The Last Critique: How Many Times Do You Revise?

A writer buddy commented, “I wish so-and-so wouldn’t keep bringing in the same chapter.” The commenter thought it was redundant to critique the same work multiple times. I disagree. My poor group once endured a short story I was working on for at least a dozen readings and critiques. While I don’t always need that many crits to get a piece ready, I think writers should always earn extra points for bringing in a rewrite.
Writing Tip for Today: I also remember getting a detailed crit from a mentor. I went home thinking, “Ah, now I know what to do.” The next time the mentor looked at the story, he had another long list of things to fix. I was surprised, but have since learned that critiques are part rule, part art and part opinion. How can you know when your work is ready to submit?

  • When the critiques are getting “nitsy” it may be time to stop dithering and get it out there.
  • If you belong to a group with no published writer, you may need expert help to diagnose structural problems. Hire an editor, take a class or seek out a more experienced writer.
  • If you feel the critiques fly against your intended purpose, you may have to ignore advice.
  • If you absolutely can’t stand to look at it one more time, put it aside or start submitting it.
  • If you have a list of potential publishers with wide differences, you may have to alter your work to tailor for each. By making a list in advance (of agents, editors or contests) when you are rejected by one, you already know where to send it next. If you’re lucky, the rejectors will begin leaving little notes to encourage you.

About Linda S. Clare

I'm an author, speaker, writing coach and mentor. I teach both fiction and nonfiction writing at Lane Community College and in the doctoral program as expert writing advisor for George Fox University. I love helping writers improve their craft and I'm both an avid reader and writer of stories about those with wounded hearts.

2 comments on “The Last Critique: How Many Times Do You Revise?

  1. I have a critique partner who sees my work first. After I edit that chapter, I send it to my critique group then edit again. I will not send them the same chapter again. I think they’d be sick of me if I did. Once I get all chapters back, I will send to another CP or beta reader, depending on how ready I feel my WIP is.

    Then it will go out on submission after that round of editing.

  2. I am currently in a writing wroshop and we are critiquing each other’s WIP, but I find some of the “opinions” to be so vague they aren’t very helpful. That said there are a couple of people who’s critiques I find valuable and do tend to go home and make the changes advised, thank goodness they are minors one. I am no where near submitting my WIP and finding a good critique partner is so important.

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