One piece of advice new writers hear is “join a critique group!” They’re immensely valuable in today’s publishing climate where editors have so little time to edit and shape manuscripts. You may be fortunate to find a group with an opening and be invited to join. Unless you’re prepared, however, your critique group experience can be useless or even painful. If you step on enough toes, you could be asked to leave the group. To avoid that, follow these tips so you can join a critique group and make it work for you.
Group in Progress
When you join a critique group in progress, you’re joining an established “family.” The group itself is a growing thing, and adding you to the group changes the dynamics. You, the new kid on the block, need to fit in without creating unnecessary disruption for the group. Remember: the group has been functioning very well without you, and you’re not there to revamp it.
First, don’t assume anything. Ask what length your manuscript should be for the sessions. In one new group I joined, I assumed (for some reason) that about 2,000 words (or a book chapter) would be a good length. I emailed the manuscript to each member a week before the scheduled meeting. Within a few days, I was surprisedto receive from the other members manuscripts closer to 500-600 words. I had unknowingly asked them to spend four times as long critiquing my work as everyone else’s. I was embarrassed, and some of the members were put out.
Also, don’t assume you should (or should not) bring a manuscript for critiquing at the first meeting. At one group I did not bring a manuscript the first time, thinking I hadn’t yet “earned the right,” and was told in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t allowed to critique anyone that day since I hadn’t put my own writing (and ego) on the line. So, after moving to another town and joining another critique group, I dutifully took a manuscript with me, only to discover that I was expected to just listen the first time. (I didn’t last long there!) So don’t assume anything. Ask the group ahead of time for any rules they have about how the meeting is run. It will save awkwardness and hurt feelings.
Attendance
Don’t join unless you can be at all the meetings (except for true emergencies.) A good group member is dedicated. If you expect to give thoughtful criticism to someone’s novel, then you must be there to hear it all.
Group in Progress
When you join a critique group in progress, you’re joining an established “family.” The group itself is a growing thing, and adding you to the group changes the dynamics. You, the new kid on the block, need to fit in without creating unnecessary disruption for the group. Remember: the group has been functioning very well without you, and you’re not there to revamp it.
First, don’t assume anything. Ask what length your manuscript should be for the sessions. In one new group I joined, I assumed (for some reason) that about 2,000 words (or a book chapter) would be a good length. I emailed the manuscript to each member a week before the scheduled meeting. Within a few days, I was surprisedto receive from the other members manuscripts closer to 500-600 words. I had unknowingly asked them to spend four times as long critiquing my work as everyone else’s. I was embarrassed, and some of the members were put out.
Also, don’t assume you should (or should not) bring a manuscript for critiquing at the first meeting. At one group I did not bring a manuscript the first time, thinking I hadn’t yet “earned the right,” and was told in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t allowed to critique anyone that day since I hadn’t put my own writing (and ego) on the line. So, after moving to another town and joining another critique group, I dutifully took a manuscript with me, only to discover that I was expected to just listen the first time. (I didn’t last long there!) So don’t assume anything. Ask the group ahead of time for any rules they have about how the meeting is run. It will save awkwardness and hurt feelings.
Attendance
Don’t join unless you can be at all the meetings (except for true emergencies.) A good group member is dedicated. If you expect to give thoughtful criticism to someone’s novel, then you must be there to hear it all.
(On Friday I'll talk about the nuts and bolts of joining a group in progress and getting up to speed with their work.)
2 comments:
I was in a writers group once and it became a showcase time for everyones work. We were expected to read our work aloud. It was a huge waste of time, because all anyone ever said was, "that was great, now let me read mine." I just didnt think there was much actual critiqueing going on!
I hope you didn't stay long in that group! It DID sound like a waste of time. I must have started or joined six or seven groups before I found one that really worked. My current group has been meeting weekly for nine months, and we really pick apart each other's work (in a kind way, though) and I can tell how much we've all grown in our craft through this. Keep looking for a good group--or start one!
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