Did you say you were going to start writing that book this year? If you’re looking for a way to honor your word(s) and put your writing life in action, starting a writing critique group will catapult your accountability and get you in community with your peers. It will also sit you next to writers who have an intention to publish. At the very least it will help you develop your craft to the point of submission (no, I don’t mean groveling, it just feels that way).
At best, critique groups are supportive, constructive, attuned to the work not personality, and usually peopled by well-read, life-educated, published, or almost-published writers. At worst, well, that’s another post.
Before You Begin, Stop Reading Writers’ Memoirs
Many writers feel writing groups are an admission of weakness or lack of talent. Some think they’re boring wastes of time. If you really want to be in action about your writing, you will need to stop listening to famous authors who write about hating groups. They just want to be able to smoke in public, and since that’s not altogether legal or healthy they decline invitations and make up stories about being tethered to their muse on a pirate ship in high seas with a bottle of scotch.
How to Create a Community of Your Peers
- If you are unsure about leading the group yourself, consider hand-picking a writer who is experienced with the process to work with you to get the group off the ground, and to keep the structure and guidelines in place over time.
- If you can’t find what you want, generate it. Meetup.com is a great place to gather like-minded souls in your geographic area.
- Independent bookstores, calendar listings in newspapers, community message boards and coffee shops are also good places to get the word out, post flyers, etc.
Structure and Guidelines
1. Define the Scope: Do you want a genre-focused group, or a general purpose fiction group? Short stories? Novels? Non-fiction?
2. Create a Starting Intent: Do you want to write and submit stories for publication? Or do you want to simply work on craft? Or both?
3. Gather Your Peeps: When people call to join, take notes and get a sense of their readiness and intent. Look for diversity (age, background, preferred genres, etc.) to create a rich critique experience.
4. Decide on Numbers: Keep the number of members limited. Four or five is a good starting place. If one person 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/day that honors writers’ lives (work, family). One evening every two weeks in the evening, or a weekend day set at an odd-but-doable time is easier to remember (1:23 p.m.). Once a month, or twice monthly is usually better than weekly as it gives writers a chance 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 raucous 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. “This passage is confusing…perhaps another word here would work better…I want to know more…There is a POV shift in this section…too much use of progressive tense…passive voice, needs more thrust…your story really starts on page 4…” Upon completion, provide the writer with your edits and notes on hard copy. Give writer a moment to explain unanswered questions. 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. Don’t defend or throw heavy objects.
10. Critique Structure: Calculate critique time based on length of meeting and numbers in the group, allowing for hellos and transitions. If your group is larger, you may want to divide up critiques every two weeks.
11. Socializing: Beyond the very reasonable, 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 just 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. Life happens. Sometimes people don’t show up, or arrive late or 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. It’s a choice, not a make-wrong.
14. Ghost Stories: I just put this here because I thought 13 guidelines would set off the superstitious among you.
Get ready for your writing life to change!
If you’d like to add to these guidelines, please jump into the comment box. See you there.
A well-known African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The same is true for writing.
Six months ago, I had an idea to start a writers’ group, a cohort of people banded together by their passion for writing. Three months later, I launched the web presence of the group, The Write Practice.
Since then, I’ve learned a little more every day about what it takes to start a successful writers’ group. It’s not easy, but it’s worth the effort.
Photo credit: Horia Vorlan
The only good reason you should start a writing group is if you don’t already have access to a one. It’s far easier to join a group than it is to start one.
However, for the brave and stubborn, here are six pieces of advice about how to launch your very own writers’ group.
1. Help people
People join writing groups to get help, so if don’t want to help other writers, don’t start a group.
How can you help your fellow writers?
My group helps people develop their writing voice, but others might help you build your online platform, network with other writers, or help you deal with rejection.
The possibilities are endless, but the non-negotiable is that you must help people.
2. Have a physical and online presence
From the beginning, I wanted my writing group to be both online and off-line.
The Internet is an amazing way to connect people to each other. Blogging especially is a great way to meet people. However, it’s difficult to build deep and meaningful relationships in a writing group if you only meet online.
As the leader, it’s your job to find ways to connect those people in real life. You may find yourself throwing parties, starting book clubs, or even going to writing workshops and conferences.
3. Throw parties
Chuck Palahniuk said, “Use writing as your excuse to throw a party each week — even if you call that party a ‘workshop.’”
I love the idea of a group of people coming together to celebrate their passion.
