Starting a Writing Critique Group: Tips and Guidelines

Did you make a resolution to start writing a book this year? If yes, then it’s time to put your words into action and join a writing critique group. Such a group will not only help you be accountable but also enable you to connect with like-minded peers who share the same intention of publishing their work. Moreover, it can be the perfect platform to develop your craft and prepare your work for submission. However, it’s essential to create a supportive and constructive atmosphere in such a group, where members can focus on work, not personalities. In this article, we will discuss some tips and guidelines for starting a successful writing critique group.

Stop Reading Writers’ Memoirs

Many writers consider joining writing groups as a sign of weakness or lack of talent. Some writers even believe that writing groups are boring and waste of time. But, in reality, these notions are just myths propagated by some famous authors who hate groups. These writers often decline invitations to writing groups so that they can smoke in public, which is illegal and unhealthy. Hence, it’s crucial to ignore such myths and focus on your goal of improving your writing skills and getting published.

Create a Community of Peers

Creating a writing critique group is not easy, and you may need help from an experienced writer to start the process. You can find such a writer in your network or search for one on social media or writing forums. Alternatively, you can use platforms like Meetup.com to connect with like-minded individuals in your geography. You can also reach out to community message boards, independent bookstores, newspapers, and coffee shops to promote your group and post flyers.

Structure and Guidelines

To ensure the success of your writing critique group, you must establish certain guidelines to define the scope and intent of the group. Here are some essential guidelines that you should consider:

1. Define the Scope

Decide whether your group will focus on a specific genre or have a general purpose. Will you work on short stories, novels, or non-fiction? Defining the scope of the group will help you find the right members and ensure productive meetings.

2. Create a Starting Intent

Your group’s starting intent should define your goals and aspirations. Do you want to write and submit stories for publication, work on improving your craft, or both? Communicate these goals to potential members to ensure that they share the same interests.

3. Gather Your Peeps

When people call to join, take notes, and get a sense of their readiness and intent. Look for diversity in age, background, preferred genres, etc., to create a rich critique experience.

4. Decide on Numbers

Keep the number of members limited to ensure that everyone gets enough time to receive feedback. A group of four or five is an ideal size. If someone leaves the group, replace them with a new writer. Fill empty spots by invitation and agreement by the group. This will build trust, ownership, and respect in your group.

5. Establish Meetings

Find a time and day that works for everyone. One evening every two weeks or a weekend day set at an odd-but-doable time is easier to remember. Monthly or twice-monthly meetings are better than weekly ones as they give writers time to write/edit in between meetings. Two hours is generally the right amount of time for a group of five. Any more time than that, and energy starts to wane.

6. Determine Locations

Move meetings from house to house or find a coffee shop or meeting space that can accommodate a group of writers.

7. Submitting Work

Create a deadline for submitting work to each other by email. If you meet every two weeks, try setting the week in between as the submission deadline to allow readers enough time to read and comment.

8. Giving Critique

Critique the writing, not the writer. Find what works, what doesn’t. Speak as objectively as possible, as if the writer is absent. Provide the writer with your edits and notes on hard copy. Give the writer a moment to explain unanswered questions, and don’t wad the writer’s work into balls and toss them.

9. Receiving Critique

Be quiet! Sit back and take notes. Let the questions and comments fly. Take it all in. Answer questions at the end, if necessary, and don’t defend or throw heavy objects.

10. Critique Structure

Calculate critique time based on the length of the meeting and the number of members. If your group is larger, you may want to divide up critiques every two weeks.

11. Socializing

Don’t socialize too much during group time. It will eventually crumble the will of the group. Get to know each other in other ways. Sleep with them if you have to, but keep the details out of the group.

12. Confidentiality

Make an agreement with the whole group that you will not steal ideas, or talk about the work except in general terms.

13. Commitment

Discuss and determine as a group how you want to handle breaks, respites and waning commitments. Sometimes life happens, and people don’t show up, arrive late, unprepared, or travel for extended periods. Ask yourselves how you want to support each other, how tight or loose you want to be with commitment to the group, etc.

14. Ghost Stories

We all know that thirteen guidelines can be taken as unlucky by the superstitious among us. Hence, we have added an extra guideline to make it even.

Conclusion

Starting a successful writing critique group requires dedication, commitment, and patience. However, if you set clear guidelines, choose your members wisely, and establish a structured meeting format, your group is sure to thrive. Joining a writing critique group can be a transformative experience that can help you achieve your writing goals much quicker. So, take the initiative, connect with your peers, and see your writing life change for the better.