Good Critique Groups

In my last blog post I talked about some bad writers' critique groups I've been in. However I've been in a lot more that were good.

Today I'm meeting with some people from a group I belonged to years ago, and I'm delighted to reunite with them. Besides helping each other's writing improve, we became good friends.

I'm in three - yes, THREE - critique groups where I currently live, and I love all of them.
One group only critiques material for children, another is for Christian writing, and the third is a little of everything as long as it's not offensive.

In two of the groups we send each other manuscripts by e-mail and members share their suggestions at the meetings. At another group we print out and bring hard copies of our work to give out at the meetings and members make suggestions there.

Writers are communicators, but writing is a solitary job, so I greatly enjoy spending time with other writers. We share something important to all of us.

Hopefully I'm helping them improve their work and they're helping me to become a better writer, too.

I guess there are other professions where people gather to share and help each other. Are you involved in any like that?

Bad Critique Groups

As a professional writer I've been involved in various critique groups over the years.

For my non-writer friends, critique groups are groups of writers who share what they're working on and make suggestions to help each other to improve their work.

Unfortunately, not all critique groups are helpful

Early in my writing career I joined a group that was a waste of time. I was writing fiction for kids and other members were writing novels, often including soft porn, for adults. When I shared my work they'd just say something like, "Very nice dear," and go on to critiquing what they considered 'real' writing.

Obviously I didn't stay in that group very long.

I was also in a couple of online critique groups that were not helpful.

One had a member who argued with every suggestion anyone made to improve his work. Since he thought it was already perfect (which it wasn't) I don't know why he even joined the group.

The other online group was started by a writer who constantly sent her newest work for critiques but never offered suggestions for anyone else. She had apparently started the group just for her own benefit.

But I have also been in some excellent critique groups and I'll share about them in my next post.

I guess there can be problem people in any group. Have you been in any groups of whatever kind  with similar problems?

Book Clubs

I've never understood the point of book clubs.

If I want to read a book I usually sit down and read the whole thing. If it's too long to finish in one sitting I might spend an hour or two for several days in a row.

But people in book clubs may take weeks or even months to read one book so they can discuss it a chapter or two at a time when they get together.

To me, that sounds BORING.  They might as well be back in school completing homework assignments.

If they do read ahead and finish a book before the group discusses it all (Is that considered cheating?) they're obligated to remember details so they can talk about the selection from it at each meeting.

Yes, it's nice to spend time with other people who like to read the same sort of things but, otherwise, I simply don't see what book clubs accomplish.

In a way a book club might be like a critique group where writers share a chapter of whatever they're working on at each meeting. But a critique group has the practical purpose of members helping each other improve their writing so it's ready to submit for publication, and members get to see each others' work change and improve over time.

And it's not possible to read a book in a day or so that hasn't yet been completely written.

If anyone who reads this belongs to a book club I'd appreciate hearing why.

First to Read

When I was a kid my mother was widowed so we were poor. I would only get two new books a year, one for my birthday and one for Christmas. But as I got older I shelved books in our local library after school while I waited for my mother to pick me up when she got off work. As a reward, the librarian always let me be the first one to check out new children's books when they arrived. What a thrill!

Maybe that's why I still feel honored to be one of the first people to read a book.

When I first joined a critique group I was afraid I'd be jealous if other members got their books published before I did. Instead, I was thrilled!

Just as a mother is proud of her children's achievements, I glowed with pride at the success of the other members and was pleased to know that some of my comments and suggestions may have helped to make those books a success.

And I'd gotten to read those books before they were even published!

Writers' Groups

I'm currently active in two critique groups and another group for writers where we hear speakers and do other related-to-writing things at our monthly meetings. I've also remained a distance member of a critique group I belonged to before moving, although we don't do any critiques by e-mail. At least this lets me stay in touch. And I'm in several Yahoo discussion groups for writers, most of which include quite a few members I've met at conferences and other events.

Because writing is a solitary job, but writers are communicators, when we get together it's easy for us to become friends.

Of course the groups help us improve our craft and learn about professional opportunities. But, to be honest, I confess the main reason I participate in those groups is for the relationships. Even when we work in totally different genres and may not all agree with each others' points of view, we can still relate to each other and share one of the most important things in our lives.

In my opinion, anyone who is or wants to be a professional writer needs to get involved in at least one such group.

Starting a Critique Group

     Have you had trouble finding a critique group that's right for you? Then perhaps you could start your own. 

     If you don't know any other writers you might be able to find some at a conference or through people you know. Librarians, bookstore staff, and English teachers might be able to help you, but just telling as many people as possible that you want to meet other writers should lead to some introductions.

      You'll need to agree on a meeting time and place if you will be meeting in person, or decide if you want to establish a Yahoo group or just e-mail each other directly if you're doing it online. Then you can discuss the things mentioned in my last few posts and agree on how the critiques will be handled. Although it's not a major factor, for face-to-face groups you might also want to decide if refreshments will be served and how they will be provided if you have them. Some other things to consider are the genres to be critiqued and the maximum number of members to be allowed.

     It may take a while for a new group to get established, but once it does you'll probably not only help each other with your writing, but become good friends as well.

Why and How of Critique Groups

     Why bother to join a critique group? If someone just wants to diddle around and fellowship with people who like to write they would be better off to join a book club. Accomplished professional writers may join groups to help beginners and intermediates. For the rest of us, the input from critique groups does a lot to help us improve our skills and get published. That is, if the group is run well. 

     Whether on-line or in person, it's imperative that the group has and follows rules that make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to have their work critiqued and that everyone helps critique the work of others. I was once in an internet group where the moderator sent lots of things for others to critique, but never critiqued other people's work. For obvious reasons, I didn't stay in that group for long.  It also helps to have clear limits about how much each person can ask the others to read and discuss. In some groups people argue about suggestions, which wastes everyone's time. Nobody is required to follow advice, but common courtesy requires that they accept it politely. A poorly run group can be worse than none at all, but a good critique group is something every serious writer should experience.  

Who and What of Critique Groups

       The value of a critique group depends partly on who is in it, and who is in charge. How many of the other members are published writers and how often have they been published? If they're mostly just amateurs playing around with the idea of maybe getting a book published someday the group probably won't be very helpful to a person seriously interested in writing. But if they're all accomplished professionals, a newbie probably won't fit in. Ideally at least some members should have been published and the other members should be serious about writing. 

       What the members write also makes a difference. I once attended a group where most members wrote sexy romance novels and, since I was writing fiction for kids, the group was no help. Some groups critique discuss work in all genres, while others only do certain kinds of writing. If you're looking for a critique group be sure at least some other members know enough about the sort of thing you write to be helpful to you.

Critique Groups 1A

     Good critique groups can be a great help for writers, but not all groups are good. I am now and have been in some wonderful ones, but I've also had some very negative experiences in others. If you are considering joining or starting a critique group you need to begin by asking the basic question words: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who are the members and leaders of the group? What do they do? Where (including online or in person) do they meet? When do they meet or post? Why does the group exist and why might you want to join it? How are the critiques and meetings or messages organized and handled? 

     I'll talk more about each of these questions in future posts.