Once a month, my wife and I host a “writing feast.” We make a bunch of food, invite a bunch of our writer friends over to the house, and have a big party.
We might talk a little about our writing or the books that inspire us, but mostly, we celebrate the gift of writing.
4. Be consistent
Writers, like all creatives, can be terribly inconsistent.
We like to write when we want to write, to get together when we want to. However, to build a group you have to show up consistently.
If you’re going to meet in person, meet at the same time every week. If you’re going to create an online community, contribute every day or at regular intervals.
Writing groups take a long time to build, and if you don’t show up consistently, no one else will.
5. When critiquing, focus on the bright spots
One of the main reasons people join writing groups is to get feedback about their work. However, there is a helpful way and an unhelpful way to do this.
The human mind naturally focuses on flaws. It’s in our wiring.
When you critique someone’s writing, try to intentionally look for way to praise the person’s work (even if you didn’t really like all of it). For example, say, “I loved what you did here. You should do that more often.”
It’s more helpful when someone tells you to do something more than when they tell you what you’re doing is wrong.
6. Beware “Entrepreneur’s Depression”
As you are preparing to start your writers’ group, you might dream of dozens of writers showing up to your first meeting. You may fantasize droves of hungry writers saying, “We’ve been waiting for someone to start this for years. Thank you so much! Lead us, oh fearless sage.”
But it doesn’t happen like that.
The first time I threw a writing feast, two people showed up. After three months of preparation, my website had received less than 100 visits in the first week.
When you don’t get the response you expect, the you may feel betrayed. This is normal. But whatever you do, don’t give up. Fight through the disappointment.
If your dream for a writing group is going to become a reality, you will have to keep showing up. You’ll have to persevere.
No one is going to start it if you don’t.
Would you want to be a part of a writers’ group? What would you look for as part of your perfect cohort? Share in the comments.
*Photo credit: Horia Varlan (Creative Commons)
Jeff Goins
I am the best-selling author of five books, including the national bestsellers The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. Each week, I send out a free newsletter with my best tips on writing, publishing, and helping your creative work succeed.
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Being a starving artist is a choice.
Bestselling author and creativity expert Jeff Goins dismantles the myth that being creative is a hindrance to success by revealing how an artistic temperament is, in fact, a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
For centuries, the myth of the starving artist has dominated our culture, seeping into the minds of creative people and stifling their pursuits. But the truth is that the world’s most successful artists did not starve. In fact, they capitalized on the power of their creative strength. In Real Artists Don’t Starve, Jeff Goins debunks the myth of the starving artist by unveiling the ideas that created it and replacing them with fourteen rules for artists to thrive.
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I’m Jeff Goins, the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. Every week, I share new tips on creative work. Enter your email below and I’ll send you a free book.
A writers group offers many advantages: constructive criticism of your writing, moral support from fellow writers, even the opportunity to discuss issues related to writing—finding editors, getting published, and promoting your work on social media. You can find virtual writers groups that allow authors in many different locations to communicate regularly with one another via the Internet. But what if you want some face time with other authors, and there aren’t any local writing groups near you? What do you do? Start a writers group!
Here are 8 steps to starting a successful writers group:
Step 1: Write a Mission Statement. Tailor the mission statement so it addresses the purpose and parameters of the group and attracts like-minded writers. For example: “The purpose of XYZ Writers Group is to improve the quality of the fiction writing of its members, and to provide guidance on and share knowledge of the writing and publishing industries, all in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Step 2: Be Sure You Have the Time to Commit. Before you start recruiting members, make sure you have enough time available in your schedule to get the group off the ground, keep it running, and do all the ongoing reading that will be required. Sit down and write out a time budget. How many hours do you have to spend on the start-up? How many hours a week will it take to read the other members’ work? How many hours will you spend in ongoing administration? If the numbers add up to more time than you’re truly able to dedicate, you may want to consider joining an already existing writers group. Or you might want to switch tactics and work with a single critique partner.
Step 3: Get the Word Out and Find Members. Consider placing a classified ad in a local paper, and spread the word via an active presence on Twitter. Set up a page for your group on Facebook and keep it current. You might also want to consider creating a group using Meetup.com. You’ll have a core group of interested writers before you know it! Just be sure to cap your membership at a number that makes you comfortable.
Step 4: Choose a Meeting Site. Choose a site that is centrally located, and make sure there is ample free parking. Select a quiet place where the group can talk freely without being interrupted. A conference room at a library or a corner of a willing bookstore fits the bill.
