I've been in two writing critique groups now, and I've learned a bit about what makes them work and, well...what doesn't. There are the obvious guidelines that all decent groups seem to follow--critique honestly but kindly, always praise what's working, encourage and bolster without patronizing.
Perhaps the most important element is trust. You are giving your writing partners a very personal, important and potentially valuable document. You are sharing your unique ideas, images and inspirations. You do this with the implicit understanding that they will treat it with the same respect you have for your craft.
When you choose people to share your life work with, choose carefully. Don't rush in. Here are a few tips that might make your critique group more productive, successful and happy.
1) Make sure you are all looking for the same thing.
What stage is your work in? Are you ready for copyedits or do you want overall plot, character and story comments? Does everyone want line-by-line critiques, or just general comments? Agreeing on these details ahead of time can be a real frustration-saver.
2) Invite new members to join for a trial period.
Most people will understand this is for their benefit as well as yours. You want to be certain that all members are on the same page, but that your group has enough diversity and alternate points-of-view to make the critiques truly valuable. Too much agreement can make for flat critiques that don't push your writing to the next level. Members who only praise and never do the hard job of pointing out problems may stroke your ego, but they won't improve your craft.
3) Create written guidelines.
This is really important if you are starting a new group, weather it's a laid-back "post whenever, critique whenever" group, or one that sets deadlines for responding to posted work. Clarifying expectations helps to ensure no one misunderstands the purpose of your group.
4) Speak up if you are not happy.
Confrontation is hard, but necessary, both in business, personal life and in our writing lives.
5) Give and you shall receive.
I've found I have learned just as much from critiquing another's work as I have from getting critiques on my writing. Spend the time each partner deserves.
6) Break up if you have to.
This is by far the hardest one to do. If you aren't getting what you need from a member or a group, either leave the group or ask the member to leave if there is a consensus. As with all relationships, this is never easy.
I've found both of the critique groups I've belonged to have been absolutely invaluable, and even though there have been some challenges along the way, every person I've worked with helped to improve my work, and I hope they feel the same.
4 comments:
This is a really good post. Yours is my first crit group and now I don't see how I could survive without one. It is so important to be involved in a writing community of some sort. And, like you, I think that editing others' work helps me better my own.
And you rock, too.
I think this is very wise, though as far as #1, both my critique groups vary widely in the "what phase are you in" question. I think the key is that you're all on the same page in terms of how serious you are about the writing and publishing, or able to tolerate a range.
Very true, Jaqui. It's all about understanding the needs of each member. I have to say in my first group there there was a member who so thoroughly copyedited a first draft of mine (when all I wanted was general comments and a few line edits) that I felt it was a complete waste of her time and mine. Not to mention how disheartened I felt upon opening the file, which was redlined from top to bottom.
Oof.
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