How Do You Know Your Writing Sucks?
How do you move past the stage you’re currently in so that you can up your writing game?
I work as an editor and plot wizard. I’m the person who makes writers' stories make sense. I help them become better writers through feedback, critiques, assessments, and developmental edits. Many writers I work with are shocked by my critiques because I am the first person who has given them an honest assessment of their work.
When I ask them who else have they been sharing their stories with, they have three types of answers:
- Friends and family
- Romantic partners
- “Mastermind,” groups
Friends, family, and romantic partners will not be honest with writers about their work. There’re too many biases at play for their critiques to see through to certain issues. They may point out some issues, but rarely are they going to notice why something is out of place and how to fix it.
But the worse type of people to share your writing with are false mastermind groups.
How do you tell if you’re in a false mastermind group?
- Can no writer ever do wrong?
- Is it more about the pep and the networking than the craft?
- Does no one challenge themselves or anyone else past basic publishing challenges?
- Is there one writer who seems to steer the group or use it as their own fan base?
- Has your writing not improved since joining it, but you seem to have an access boost of confidence?
If you answered yes to those questions, then your group will not make you a better writer. That’s why every writer needs to have their own alpha and beta reader squad. Readers handpicked by the author to help them hammer out the kinks in their drafts and allow them to become the type of writer they want to become.
Professional authors work with alpha and beta groups to help them produce high-quality articles. They work with these readers to make sure they know what the author's intent is. Brandon Sanderson has said more than once that without his team of beta and alpha readers, there’s a huge chance he wouldn’t be able to write the novels he does.
So, what’s holding you back from building a supportive network of readers to help you assess your work and steer your craft the exact way you want?
Aigner Loren Wilson is a queer Black SFWA, HWA, and Codex writer. She was listed on the honors list for the Otherwise Fellowship award for 2019 and has work in Fiyah, Tordotcom, Vice, and more. She offers a writing craft newsletter to people who want to become better writers and publish quality pieces.