Step 5: Set the Meeting Time. Having a regularly scheduled meeting time, such as the first Wednesday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., encourages participation. Let members know that attendance is important! If it seems a writer isn’t taking his or her involvement in the critique group seriously, you may ask that person to make way for someone who has more time and focus to devote to the group.
Step 6: Implement a Process for Pre-Meeting Prep and Communication. Communicate using a set schedule: Advise anyone who will be submitting manuscripts for critique to send the work to you at least four days before the meeting. Then, email the work to group members at least three days before you meet. Be sure you use the BCC feature of your email to maintain privacy for the group members.
Step 7: Establish Meeting Guidelines. It’s a good idea to list the basic rules regarding how members should prepare for meetings and the type of behavior that is expected or to be avoided (no bad critiques!). Successful meetings—those where people are engaged and participating—tend to take on a life of their own and sometimes lose focus. Have a printed agenda for each meeting and a designated moderator/timer to keep the session on track.
Step 8: Continually Evaluate and Renew. As time goes on, regularly reevaluate how the group is working. Is it meeting each member’s needs? Canvass the group regularly; ask members how the meetings and procedures could be improved.
A good writers group combines the best elements of a high-level writing seminar with a positive support group. Properly set up and managed, your writers group will last a long time. If you don’t already belong to a writers group, start one today—and let us know about it! We’d love to add your group to our list of writers groups in America.
QUESTION: Do you belong to a writers group, and if not, have you thought about starting one?
Of course you should start a writer’s group – what are you waiting for?! A writers’ group can increase your productivity, inspire you to write more, and motivate you to send your writing to literary agents, magazine editors, and book publishers.
When I mentioned my writing group on Twitter, and received several “I wish I belonged to a writers’ group, but there aren’t any in my area” or “My writing group disbanded – and I really miss it!” responses. Whether you’re a freelance writer, aspiring novelist, or published poet – a writers’ group can keep you motivated, disciplined, productive…and published.
How do I know this? Because I started a writer’s group several years ago, and witnessed firsthand the benefits of writing with a group of motivated, encouraging, and supportive aspiring authors! We discussed everything from how to write an author bio when you’ve never been published to the most common reasons manuscripts are rejected by editors. So, here are my tips for starting a writer’s group.
First, though, let’s run through a quick list of reasons you should start (or at least join!) a group of writers…
Benefits of a writers’ group:
- Information sharing, which leads to growth
- Inspiration from successful experiences
- Support for rejections and feelings of failure
- Encouragement to keep going
- Feelings of solidarity and connectedness
- Feedback for your writing, article ideas, or plans
- Accountability for your writing goals
Also, if one or more of the writers in the group goes to a writing conference or workshop, she can share what she learned. Not only does this benefit the other writers, it’ll help solidify the writing tips in her own brain. Teaching is a great way to really learn something 🙂
7 Tips for Starting a Writers’ Group
Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s what bestselling author John Irving said about taking risks as a writer:
“If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital.” – John Irving.
I had no idea what I was doing when I started my group for writers. But guess what? I learned lots! These tips will help you start and sustain your first writing group.
1. Decide on the best place to meet
My writer’s group started in a classroom at our local elementary school and moved to our homes (we rotate through the members’ houses). We’ve also met in the pub, which wasn’t as comfortable as a home. Other great places for writers’ groups to meet include the library, an uncrowded coffee shop, or a spare room in your local community center.
2. Be clear from the beginning about the structure of your meetings
Will you read your writing out loud, and will everyone give feedback? Will you email your story, article pitch, or book proposal before the meeting? Will you write during your meetings (that wouldn’t work for me – but it may be appealing to writers who struggle with motivation or time to write)? Will you brainstorm story ideas or wrestle with plot problems?
3. Start stretching your writers’ group from Day One
Be flexible about tweaking the structure based on group dynamics, location changes, new members, etc. Instead of rigidly adhering to “the way we’re supposed to do it”, consider mixing things up a little. For instance, if you meet every two weeks, you could alternate between a critique night and a “just talking about writing” night.
4. Be clear about what you’re looking for in a writers’ group
As I told my writing buddies last night (waving to my fellow WOBBERS! which stands for Write on Bowen 🙂 ) – I prefer sharing our writing goals, experiences, information, and inspirations. I’m not big on reading my writing out loud, nor do I love critiquing others’ writing. But, a writer’s group should be an amalgamation of what everyone needs and wants – which is where flexibility and open-mindedness comes in.
