tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post493207821537141652..comments2023-08-09T13:05:15.354-04:00Comments on Denny S. Bryce: To Critique or Not to Critique...Denny S. Brycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159554158362728407noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-68015591012373021742011-09-11T11:16:16.381-04:002011-09-11T11:16:16.381-04:00Having run the gamut with critique groups, I have ...Having run the gamut with critique groups, I have to tell you it's better that the woman was up-front about at least that aspect, but she, and potentially you, are missing out. Here's the thing...no matter what we write, we want to eventually reach as wide an audience as possible (at least, that's my goal!), and that means crossing as many cultural, racial etc. lines as possible. People unfamiliar with what they're reading can make the BEST critique partners from that standpoint. They can point out places where a little more explanation will make things clearer for those who aren't knowledgeable about the subject matter. While I firmly believe people are people and our journeys are marked by similar milestones and experiences, I also don't believe in the homogenizing of books, particularly romances. So if one character's reaction or a piece of internal dialog will make something clearer to someone, while keeping the flavor I'm trying to impart, I want to know!<br /><br />But, having said that, if she has a particular bias, she's not going to look really honestly at the piece...Anya Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07403006009807384703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-55148750819374253652010-09-03T19:37:06.539-04:002010-09-03T19:37:06.539-04:00I changed his eyes back after I read this post. :-...I changed his eyes back after I read this post. :-) Now he's got pretty green eyes just like my ex. :-)<br /><br />Oh, and yes, my Brazilian, he was H-O-T. I was one lucky girl. Operative word, of course, was. But he's a good guy. I miss him sometimes, but he's better off where he is.<br /><br />And I'm better off with a hot werewolf named Javier who has green eyes and occupies my mind! :-)Gossip Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12606755973767030017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-7987786305070015192010-09-01T23:19:00.582-04:002010-09-01T23:19:00.582-04:00Thank you. Thank you. It's a wide, wide, world...Thank you. Thank you. It's a wide, wide, world of pretty, and I appreciate all forms:)...<br /><br />And Brazilian men? Hot! You go girl...!<br /><br />And glad you kept the name Javier. I like it (and also reconsider that eye color - as they say - write what you know. <br /><br />DennyDenny S. Brycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13159554158362728407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-17768173644433689592010-09-01T19:28:04.569-04:002010-09-01T19:28:04.569-04:00This is a fantastic post, Denny. I'm going to ...This is a fantastic post, Denny. I'm going to put in my list of shout-outs this week. <br /><br />I once dated a Brazilian with dark, dark skin and bright green eyes, so I'm not surprised by any combination of attributes anymore. He was also one of the inspirations for my current mc, although I also had a beta reader who said she didn't buy a Hispanic guy with green eyes. To make it easy, I made his eyes brown. I also realized that I was trying too hard to make him like my ex, and I needed to just let Javier be himself. :-) But maybe now I'll change his eyes back.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm really looking forward to reading your book.Gossip Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12606755973767030017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-48515801243595087292010-08-19T00:19:57.329-04:002010-08-19T00:19:57.329-04:00Hi and welcome, and I look forward to getting to &...Hi and welcome, and I look forward to getting to 'know' you via our blogs. Also, here's to getting our manuscripts out there as soon as we can:)!!<br /><br />I am a complete fan of explaining and providing intel on the AA culture, etc. My challenge here was a writer saying - I won't even try. I'm so uncomfortable I'm taking myself out of the running...that's what got me.<br /><br />But alas. I'm off and running in the critique group now, and looking forward to critiquing and being critiqued and in general support of the efforts of my fellow writers.<br /><br />And speaking of eye-color and dark complexions - my family has Bermudan roots and my grand-dad had coffee with heavy cream-colored skin and dazzling green eyes...and coincidently, my next blog will feature the actor Jesse Williams (if you don't know him check out Grey's Anatomy's 2010 cast of regulars). But frankly it sounds like you have a Jesse of your own at home:).Denny S. Brycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13159554158362728407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444496508428120415.post-71295600079137229622010-08-18T22:38:08.972-04:002010-08-18T22:38:08.972-04:00Hi Denny. Really enjoyed your posts. I have really...Hi Denny. Really enjoyed your posts. I have really thought about my writing, especially since I write paranormal romance with AA main character. There are plenty of other people in the story but the main character have been AA because I hate to not see them in a genre I love so much.<br /><br />I'll tell you about some of the experiences I've had with critiquing. I think most people should have no problem with plot, character development, and other thing specific to writing in general, but some people had questions about my characters because they had no reference to the background or culture. I never mind explaining and educating, but sometimes it can effect someone's critique if they can't understand where your characters are coming from.<br /><br />One example - My critique group asked what race my character was because he had a dark complexion and blue eyes. I said what do you mean? He's black. They said they never seen that. I said well my husband has blue eyes. Then I had to explain Creoles to them. <br /><br />It's a difficult situation with no good answer yet. We just got to get more diverse AA characters out in the market. <br /><br />ViviVivi Dumashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936114473045967802noreply@blogger.com