48 +0000 http://blog.klgore.com/2010/06/09/what-i-learned-from-the-scbwi-nj-conference-characterization/#comment-608 Very nice. I can't wait for the next installment. (But, hold off for awhile - I have a lot of editing to do.) Very nice. I can’t wait for the next installment. (But, hold off for awhile - I have a lot of editing to do.)

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