5. Develop clear guidelines for members, book genres, leaders, etc
Here are a few questions to help you set guidelines for your new writing group:
- Is your group open to new writers?
- Should all members write in the same genre?
- How will feedback be offered?
- What are the goals of your writing group?
- Who will lead the meetings?
- What is the purpose of your meetings? (eg, to write together, or offer feedback, or read your writing aloud, or a blend of it all?)
When you’re starting a writer’s group, it helps to have a plan. My group recently faced a dilemma involving a possible new member; we weren’t all on the same page (as it were) and we hadn’t decided beforehand if we were ready for new members.
6. Re-evaluate your writing group regularly
As a group, agree on the guidelines for meeting and sharing your writing. Then, re-evaluate your goals and practices regularly – such as every quarter or every September.
7. Consider recruiting a co-leader
When I started my writer’s group almost 10 years ago, I had a co-leader who pulled out at the last minute because of other commitments. I wasn’t happy spearheading the group on my own, so I let it wither away. One of the members encouraged me to start it up again (Maggie!) – and I’m so glad I did. It’s a smaller group and I’m not “in charge”, which made me happy..
For me, the best part of this writer’s group – besides the motivation and encouragement – is seeing how we’re achieving our goals as writers. We’re completing novels, book proposals, and articles. Together, we’re forging ahead in this crazy business – and our progress is sweeter because we savor it together.
To learn more about writers’ groups – or to start your own writers’ group – read Writing Alone, Writing Together: A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups by Judy Reeves. She has lead all kinds of writing groups and classes, and gives concrete examples of what works best. Her book is well-organized, and interesting to read!
This book will help you get organized, and learn how to critique your and others’ writing in helpful, encouraging ways. Judy discusses how to write, where to write, who to write with, how to critique, how to revise, etc. You can even form an online writers’ critique group with her tips — and improve both your group and your writing.
If you’re not motivated to write (much less start a writers’ group!), read Writing a Novel? How to Stay Motivated.
Fellow scribes, do you have any thoughts or questions about starting a writers’ group? Feel free to write below…
We writers are a funny bunch. We’re introverts. Hermits.
Highly sensitive but also very opinionated, especially about other peoples work.
What we sometimes forget is that one negative comment made off the cuff could wound someone to a point of pulling away. And when I say pulling away, I mean wounded to the point of stopping.
It’s been my experience that most people don’t want to hear what’s wrong with their work so much as they want validation and strokes for how talented and wonderful they are. This is why a writer can crumble at the idea of rejection.
Now, that being said…if someone asks for a critique then it needs to be based on criteria that is about the written word and not an opinion or criticism of the theme, the writer, or the style of work.
There’s a fine line here and it can get blurred
Criticism–also known as judgment, opinion, or even a simple comment. OR A denunciation. Fault-finding. A blindside right up-side your head.
Here’s the thing, many say writers need to have a thick skin but that doesn’t mean they have to sit around and be attacked by a bunch of idiots who know not of what they speak.
Critique–is a disciplined and careful study of a work but can be presented as both positive and negative. It is viewed as helpful and not a judgement.
While a critique is still an opinion, it should be based on knowledge of the craft and could offer some assistance in moving forward.
If you’re in a writers critique group–you better be able to trust your people and make sure they know how to give a helpful critique otherwise someone will rip it apart and spit out the chewed remains of your ego and pride.
Rules need to be established before any critiques begin.
Hearing your own work critiqued can lead to a knee-jerk reaction filled with defensive indignation. Others obviously didn’t understand. You start to explain and try to bring them to a point of agreement, but it doesn’t happen. You view the person doing the critique as an idiot–unworthy of being in the same room with your genius and a total waste of your time.
It’s tough to sit under the spot light and have your soul examined. There are things to learn on both sides of the table.
If you’re critiquing and the subject author begins to get agitated, defensive, or flustered–stop immediately and pull back. It’s not worth pushing past a point of no return.
Let’s consider a few things about giving a critique–whether you’re giving it personally in a writing group or as a book review online.
Why are you doing a critique?
Are you looking to pump up your own self worth or is it to be helpful?
Seriously, some people come off as pompous asses who know everything about the world and yet never share their own stuff…hmmm, I wonder why.
