Honest, unbiased critiques are often essential to a writer’s future success. They vary in type from meeting face to face with other writers of the same literary genre to having one’s work evaluated by an book editor or literary agent at a writer’s conference to occasionally dropping in on an open critique group But, while writing is often a lonely endeavor and joining a face to face critique group would seem to be a way to network with other writers, it is not always possible.
Face to Face Critique Groups are Often Closed to New Members
Finding the right mix of people to form a critique group can be a tricky endeavor. A good mix of personalities is crucial for a group to function well. Most face to face critique groups are made up of writers who have genre in common. For example, children’s writers benefit most from meeting with other children’s writers, horror writers find common ground with other authors of horror fiction and romance writers are likely most comfortable with other like minded individuals. Finding writers who have a penchant for writing the same type of books is only the beginning.
The individuals in the group must agree on guidelines; everything from when and where to meet to how many members to whether their critiques of each other’s manuscripts will be written or oral to whether they like, or at least respect one another as both writers and people.
One would be correct in assuming this process can take time and may result in some prospective members deciding the group is not for them. But once the group is successfully up and running, it may be closed to future members. When that happens, a writer has a couple of options. He can attempt to put together his own face to face group or look to the web and form an online group.
Finding a Face to Face Critique Group Close to Home
The writer longs for the feedback a live critique group can give. He consults with members of the professional writing organizations he belongs to only to learn that no face to face groups exist close to where he lives and, furthermore, there seem to be no fellow writers interested in forming one. What are his options? He could travel long distances to attend group meetings, if he can find a writer’s group that is open to new members. He could attend conferences and pay for professional critiques. Or, he could fire up his computer and form an online group.
The Steps to Forming an Online Writers' Critique Group
- Begin by finding and taking part in writing forums and message boards. A Google search will reveal that such groups are available in any writing genre one can think of. While some of these are by invitation only, many are open to the public and, are a great source of possible critique group members. These forums are indispensible to writers at all levels. In her article “Fundamentals of Fiction, Part III: Critique Groups and Writers’ Groups,” Marg Gilks has this to say, “Group forums offer a place where new writers and more experienced writers can commiserate on a rejection or share and ‘I sold a story’ announcement…”
- Decide who the members of the critique group will be. What genre? What experience level? Beginning writers can benefit from having more experienced, published writers in the group but, often, more experienced writers are not interested in being in “newbie” groups. Author Margot Fink, in her article “Writers' Critique Groups: Where to Find Them,” gives beginning writers this advice, “ …getting feedback from other dedicated beginners is a step in the right direction. Some of the most inspiring children’s books went through critique groups that were originally formed by beginners.” If that is the case, try to find a mix of unpublished writers – those just starting out as well as those who have finished manuscripts that they are submitting to agents and editors.
- Find possible group members. The critique group leader can find likely members by posting on writers’ forums, message boards, blogs, professional organization websites and listserves. He may also alert his writer friends that he is interested in forming a group. Once the leader has received a number of responses, he will get back to those interested parties, asking for a short biographical sketch, a writers’ resume and a few sentences explaining why those writers are seeking out his group.
- Decide which applicants will join the virtual critique group. Once the critique group leader has sifted through the applications, he will pick his group members based on genre, experience, writing sample and reason for joining an online writers’ group. He will contact the members. Once the group has been formed there is still work to be done to get it up and running smoothly. The members will discuss ground rules such as the length of submissions, who submits when, when submissions are due, the length of critiques and so forth.
Online writers groups can go far in offering critical assessments of a writer's work. If successful, they can even be the springboard that launches the author's career.
