Well, needless worrying from me yesterday, as only one other member showed up to my critique session 😛 We went over my chapter for a little while and then over my story as a whole. I received a great deal of insight and how to progress further. For one, I know for certain that I’m sticking with third person POV. I was told that I convey it very well. So no sense in messing that up by changing to first person.
I also figured that I am going to cut back a bit on the other viewpoints. It seems like the other characters’ stories are taking over (but it is the rough NaNo draft I’m reading…). There will still be four different viewpoints (My MC Kaiyo, her father, Iesada, the love interest, Ryuji and the villain, Kaemon). The other three will be shown only occassionally as it pertains to the story. It’ll probably take a great deal of adding/removing/changing as the book progresses, but at least I don’t have to worry about too much sidestory.
I’m still going to have to research the yakuza of the time…even though I don’t think they were called that just yet in 1890…and even though I’ve looked all over for books detailing this period, I only ever get a paragraph or a page at best. So that’s still a bit of an issue. BUT I managed to find this really nifty book about traditional Japanese furniture, so now I’m not completely in the dark about that.
So overall, my critique went well–I was told it was the best chapter written so far. So I KNOW I have it in me to write a compelling novel. Sometimes I struggle with the whole confidence thing–always have–but last night’s critique built it up considerably 🙂 I haven’t gotten any of the other critiques back, as they were all absent last night, so I have another week to wait before I see the varying opinions (as some are a lot harsher than others). Still, I know that at least one person likes it (and he tends to be one of the harder reviewers), so there’s something there…:P
Tales from the Writing Front 
Comments on: "Critiques, Changes and Confidence" (3)
Critiques are tough. Ulimately as a writer, use what resonates with you when you make changes. Often critiques give me ideas I wouldn’t have necessarily come up with on my own. I’m writing in a first person POV, and my character won’t let me make any changes that don’t fit with how she would act or behave. Trust yourself–you’ll make the right decisions. Good luck with NaNo this year!
Thanks! I know I’ve learned a great deal from my critiques; it helps me see things I may have left out or things that are needed to progress the story along. Though they are difficult, they are necessary!
Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for linking to my blog! I’ve added a link back to yours in my new “Authors Who Blog” section. 🙂 Thanks again and good luck with your book!