If, and when, you’re invited to critique someone’s work whether online, in a writing group, or one-on-one, be cognizant of the fact that this is a privileged position. You’re not there to crush someone’s spirit you’re there to help them grow as a writer.
Always–Always–find something positive first.
Give the good news first so to speak. Talk about the voice, the description, the setting. You may mention how smooth the writing flowed or you could tell that this subject is close to their heart.
Keep notes as you listen (or read) and jot down the positive. Maybe a good description or a stand out phrase was used. Be genuine in your words or say nothing.
Concentrate of things like:
…is the voice appropriate. For example would a six year old use such large words or perhaps they sound babyish. How about the technology? Are teens passing notes? Is it realistic? Wouldn’t they be texting? Look for things like head-jumping POV, overuse of speech tags, adverbs, repeated words–pointing out these types of things can be useful.
Remember you’re critiquing the writing, not the person who wrote it.
It’s okay to ask questions like: why did you write this in first person? or Is there anything we should know to set the scene?
If you, for whatever reason, have a personal dislike for the person who wrote the work then it may be best to skip your critique or put those personal feelings aside and be professional–the choice is yours.
Whatever you do, don’t get petty–it’s not attractive.
This is the person’s work and a critique should assist in making it better and not have a part in making the writer want to jump off a cliff.
Do not start a critique with “You should do it this way….”
That is superimposing your judgment, style, and apparent expertise on their work. A critique is not about how you would write it.
Make sure you have something to back up your opinion. If you’re a novice writer with no credentials to your name then who are you to say that something sucks?
Watch how you say things…Make sure your language is filtered.
Instead of saying…this is boring you may want to say that the scene needs more tension… or instead of saying that a writer is using the wrong word offer an alternative in a positive way.
Remember you’re making suggestions, not absolutes.
If you know the craft of writing then this shouldn’t be too difficult because you can use the terms of the trade.
Try and remain objective.
Critiquing another’s work can be difficult because we know what we’d do with it but it’s not ours to alter and improve.
Step back and try to detach yourself from the emotion of the critique (while still staying positive) and stay unbiased as you look at the structural and working parts of the work.
There is a rule of thumb to follow: If you have absolutely nothing good to say–keep your mouth shut.
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Writers groups can be an incredibly rich experience. In fact, you can learn more about the craft of writing from a good writers group or creative writing club than you can learn from a thousand blog posts on writing.
However, at the same time, a bad writers group can be a waste of time, and if particularly dysfunctional, can even be incredibly damaging to your confidence and your writing.
If you’re part of a writers group, how do you take it to the next level? And if you’re looking for a writers group, how do you make sure you choose the right one?
Good Writers Groups Critique
Here’s the rule to judge a writers group by:
Good writers groups give good critiques. To grow your writers group, then, you must learn how to give better feedback.
Critiquing isn’t just a normal part of most writers groups, you may find it to be the best part.
However, if you’ve ever received a bad critique, whether it was poorly thought out or just straight up wrong, you know that sometimes critiques can do more harm than good.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how to give feedback as good as any New York editor, and then how to take it like a pro.
3 Steps to Giving the Best Feedback
Before we begin, let’s all acknowledge something about the nature of criticism: it sucks. Criticism is painful at it’s best, deeply wounding at its worst, and can often cause lasting impact to our writing and self-confidence.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, one surprising thing about criticism is that it’s also incredibly useful for creativity. In fact, researchers have found that criticism is far more effective for generating ideas even than brainstorming. Here’s Charlan Nemeth, a psychologist at Berkeley:
While the instruction ‘Do not criticize’ is often cited as the important instruction in brainstorming, this appears to be a counterproductive strategy. Our findings show that debate and criticism do not inhibit ideas but, rather, stimulate them relative to every other condition.… Authentic dissent can be difficult, but it’s always invigorating. It wakes us right up.
At The Write Practice, we always strive to critique in a way that is both encouraging and invigorating, and that’s why we follow the following three-step process to giving feedback.
The Oreo Method to Critiquing
What’s you’re favorite part of an Oreo? If you’re like me, the best part of an Oreo is definitely the two cookies (I especially have a weakness for Oreo cookie milkshakes).
In the same way, the best parts of a critique that follows the Oreo Method are the two cookies (the filling is the tough part!).
Here’s how the Oreo Method works:
Step 1: Give positive praise.
The first step of building your Oreo sandwich is to start by talking about all the things you liked about the writing piece you read.
- What is unique or effective about their writing style?
