Critique Groups, Part 1
Location & Navigation
A few weeks ago, I touched briefly on the subject of critique groups in my post Fantastic Beta Readers (And Where to Find Them). This is a pretty big topic, and it deserves its own crash course, so let's get into it!
Locating A Critique Group
Library. Seriously, the place is full of book nuts; there are bound to be at least a few writers. If there's a bookstore in town, check it out. Look into some local churches' events, too. It sounds unlikely, but my first critique group met at a church that I didn't even go to! Now, I'm part of a group that meets at a local library and I absolutely love it.
Online meetings are an option too, as long as there's good communication. We all know Zoom raises stress levels, so I'd recommend a different software like Microsoft Teams. My opinion, however, is that it's best to meet in person at a designated place. If nothing else, it gets you out of the house for a couple of hours.
- Shop Around
Not all critique groups are created equal. Check out a few different ones if you can, and choose one that you're comfortable with. These people are going to give you some tough advice, and one or two of them might even make you feel a little puny (there's almost always one), so make sure that the majority of the group is welcoming and supportive. They should want to see you succeed and make your writing better, not tear your story apart.
- Starting A Group
If you've scoured your area and exhausted all your resources, and still haven't found a good critique group, it's time to start thinking about starting your own. Reach out to any writer friends you have, and ask your bookstore or library if they'll let you put up a flyer advertising the time and location of your first meeting. You might only get a couple of bites the first month or two, but that's okay. Even if it's only two of you exchanging ideas and constructive criticism, it still counts!
Navigating Your First Meeting
So you're about to walk into your first critique meeting. You've read the guidelines (if they exist), you've sent in your chapter, and you just double-checked the date and place for the millionth time. This is the scariest part of the whole thing (so far), and you're definitely feeling it.
First of all: Being nervous is perfectly natural. You probably don't know these people, at least not well, and you're willingly subjecting part of your story - your baby, your pride and joy - to open criticism. The good news is, most of the people in the group remember what it was like the first time they came to a meeting, and some of them probably still get nervous. So walk in there straight and tall, smile, introduce yourself, and pick a seat. As the meeting starts, just remember to keep breathing. And if you need to pull yourself together at any point, it's perfectly fine to excuse yourself and find the bathroom.
Most groups (at least the ones I've been to) go around and spend a short, focused amount of time on each piece of writing. This is where it gets the most nerve-wracking; when you're talking about whatever the person sitting next to you wrote, and you know you're next. It can be hard to focus, but this does fade with time.
- Taking Criticism
Most of the people in the group will have something (or several things) good to say about your work. They may not all totally LOVE it, but that's more about personal preference than anything else. The praise will make you feel pretty good, and it's okay to let it bolster your confidence a little - but don't cling to it for dear life. People tend to get the praise out of the way so they can go in for the kill, and then try to soften it with another 'positive' at the end. This isn't meant to crush you, it's just the way the conversation tends to go, and it's true for everyone. Listen to how they critique the other members' work, and find the pattern so you know what to expect.
When they do point out the flaws in your work, listen. Most of the time there is truth in what they're saying, especially when they find something that you weren't able to see before. Don't get discouraged, though - pay attention to the advice they give you, because that's what will make your writing better.
A word of caution: If someone isn't offering advice, if they're just telling you everything that's wrong with what you wrote with no intention of helping you make it better, and just ripping you and your story apart, take their words with a grain of salt. (Or the whole jar, if necessary.) Unchecked judgement is a sign that they may not want to see you succeed, or even keep writing at all, especially if they keep repeating this display every month. And if it starts to crush you despite your best efforts, it may be time to move on.
On the other hand, you may find yourself feeling discouraged by someone who actually meant to help you. This will happen less as you get to know the other people in the group, but it can still happen. The balance that works best for me is to accept as much constructive criticism as I can, ask questions if I feel confused, and remember that I don't have to do everything that everyone suggests. You can pick and choose (mindfully) what advice best serves your vision for your story, and disregard anything that doesn't.
- Take Notes
Yes, I heard that groan in the back row. But honestly, this has saved my skin more than once; many a time have I walked out of a meeting with little to no memory of the things that actually need fixing. Google Docs works great for this, because you have other people's comments to look back at as well as any notes you made for yourself. And I highly suggest making corrections as soon as possible, within a couple of days after the meeting at least.
Phew! That was a lot of ground to cover, and we've only just scratched the surface. My next post on this subject will focus more on your part when critiquing the writing of others. I can't wait to share more with you!
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I can't wait to hear from you! Best of luck to you on your writing journey, mate!
- Lydia
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