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Critique Partners aren’t for all writers: Author Insights 15

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This is an impromptu post based on a lot of talk about critique partners I’ve seen lately. It’s a little bit of a rant, but mostly it’s me stating my shortcomings and insecurities. ~It’s not even the 1st Wednesday of the month.

Writers all over the blogosphere rave about critique partners, but I don’t think critique partners work unless you happen to be the right kind of author. I’m apparently the wrong kind of author. No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to find and or keep a critique partner because…well, I guess my writing is just so bad. ~Or so I thought.

The problem I seem to have with critique partners is that they all seem to want to edit my work to perfection instead of giving me feedback to better develop the story myself or they are just not interested in what I’m writing. Also I think I test other writer’s patience. All other writer’s either have writing degrees or years of experience and don’t feel like working with an author that’s still in development. ~Beginning to think I’m meeting all the wrong people.

I write in stages and  I guess that’s a little weird for most writers. I guess most writers edit as they write, but not me. I write with blinders on. I work hard to get my creative ideas out, then work on development and style, and then fine tuning and editing. I guess my process is difficult for others to work with, but it’s the only way I know how to do it. ~Apparently that’s how lots of writers do it, according to this article. 

I’ve tried joining groups, offering feedback, and generally doing my part to be part of a community and a process, but I guess I’m just too different. I have managed to get a few helpful hints and some limited feedback from a few people I’ve meet along the way and I’m grateful for that, but hints and tips only go so far.~ I’m testing out some new partners I’ve found at the IWSGCC and they may just work out, even if not for every project. 

I’d love to have more and consistent critique partners, but I just don’t fit the mold. So here I am, kinda on my own, trying to write and develop myself without much feedback. I have managed to release one novel, a few short stories, and some non-fiction without receiving any hate mail. So, even if I’m not very good, it seems that I’m not too bad either.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Books

Review: Seraphina

Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

I give this book a 4, almost a 4 and 1/2.

At the very core of this tale of fantasy are the ideas of warfare and the use of espionage, but before you get to all that, you meet Seraphina Dombegh. In this world of Goredd, humans and dragons (in human forms) live side by side, but not necessarily amicably and Seraphina is caught in the middle of these two peoples, just trying to keep the peace.

There is so much I could say about this story to hype it up, but I’ll keep it short and simple.

1. I really enjoy the world building of this book and the background story. This new take and twist on the dragons’ tale is refreshing, but I do wish there had been more time spent with the dragons overall.

2. The way this book handles issues of politics and social etiquette is very matter of fact. There is a sense of realism that takes you out of the fantasy and lets you see the underline meanings and how these things can relate to your life.

3. Seraphina is a wonderful and relatable character. She can be whiny at times, but that only makes her seem more real, especially in times when she’s not whining, but fighting and taking charge. Seraphina represents the insecurities of humanity (or should I say, of sentient beings). We never see ourselves as others do and we tend to be more critical of ourselves than is necessary, and that’s what Seraphina does. However, she does actually have a very good reason for being self-conscious, but through it all, she continues to fight.

4. There are many sub plots to this story that sometimes outshine the happenings of the overall plot, but it all works together in the end. The subtle sense of romance is down played quite a bit, in a realistic manner since the characters are on the verge of war. There are stories of loss, revenge, honor, and discovery within the pages of this book and they all mesh quite well together.

The only other thing that slightly soured my reading experience was the flashback technique of sharing someone else’s experiences and memories. That was a little hard to read, but since everything was ultimately explained, it didn’t take too much away from the story.

If you like dragons and have an open mind, you should enjoy this story.

This review has been posted to GoodReads. If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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EC: Giovanni's Angel Tea & Conversation

Tea and Conversation 17: Nephilim

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Today I’m sharing a picture of a black flora tea cup from my own collection I posted on my tea pin board.

Please do not copy this image. Click image to share on Pinterest.

Today in my meditation I’m thinking about Eternal Curse and I’m writing about: Why Nephilim?

This is not a new idea and with the success of such series as the Mortal Instruments, I feel a little overwhelmed to live up to the hype. Tales of angels, demons, and the humans who love them have become a little cliché as of late, but I can honestly say that my story is a little different from the popular norm, at the moment.

In my ECS, I refer to the Nephilim as half-breeds for two basic reasons. 1. I have actually come up with a back story that clearly separates the Nephilim from the ones I call half-breeds while still connecting them. 2. My story isn’t really about angels and demons with human lovers; it starts out with the offspring of these groups, the half-breeds, and builds from there. This story is about beings who existence, uncertainly, somewhere in between the worlds of angels and humans.

As with all things mythological, theological, and mystical, there is so much possibility and creativity to explore when dealing with the idea of “Nephilim”. If people can write stories about Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Dragons, Demigods, Mermaids, and more, then why not half human-half angels.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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