- What did you enjoy or respect about their characters?
- What is a phrase or paragraph that especially stood out to you? Why?
- Which authors that you’ve read do they remind you of?
The key here is to be as specific as you can, and to describe exactly what they did that was effective.
What if you can’t think of anything good to say? Then you’re not reading closely enough. I’ve edited some pretty bad writers, but even then, I’ve found that when I’m struggling to find something to praise, it’s my fault, not theirs. I find that as I look back at their writing and read closer, I will always find many things to praise.
The golden rule of critiquing is, “Seek first to understand, not to be understood.” Your job as a critique partner is to draw out what’s best about their writing. Don’t you want the same thing from your critique partners?
If you can’t give positive feedback on someone’s writing, you’re not reading closely enough. (Share that on Twitter?)
Step 2: Give constructive feedback.
Next, the filling. It’s time share your negative feedback.
Honestly, I find it’s usually easier to talk about what I didn’t like than what I did (perhaps that says something about me!), but that’s why the first step of critiquing is so important. If you don’t give positive feedback, the writer you’re critiquing may not be able to accept your negative feedback.
Again, be as specific as you can. Say exactly what didn’t work for you, and give precise examples. Here’s what I mean:
I really liked the way you drew us into the scene by describing the setting as if we were actively walking through it. I especially enjoyed your description of Manhattan here: “Circumambulate the city of a dreamy Sabbath afternoon. Go from Corlears Hook to Coenties Slip, and from thence, by Whitehall, northward.”
However, I found that your language was overly stiff and formal, especially when you use words like “thence” and “circumambulate,” which are so far out of common use I had to look a few of them up. I think you’ll find that people will be able to connect emotionally with your novel much more easily if you used a more informal vocabulary.
See how specific I was? Easy enough, right? (Bonus points if you know which famous novel I was “critiquing.”)
Step 3: Give more positive praise.
You always remember negative criticism more than the positive praise you get, and that’s why it’s so important to complete your Oreo sandwich by overwhelming them with something positive.
What I find is that I’m much more ready to take the negative feedback if it’s surrounded by insightful, positive praise. “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down,” right?
Hint: If you run out of nice things to say, copy and paste something from Step 1.
Positive. Negative. Positive.
That’s the formula for giving a critique that can transform someone’s writing (for the better!).
Why We Critique
It’s easy to avoid giving this kind of feedback. It can be incredibly time consuming. It can also be difficult to give tough feedback to writers you don’t know very well. Wouldn’t it be easier to just say, “Great story!” And move on?
Be better than that. Be a writer who cares about the craft enough to say the hard things as well as the good things. And at the very least, be a writer who cares enough about your own writing to give the kind of feedback you hope to receive in kind.
More Resources on Writers Groups:
- The Becoming Writer Writers Group
- Writers Groups Meetup Directory
- Why Creatives Need to Criticize Each Other More
- How to Give and Receive Constructive Criticism
- Critiquing Can Make You a Better Writer… and Person
How about you? What other tips do you have about critiquing? Share below.
PRACTICE
Give a good critique! Go back to an earlier post on The Write Practice, choose a practice to read, and then leave a critique using the Oreo method described above.
And if you’re looking for a good writers group, click here to learn more about Becoming Writer.
Participating in a writer’s group can help you improve your skills and give you support when you need it.
Photo by Veronica Miramontes
But it can be hard to get a group to stick it out for the long haul. People run out of work to submit, or something in the group dynamics doesn’t mesh, or one by one your members just start slipping away like you’re in an Agatha Christie novel.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can boost your group’s odds of sticking it out with some simple steps that will help you establish a constructive group dynamic from the start. Here’s my top five to get you started.
1. Keep it small.
My group is only four people, and it’s just right for us. By keeping your group small, it’s easier to maintain a safe environment where everyone feels safe sharing work and discuss challenges.
2. Choose writers at a similar skill level.
I met the other members of my group in a writer’s class for beginners—it was a great way to connect with other serious-minded writers at a similar level.
Though we’ve all only been writing for a few years, we each have different strengths, perspectives and even write in different genres. We help each other become more well rounded while supporting each other through common struggles for developing writers at this stage. We all gain from this group, but more experienced writers probably wouldn’t benefit as much as we do.
3. Keep it flexible.
I think the smartest thing my group has done is stay flexible about how we operate. We try to meet about once a month, but change when and where depending on what works best for everyone. We try to rotate between members for critique time, but switch as necessary if someone has a crazy month.
