WRITING GROUPS & CRITIQUING

As I was beginning this post, it occurred to me that my experience, from novice to published author, is probably pretty typical; so, in this and in following posts, I’ll be sharing pieces of my journey that I hope will be helpful and encouraging to new writers everywhere.

The RWA was still new, printing its newsletter on yellowy newsprint (I still have some) when I found out there was a Maryland Chapter.

I had no idea what to expect when I called, but was greeted with the most soothing woman’s voice I’d ever heard. It wasn’t angelic, but rather measured, calm and deliberate. Ahhh. (As a high-anxiety type, anything soothing is gold-worthy IMO.) Turns out, I was speaking to one of the co-founders of the group, Judi Zamzow. Without hesitation, she invited me to join her and the co-founder, Terry Heller, for their next monthly meeting.

We met in the living room of a published short story writer, which was ringed with a small group of women, all with gaping totes or briefcases at their feet, sheaves of paper and pens in hand. Their welcome was warm, their energy palpable. I was immediately included in the conversation. We talked about the latest books to hit the market in our genre, our own works in progress (some asking for suggestions on troublesome issues), discussed submissions, and shared industry tidbits we’d gleaned from our individual efforts to get published. The dynamic was open and fluid.

Finally, the idea of critiquing each other’s manuscripts was broached…and met with varying degrees of enthusiasm. It was clear some didn’t like the idea at all, others were eager for it, while the rest fell somewhere in the middle ground of maybe. I learned later that it was a very new group and, as such, hadn’t yet bonded or learned each other’s skill levels.

Knowing the other person’s skill level is critical. Our fledgling group was lucky. We had an English teacher and a published author. Even among those less credentialed, we had incisive and articulate reviewers of books most of us had read. Over time, as we came to know each other and be familiar with each other’s very different writing styles and skills, a natural pairing off occurred and critiquing took root. (My very first critique came from the English teacher, who wrote across my front page, “You have a marvelous disregard for the comma.” Still one of my favorite pieces of feedback! And if I over-use the comma today, of course I blame her!)

Some words of advice for those just approaching the initially scary process of having your work critiqued: Trust is important. So is communication. Make sure you discuss the process with your potential critique-er (yes, I make words up) beforehand. Be specific about what you’re looking for: Good character motivation? Logical plot points? Realistic dialogue? Pacing? Any draggy narrative (the dreaded Information Dump)? The success of a particular scene? Also, be honest about your comfort level and experience with getting feedback. If you’re new to the process, you’ll probably only want (and be ready for) general feedback, softened with a genuine compliment or two if possible. A more experienced writer will more likely want direct, maybe even blunt feedback.

Never hand your work over to someone without being clear which flavor of feedback you’re seeking. If you want critiquing, know something about that person’s credentials or at least be familiar with their work. If you admire it, then go for it. Otherwise, it’s a time-waster for both of you.

After being critiqued, your next step will be to evaluate the feedback you’ve gotten. Initially, give everything equal weight. Take notes and try it all on for “size.” If it fits, fine. Act on it. If not, don’t discard it totally. Just store it in a file for future reference. You’ll be surprised how many observations get reconsidered and adopted later.

But back to writing groups for a moment…. I think they are essential, especially for new writers. Good ones offer camaraderie and support, continued focus on growth and achievement, and a crowd to celebrate with when you succeed. Invaluable! Look for them in your area or online. Ask questions. Do they welcome unpublished writers or are they closed to all but the published? Are they sponsored or sanctioned by a national organization? If you write genre fiction, does the group specialize in your brand? Your comfort level in a writing group is necessarily subjective. If you don’t like the one you find, find another. Or start your own! “If you build it, they will come.” Personally, I considered it a compliment every time the students in one of my writing classes “caught fire” and went off to form their own writing group.

Also—and I say this will complete candor—I would never have made it to the point of being published if not for the encouragement and feedback from my writing group. To this day, some of those same core people remain a critically necessary part of my writing life, and I am grateful for them every single day.

Be well and happy writing!

Mayo

NOTE: If you’d like me to address other writing topics or answer questions, let me know here or on my Goodreads blog at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1317691.Mayo_Lucas/blog.

#writinggroups #critiquing