In the previous post, I quoted novelist Jodi Picoult’s
advice for writers to find a workshop where they can learn to give and receive
criticism. Coincidentally, not long afterward, I read an article by Glenn
Sasscer, whose work I don’t know (he writes “Christian Horror”—is that “Night
of the Living Atheists?”) but whose account of how he improved as a writer
relates to Picoult’s recommendation.
He writes, “I joined three critique groups at the same time, each requiring writing assignments and critiques and each holding their own strength in writing. One focused on character development, another on the mechanics of writing (“The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White was their foundation), and the last centered on how to tell a really good story.
“All three were brutal to some extent,
however one was absolutely bloodthirsty in devouring any mistake in grammar,
spelling or weak plots. Some writers jumped ship in their first or second week;
but as I already stated, I was too dumb to know any better. I suffered through
the critiques bleeding all over my precious creations, cutting up my babies,
and splattering blood ink on my stories. I learned to develop thick skin and
separate constructive criticism from personal opinion.
“In hindsight, I spent roughly 20 to 30 hours a week
working all three critique groups over the course of about three years, and I
have the bruises and scars to prove it. Yet each provided its own school of
instruction and helped get my writing published in magazines, anthology books
and excerpts in newspapers.”
The rest of the article relates how, after many challenges, he finally got his novel, “Suffering Madness,” placed with a small Christian publisher. (I don’t know if the book is any good, but it has a terrible cover—bad cover images seem to be the hallmark of small publishing houses and self-publishers.)
(For help writing and marketing your book, see “Your Writing Coach,” published by Nicholas Brealey and available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and in many book stores. It will take you all the from idea through to publication.)