And you don’t have to submit work to take advantage of your committed time slot, either—you can also choose to bring a writing-related topic for discussion.
4. Don’t get too ambitious.
We choose to meet a once-a-month commitment to avoid making the group too much of a burden on anyone—the same goes for our two-critiques-per-session rule. Additionally, we limit each submission to fifteen double-spaced pages.
What your group chooses to do may be different, but let your decisions be guided by the same principle: protecting yourselves from becoming overburdened by the commitment.
Remember, you can always adjust later if it’s not right.
5. Set clear guidelines for feedback.
Our group originally formed within a writing class, so we already had a set of critique guidelines to draw from. These guidelines have been an essential foundation for us.
From the beginning, we understood that, when giving feedback, we first give an overview statement of what we understand of the plot and characters in the scene, then move on to the items we liked, and then the areas we thought could be strengthened more.
Critique can be rough on even the toughest writers … respect the courage your group is showing by laying down clear expectations that keep critique friendly and supportive.
Writers, like other artists, get a bad rap for being flighty and inconsistent. But you can get a group of writers to commit to a group long-term if you tailor it to meet the group’s needs.
Are you part of a writer’s group? What tips do you have to create a group that lasts?
PRACTICE
Grab your pen! For fifteen minutes, write about what you would look for in a writer’s group.
What rules would you set for yours? If you’ve been in one, what made it a success?
We all know the experience of getting an unhelpful critique, of feeling shut down and discouraged rather than pumped up to revise. What exactly gives you that feeling? How can you avoid giving it to someone else?
Giving the right kind of critique takes some effort and thoughtfulness. If you’re taking the time to give someone feedback on their creative writing, either in a class, a writing group, or one-on-one, you want to give feedback that will help that writer develop their strengths. And in doing so, you’ll be developing both your critical thinking skills and your skills as a writer, too.
Read the Work Carefully
Read shorter pieces of writing at least two times, once to get the flavor and another time focusing on the details. If possible, make a copy of the poem or story, so that your initial musings don’t have to be turned over the writer. Avoid reading the work for the first time immediately before the meeting. Give the writing time to work on you, and give your brain time to mull over the writing.
Choose Your Words
Some editors advise sticking with “I” statements (e.g., “I would get to the conflict faster”) rather than “you” statements, that tend to feel personal (e.g., “You really need to fix the beginning”). Focus on your own response, or on the writing itself: “The prose felt a bit awkward in this section,” or “This scene would be more effective if it were dramatized. There’s a lot of exposition here.”
Honesty is important, of course, but as Alan Ziegler points out in The Writing Workshop Note Book, “You can honestly say that you hate a story, but only someone capable of being fueled by revenge will become a better writer from hearing it.” Focus on making a “good-faith effort to be helpful.” Take care with how you couch your criticism.
Start With the Positive
Many classes and writing groups require each participant to say one positive thing and one thing that needs work. We all respond to negative feedback better if there’s some positive, too, and it sets a more helpful tone for the critique. Overly critical readers sometimes need to be reminded that all pieces of writing have something going for them.
Consider Why It’s Not Working
Listen to yourself as a reader. If something’s putting you off of a story, or if you feel bored during part of it, pay attention. Try to figure out why you’re having that reaction. What’s not working about the character or the situation, or the writing itself? If you’re bored, is there too much exposition? Does there need to be more conflict? If you’re not relating to the character, why not? It could be that the story’s just not your thing, but chances are, there will be something in your response that can help make the writing better. Pass this constructive criticism on to the writer in your critique.
Take Care With Humor
Even if a story has some truly ridiculous things about it, avoid making jokes at the writer’s expense, even if they seem to go along with it. Taking risks is part of the creative process, and this means looking ridiculous from time to time. Chances are, the critique has already shown them their folly. Treat their failure with respect.
Don’t Shy Away From the Truth
If you’re a person who has trouble giving criticism, this is your chance to work on it. Couch it in the most positive terms possible, but do communicate what you think isn’t working. Language like “I think the story could be even better if . . . ” might make you feel more comfortable, and makes the writer feel better, too. But deliver your opinion. Criticism can be a sign of respect. It tells the writer that you think their writing is worthwhile and you believe in their talent enough to be honest with them.
Writing critique groups are a great way to improve your writing skills without spending any (or at least not much) money. Most, if not all writers, can use a little help from their peers to improve their skills. The advantage of these groups is they are generally a non-threatening group of people who genuinely want to help.
