Critique Groups

I enjoy the wonderful experience of being in an online critique group.  Only three members, the group  schedules submissions every two weeks with scheduled critiques to the others on the opposite week.  It keeps us busy!

How did I find this group?  I was approached by another student at a writing workshop we both attended last summer.  She had been involved in a similar group the previous year and was eager to do it again.  Meeting at a writing conference was a great way to find other writers at similar places in their journeys.

Even so, I had my doubts.  I worried the other writers might not appreciate my writing style.  I fussed about whether or not I was equal to the task.  It’s never easy to put work out there with the specific intention of receiving critique.

But now I am sold on the idea.

Because of the valuable comments from the others, I now have an accordion file with short stories ready for revision.  I chose early on to send only new material to the group and filed their revision suggestions for use later on.  How wonderful to see my collection of linked stories move forward.  Just a few more and I’ll be ready to begin the next stage of revision — that monumental task made smaller by the helpful words of my online friends.

My critique partners have  more to offer me than I to them.  They are both more educated than I and more insightful in their ideas.   But one thing we all bring to the group is a fresh eye on the pages of others–some that have been in the works for years.  Nothing is more precious than a discerning eye and candid critique from another writer.

If you’re interested in learning more about how our group works, send me a comment and I’ll get back to you.  All you’d need to duplicate the process is a friend or two interested in improving their writing.  It’s worth your time and effort!