I have experienced six levels of critique groups
1. My one
official AWC group, with at least seven
published authors; fiction; six page limit; open until we recently had 13
members show up. Critiques are
sharp, thorough and sometimes astute.
I am amazed when I review the notes members have made on my copies, how
many "good catches" are written that were not spoken in the group.* Good atmosphere of private room in a
public building.
2. A
semi-official AWC group sponsored by a local community college learning center;
open genre; three-page limit (frequently bent); open to public (AWC membership
not required). Two faculty members
serve as authorities in disputes.
They are almost always correct.
Private room in learning center provides a good atmosphere. Most critiques are slicingly accurate,
on the money, but some are rote repeats of the type of comments you hear
frequently and seem appropriate:
tighten up, repeated words, speech characteristics (I don't think he would talk
like that, or use that kind of word).
The multiple genre are
distracting: poetry, narratives written for children, illustrated books, highly
specialized non-fiction.
3. An
offshoot of the Learning Center (community college) group; meets in a retail
business; same characteristics as above (same people, too) except no page
limit.
4. A
private group meets weekly in a Starbucks location; noise of equipment is distracting.
5. AWC
Online group- new for me, I am formulating opinions. This group deserves a post unto itself, which is
forthcoming.
6. My first
group experience was with a fiction group that met monthly in a member's
home. Only two members read- from
material distributed in advance.
This was a longstanding, small group of tightly connected members. By mutual consent, we decided that I
should join a group that offered more opportunities to give and get criticism,
a decision that's has proved to be insightful and correct.
One group member friend recommended that I limit myself to no more than
three groups, to which I complied.
More groups help move through a long novel quicker, but also makes it
harder for the group members to comprehend the big picture of your book.
My only regret about my experience with critiquing and groups, is that
there is no group close to where I live.
I have thought of trying to start one, but don't feel I have the
expertise to be the leader/facilitator.
*True of all groups.
*True of all groups.
You may already have enough of an understanding of how critique groups function to start one. You needn't be the best writer or editor in your group--just someone willing to facilitate.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lianne,
ReplyDeleteSomebody ripped off your a. Thank you for your comment and counsel.
If you don't have the experience to facilitate, you might want to put up fliers at the local library or indie coffee shop looking to see if anyone else is interested. If you're still looking in November, the NaNoWriMo site is often good about staging local meet-ups in the more populated areas. Even if you don't get a whole group out of that sort of meeting, you might find a writing buddy or two.
ReplyDeleteBill, I don't understand why you attended the Starbuck group so many times. It sure must have been a waste of your time. Now you will have go back and redo the pages you read at that group. If the AWC is the best, you should have enough smarts about you to not look any further. Why would you want any other group critiquing your Master Piece?
ReplyDeleteRon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Going on 1100 pageviews and yours is only the 4th comment.
I can't tell whether your remarks are facetious or sarcastic. The Starbucks group has been immensely helpful to me. When I go home, I de-collate the pages, then consolidate the changes I agree with onto one of each page, then type them up. I agonize over decisions about which suggestions to accept. Obviously, I don't use them all.
I think Jon and Ben and Jerry is the most publishable of all the books we've been reading from. I hope you don't give up on it.
As far as the AWC is concerned, I have gotten a great education from their meetings, seminars and workshops. I am saddened that none of my critique colleague/friends are taking advantage of those opportunities.