How does it work?
- Find a group using a website such as meetup.com.
- Some of them require a small fee either per meeting or periodically (once a month is common) but most are free of charge. Usually they will allow a guest to visit once or twice without paying to check them out and see how they work.
- Bring along a few pages of something you want critiqued.
- Each person attending reads and the others in the group provide feedback on the writing.
Most of these groups are small (six to a dozen people) although some have as many as 20 or even 40 people. I prefer the smaller groups because in the larger groups it tends to be rushed to allow everyone to read.
Sometimes a group requests that everyone send out their writing in advance so people have a chance to read it before the meeting. It all depends on the desires of the group owners.
Most of all, have fun, don’t take it that seriously, and be prepared to get some good critique.
Guidelines for Writing Critique Groups
Provide constructive criticism in a supportive, compassionate manner. Writes invest a lot into their work, and it takes courage to read it in front of several peers, inviting their critique. They came to the meeting because they want to become better writers, so show them respect and give them honest help.
Things you should do when critiquing another writers works.
- Don’t critique the writer. Your job in these meetings is to give constructive feedback on the writing.
- Begin your evaluation with a few compliments. Find one or two things you liked. If something was especially good, mention it and explain why.
- Give specific critique, not vague and general comments.
- Be gentle in your comments.
- Be supportive.
- Even if the writing is terrible, find a few good points and mention them first.
On the other hand, there are things you should avoid.
- Generally, it is better to critique style, characters, flow, plots and so forth. Grammar and spelling critique, unless it’s very noticeable, is not needed because it should be assumed the writer will spell and grammar check and, if their are going to publish or submit the work, send it to a proofreader.
- Don’t waste time on the minutiae. Focus on the bigger picture.
- Don’t ramble or belabor the point.
- Do not make insulting remarks.
- Be quick and concise. Everyone wants a chance to read.
- Don’t argue.
- Don’t insult the writer.
Things you should think about as the work is being read:
For fiction:
- Are the characters consistent?
- Do the background details make sense?
- Is the plot concise?
- Did you get lost?
- Can you envision the scene?
- Can you follow the plot?
- Is it predictable or trite?
- And so on.
- For non-fiction:
- Is the topic clear?
- Is it explained well?
- Are citations included?
- Did you understand the material?
- Are technical terms explained in a clear manner?
For those being critiqued, remember the following points.
- Don’t take it personal.
- Do not argue with the person doing the critique.
- Just accept what’s being said. Don’t try to explain in most cases. You are supposed to be receiving critique, not defending yourself.
- Remember you don’t have to accept the suggestions.
- Have fun. Everyone is there to help you make your writing better.
A Note About Ghostwritten Works and Writing Critique Groups
Ghostwriters should never read their ghostwritten material at writing critique groups (or anywhere else in public as well) unless permission has been received from the client.
This is a pet peeve of mine. In one critique group, a ghostwriter would read his ghostwritten work to the group. This always seemed odd because the ghostwriting is highly confidential. Usually this is enforced by a contract.
It is a severe ethics violation for a ghostwriter to read his ghostwritten material in public without permission. if you see this happening, you know that ghostwriter cannot be trusted.
A ghostwriter who breaches confidentiality without your knowledge is not a professional. 11 Things Your Ghostwriter Doesn’t Want You to Know, Sam Tamlyn
Starting a Writing Critique Group
If you can’t find a writing critique group near you, or you want one that is more specific to your needs, you can always get a group together and create one yourself. Meetup.Com is an excellent platform and works well for critique groups. Note, however, it is expensive (over $100 a year) to host your own group on this platform.
The advantage of meetup.com is the site actively promotes your group among all meetup members in your local area. This means you don’t have to do the promotion and advertising yourself.
I used the Meetup site to create my own Science Fiction themed critique group. it took about 6 months to gather a group of about 1 dozen people together. Once we had the group going, I canceled the Meetup on meetup.com as, since we met every week, there was no reason to continue paying for it.
Conclusions
If you want to improve your writing skills in a relaxed, non-competitive and low-cost environment, than writing critique groups may be just the ticket. Check out a few groups and find one or two that you like. I think you’ll be happy with the results.
Richard is the Owner and Senior Writer for The Writing King, a bestselling author, and ghostwriter. He’s written and published 63 books, ghostwritten 40+ books, as well as hundreds of blog articles.
