Where and When of Critique Groups

Some critique groups meet face-to-face and others use the internet. There are pros and cons to both kinds. 

If groups meet in person, members can read each others' work aloud. That's helpful because intonation patterns or stumbling over awkward phrasing can reveal a lot. Internet critique groups can include members who live far apart, use different dialects and have different experiences so they offer different perspectives.

The first kind of group may meet in homes or public places, and the convenience of the location must be taken into account. Obviously internet access is necessary for online critique groups and all members must be able to open each others' documents unless material is copied and pasted into e-mail messages.

Physical meetings need to be held at convenient times for all members, and frequency must be considered. Many such groups have monthly meetings and some writers' deadlines might come between meetings. Internet groups need to be well moderated so all members can post equal amounts of work and do their share of critiquing. It helps if a schedule for posting material is agreed on. Frequency is also a factor here.

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. 

Invisible Detective

I recently read several books in the Invisible Detective series by Justin Richards, and was amazed that I hadn't heard about them before. The stories take place partly in modern England and partly in the same locale near the beginning of WWII. Combining history, mystery, and a touch of fantasy with unique but believable characters and some scary settings, these exciting books are just the sort to appeal to kids. If I knew any reluctant readers, especially boys, I'd certainly recommend this series to them. Kids of either sex who like to read will probably enjoy them a lot too.

Daisy Chain

Mary E. DeMuth has written a moving and poignant book, Daisy Chain, about an apparently ideal Christian family with dark secrets, including abuse. It's also an intriguing mystery story. The characters and setting are well-drawn and believable and the plot kept me turning the pages. However there are far too many things left unresolved at the end. Everything will probably be explained by the end of the series, but the rest of the books haven't been published yet. In the meantime, this book would be a good discussion starter.

Christian Writers Conference

In just a few weeks I'll be going to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference near Santa Cruz, California. I've been to lots of them, and this conference is one of the highlights of every year. Some people think writers' conferences are just opportunities to meet agents and editors to get things published, and that often does happen. But this conference offers much more. Like most writers' conferences, it's a chance to learn about the industry and improve your craft. Like most Christian conferences, it's inspiring. But, to me, the best thing about it is the relationships. Because everyone there is a Christian who loves writing and reading, we share two of the most important things in our lives. And because writers are communicators but writing is a solitary task, we connect and bond with each other easily.

Because of the economy, I hesitated to go, but decided it was worth it. However many other people who usually attend aren't going and they still have spots open, so they're offering a $200 discount for people who've never attended before and sign up in the next few weeks. If you're interested, please go to the website, http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference. And please tell them I sent you so I'll get a discount too.

Blogging About Blogging

Hello, readers, whoever you are. 

Blogging is an interesting way to reach others without knowing who they might be. Even when performing before a large audience, actors and musicians can see the people listening to them, but this is just one of the many ways humans communicate to others without ever encountering them in person. For hundreds of years and more humans have written books without knowing who reads them, and for decades people have sent out messages through radio, TV and movies to unknown audiences. But somehow blogging is different from all that. It's quick, like TV and radio, but lingers a while like magazines, newspapers, and other written material. It's both personal and impersonal. 

I wonder how long it will be before technological changes or other factors make the blogs we use today obsolete. Maybe hundreds of years from now archeologists will figure out ways to recapture things lost in cyberspace and try to reconstruct our culture. And what might they think of blogging if that ever happens?