Start a Local Critique Group
When You Can’t Find a Writers Group to Give Feedback, Form Your Own!
Guidelines on starting a critique group: organization, finding members, submission policies, etc.
If you want to join a critique group but haven’t been able to find one, here are some things to think about as you form your own group.
What type of writers do you want to gather?
While we all aspire to good writing and can learn techniques from many places, it can be good to start out with writers in the same genre. Mystery writers have a better grasp on planting clues and red herrings than someone who writes romances. A travel writer may not understand the requirements of creating a fantasy world. Children’s novelists may get impatient with a stream-of-consciousness story.
You’ll also need to decide what skill level you require from your members. Don’t be afraid of a group of beginners – you’ll grow together. Remember that unpublished does not mean unskilled. On the other hand, if your members have a range of experience, you’ll have a nice mentoring situation going on. But beware the group dynamics when one member helps everyone else without getting appropriate feedback on his/her own work.
Finding writers for your group
- Writers conferences: there are always writers looking to join a group. With permission, start a sign-up sheet with name, address, & e-mail.
- Library bulletin boards: post a notice that a critique group is forming. Give the focus/membership requirements, meeting time & place, and contact info.
- Online chat groups: post a call for interested local writers in any writers group or regional interest group that seems appropriate.
- Word of mouth: many people want to write, so keep your ears open everywhere – grocery stores, parent organizations, volunteer groups, sports clubs.
Setting up your critique group
Critique groups may have as few as 3 members or as many as 10-12. Too few can result in no meetings if someone cancels; too many can mean work overload and cursory critiques. If everyone is writing regularly, 4-6 seems to be a good number. If not all members submit each meeting or if you critique quickly, some groups can handle more.
You can meet in a library, a coffee shop, or a member’s home. Be aware of closing times, comfortable chairs, noise levels, and distractions. Some groups meet once a month, some once a week. Choose your frequency depending on how many members you have and how much time everyone has to write.
It’s up to you how much meeting time you allot to chit-chat. After all, writing is a solitary profession, and social networking is an important part of critique groups. If you have many stories to critique, however, it’s best to get right down to business.
Sharing stories
Once you’re set up, there are two main ways of sharing your work:
- Mail or e-mail stories ahead of time. Group members have more time to read, ponder, and re-read. They can write comments on a copy that you’ll get back. You’ll be able to brainstorm and discuss possible solutions to problems within the manuscript. Pre-reading also allows for line editing, but beware of getting bogged down there.
- Bring your story to the meeting and read it to the group. You can simply read aloud, or you can bring copies for members to follow and write notes on. You won’t have any line editing, but you have the advantage of getting first reactions. And that’s the reaction you’ll get from an editor.
In the end, it’s your critique group. Set it up the way you want, be willing to change as time goes on, and it will be a great tool in your writer’s arsenal.
