Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Workings of a Critique Group

I didn’t have a critique group for my first book, but now that I’ve been in one for a couple of years, I realize how important it can be. Our group has ebbed and flowed, and some members didn’t work out, though overall we have been lucky to get people who have similar expectations. Here’s what I’ve discovered makes our group work:

Everyone brings different strengths to the mix.
I am not good at line editing. In fact I hate line editing other’s work. Two of the people in my group are terrific at it, and line edit mine without expecting the same thing in return. I’m far better at seeing how plotting and pacing can be enhanced. We all discuss our impressions of each other’s characters, and this is incredibly valuable. Each of us knows our own characters so well, it’s easy to assume that everyone else will love them or hate them in just the way we intend, but this is often not the case

We don’t often reread.
This did not come about as a conscious decision, though it has worked out for the best. I know someone in a different critique group and they have trouble with one member who brings the same piece time after time, changing only a few sentences here and there. I sympathize with a perfectionist nature, but it can end up aggravating people who don’t want to have to validate each word. Another issue of rereading is the problem that people might be miffed you didn’t take their suggestions, yet you expect them to now look at the same piece again where they are likely to have the same issues.

We’re not just looking for validation.
We had one member who didn’t work out, and we actually kind of disbanded the group for a bit, unsure of how to ask her to leave. She wasn’t well-read in the genre she was writing in, and didn’t listen to the critiques. That put us in a bad spot, because we got to the point where we didn’t even want to read her work. I don’t agree with every single critique, but I think carefully about what to use and not use, and the rest of our current group does as well.

Just yesterday, another writer said about her own group, “It really helps me to find out what I have in my head and what I've actually conveyed to the reader.” That’s the toughest part of writing and where a critique group can be key to making a story work. 

Oh, and one last tip-Our group meets in a café. That’s why there is a picture of a chocolate dessert with this post. A little chocolate helps any group, right? Anyone else have other tips?

~ Dee Garretson

16 comments:

  1. Writers who won't take the advice of their critique groups aren't really looking for a critique group but are looking for a praise team instead. Just something to think about...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to have a group that could meet in real life. That would be incredible. I have a loose group, but we don't correspond as much as we used to, so I work one-on-one with some other writers, too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was in an online critique group for a while. Currently, I have critique partners and we read each others work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I go back and forth between wanting a crit group and feeling selfish about my time. Right now I have a group of people who beta read all my work. They're all well-educated heavy readers, but none of them are writers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is hard to find people who are close enough to meet. I know some people near me who have found groups by joining the local chapter of SCBWI.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have two (hi, Mafioso) critique partners, but I would LOVE to have people I could meet with in real life. Either way, though, it's a definite blessing and MUST to have others to read and comment on what we write. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am always looking for new and reliable critique partners. I have a few people who have read for me, but never applied the label "crit partners" on it. I think I'd be open to doing so, as long as I could count on them. Good post, Dee.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The third one really would suck if you're forced to disband because of that member. At least you got back together again without the individual.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Critique groups have been a lifesaver for me. I belong to two--one of which has been in existence for about 25 years. (I haven't been a member for that long, don't you worry.) Both groups have different ways of working. In one group, we send our work out and get to read and cogitate and make notes. In the other, we read our pieces aloud (always great to see what works, and what doesn't in front of a live audience.) And I've just joined up with Shannon O'D. as another critique partner!! I'm looking forward to working with her--it's always good to have a fresh pair of eyes on a manuscript.

    Beyond that, the groups have good camaraderie, and are great supporters. I can't imagine the writing life without them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like the "we don't often reread" because I've wondered about that before with my own group.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I belong to an online critique group. We'll probably never meet in real life; we have members from Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, England, and all over the States.

    I don't know where I'd be without this group. Every one of them has taught me something different. You're right, we each have our strengths. My mentor is horrible at grammar (I'm helping him with that) but he writes amazing cliffhangers.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am new to novel writing (wip is in 5th revision) and would love a critique group. I emailed Hilary and Marissa and they gave me some good suggestions.

    If anyone else knows of some places to stalk, I mean go to look for partners, please share. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have yet to find a real-life critique group. When I lived in a different state, I went to a group with some other local writers. While it was encouraging and certainly enjoyable, we all were at different stages in our writing, so it made it difficult to receive (and provide!) valuable critique. My two cents would be to make sure your potential crit partners have similar writing goals and are looking for the same level of critiquing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. For Dana -

    There is a dedicated forum on Nathan Bransford's website for connecting with CPs. Let me find the link ...

    Connect with a Critique Partner.

    You have to register for an account, but it's free, and free of spam.

    ReplyDelete
  15. good to hear so many people have readers and online groups, if it isn't working out to have a real-life group. It is tricky to find the right mix, but if you stick with it, it's worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks Matthew! I will check that out. I like free!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for adding to the mayhem!