Working With a Critique Group

Working with a critique group can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life-if you find the right critique partners. Consider the following topics when you decide to get involved in a critique group.

Size: Ideally, a critique group should consist of three to five individuals. Any more people will make the material too cumbersome to handle and too time consuming to get the desired feedback.

Skill levels: Some people feel that all partners should be at the same skill level. Keep in mind that experienced writers can help new ones polish their budding skills, while new writers will hopefully give their more seasoned partners a fresh perspective.

Genres: The market you are targeting is a factor in choosing the right critique group. Mixing a historical romance writer with someone dealing only in futuristic science fiction probably won't work, unless you find individuals who enjoy reading both genres. Find partners who like to read the kind of material you are writing and are familiar with your kind of story, so that the feedback you get will be relevant and beneficial to you.

Personalities: Are your combined personalities a workable mix? Not an easy question to answer if you haven't had the opportunity to see the combinations at work before starting the group. The best way to find that workable mix, then, is to chose partners from another writing organization, perhaps from a chapter of the Romance Writers of America, the Society for Children's Writers and Illustrators, or Mystery Writers of America. Ideally you should be able to find partners who you have already seen contributing positively to a like group.

Time: Set a consistent time and stick to the schedule, whether it's once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month. Set a time limit for the meeting and don't get off track or socialize too much.

Place: Choose a quiet place where you are unlikely to be interrupted, such as a library with private rooms, a restaurant with a secluded area away from noisy diners, or a bookstore meeting room.

Itinerary: End each meeting by planning for the next one. Assigning a weekly group leader often works. Set the agenda, which might include a preset topic of discussion before you cover individual works. Good topics for discussion might be how to write a cover letter, a synopsis, or everyone might bring in tips from other writing sources on how to write stronger characters, settings, dialogue, etc. Finally, distribute material to be critiqued and communicate to your partners what you are looking for in their feedback.

Attitude: there are two kinds of attitude that enter the equation for the success of a critique group. Your attitude in receiving criticism, and your attitude in dishing it out. Both must be handled with care. Partners must be considerate and kind toward one another yet be willing to offer constructive advice.

Tips For Keeping Your Critique Group In Sync:

• Offer input, then back off. Never tell an author they have to re-write their work.
• Pose your points as questions, such as "Did you intend to...? Why did you...? Or take responsibility for your opinion by using statement such as "I got lost on page…" or "I think I understand what you want to say but..."
• Remember to compliment as freely as you point out potential flaws.
• For every criticism offer a suggestion or alternate way to for your partner to achieve her goal in the context of her story idea.
• Never force your opinion on your partners. Remember that it is their work and ultimately they must make the decision on which way to proceed. Accept their decision on how they want to progress and live with it.
• When you are being critiqued, don't argue with your partners. You have asked for input, so listen to it graciously. You might not agree with the criticism, and ultimately you don't have to change your writing to reflect their points. You do, however, want to consider their input, keeping in mind that if any one of them is confused, there will likely be readers--and more specifically, acquiring editors--who will get hung up at the same place in your manuscript. When partners offer suggestions you might not like on first reflection, your response might be "That's an idea," or "I'll keep that in mind." Ask questions when being critiqued; don't argue.
• Avoid giving any member special treatment. No one should be picked on and no one should be treated as a star.
• Don't let hurt feelings simmer. Be honest and clear the air. Don't let professional or creative differences become personal.
• Plan Ahead: Some critique groups establish a firm rule that everyone must bring something to be critiqued to make certain each member invests in the group's work. While equal investment is important, each partner might be at a different level and have a different writing pace than the others. Try innovative and fair methods of looking at one another's material. Some weeks everyone might have something to be discussed, another week one person might be the only partner on the "hot seat."
• Remember that you are there to provide encouragement to the others to set reasonable goals and to establish a nurturing atmosphere that invites them to meet their individual objectives.
• Finally, if you do not feel you are getting what you need out of the group, don't be afraid to communicate your concerns to the others. Politely tell them what is not working for you. Your partners might be willing to adjust their attitude to meet your expectations. If not, you might want to consider graciously resigning from the group. If you must drop out, however, never burn any bridges; in other words do not criticize former partners to others and do not talk about their writings to other people.

About the Author:

STAR member Mia Crews is the Immediate Past President of the SpacecoasT Authors of Romance (STAR), Melbourne, Florida and serves as the STAR newsletter editorial director. She has authored five Silhouette Romances under the pen name, Mia Maxam, spent eight years as a correspondent for the Florida Today newspaper and just finished a stint as a political campaign and speech writer for a newly elected member of the Florida House of Representatives. She is one of the original founders of STAR, located in Melbourne, Florida.

Critique Group… How Do I Count The Ways?

A personal tribute to critique partners by STAR member Kelly Edens.

C = CARE...They want you to make the most of your skill.

R = READ...They are willing to read your best as well as your worst.

I = INSPIRE...They coax and prod those fingers on that keyboard.

T = TEACH...They each bring an invaluable skill to life.

I = INSIGHT...They know when to praise and when to challenge.

Q = QUALITY...They know your potential and demand the best.

U = UNDERSTAND...They empathize with your ups and downs.

E = ECHO...They share your joy when you reach your goal of being published.

Please do not reproduce without permission.