In my last post, Sandra asked how to find critique groups. So, here’s a quick rundown.
I write for children, so I found my critique group through the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, of which I’m a member. If you write or illustrate for children and you’re not a member of SCBWI, I highly recommend joining. It’s a great group, with fantastic conferences and supportive, friendly members. Writing can be a lonely pasttime and having like-minded people around who you can share with is priceless. SCBWI has regional chapters that have volunteer-run critique groups in various areas. SCBWI also will help people connect with other local writers to form new critique groups.
SCBWI also has an online manuscript critique group in its message boards, where writers can upload their work and whoever’s online can read and offer feedback. The drawback to this approach, rather than an in-person group, is that some writing might not get much feedback, while others could get a lot. I’m not sure why that is, but a couple of the pieces I put up had readers (it shows how many people looked at the page), but not many of them left notes.
If you’re not in a group such as the SCBWI, there are plenty of resources online, but you can also check your local bookstores. Face-to-face crtique groups are often held in bookstores once or twice a month, and they’re often listed in the bookstore’s events. A number of people have shown up to our critique group because they heard about the meeting through the bookstore, not through SCBWI.
A bookstore is always a great place to find local writers. If you can’t find a critique group in your area, you can start one. Ask the bookstore manager if they’d mind you putting up a sign asking local writers if they’d like to join a critique group. (First ask if the manager would mind you holding the group there if you can get it started.) I think most writers are hungry for connections to others who can understand what they’re going through when they write, hungry for people they can bounce ideas off of, share their work with and get support and encouragement on the days inspiration might not be flowing as well as they’d like. Put up a sign at your local bookstore and I’ll bet you’ll have a number of writers respond. It’s also good for networking locally.
As well as the online manuscript critique on the SCBWI message board, the world wide web has lots of other online critique groups. Before I joined SCBWI, I searched Yahoo Groups and found a bunch on children’s writing, even more on fiction writing and even more on just writing. Online, just as in an in-person group, try them out and see if they fit you. If not, move on to another group. From my last post, you want people who are at least as experienced as you but preferably some who are more so you can grow. And you want people who know how to critique, not insult. People tend to be a bit looser online, hiding behind the anonymity of a screenname. But … let me say that again … BUT, only a few people are like that. There are plenty of good online groups out there. So if you find you’re not comfortable with the first one you try, try another one, and another one, until you find a group you’re comfortable with.
Where to find these online groups? I already mentioned Yahoo, but there’s also Google’s groups service. Another option is simply plugging “writer’s critique groups” or just “critique groups” into Google, Ask.com or your other favorite search engine. As well as groups, you’ll find articles on how to start and manage a critique group and how to critique effectively (something you can pass around to members as they join).
Here’s a few pages I found in a Google search. I’m not recommending them, as I haven’t read them thoroughly, but I have skimmed them and they seem like good places to start:
Fiction Factor (for all fiction writers) article on Five Considerations Before Joining a Critique Group. Extends the information in my earlier post.
Underdown.org article on Writer’s Critique Groups and Where to Find Them. At first glance, looks like a comprehensive list with lots of links. Talks about children’s book writing, but could be useful for all writers.
Writing-World.com list of links on Critique Groups and Discussion Groups. Links to articles as well as online groups for horror writers, sci-fi writers, romance writers and everything in between. Plus, links to great sites such as Predators and Editor as well as contests.
Critters Writers Workshop. I hadn’t heard of this group before, but it’s an online community/critique group for sci-fi, fantasy and horror writers, run by the vice president of Science Fiction Writers of America. Membership is required (to the workshop, not SFWA), but it looks like it’s free.
Short Story Group. Online community/critique group for short story and poetry writers.
And, finally, CritiqueGroups.com. Another online community/critique groups site. Membership is required, but it’s free.
Do you know of any others?
If you try any of these, let us know how it goes.
Write On!
There's definitely some books that have just made it to my TBR pile. And one that was already there.
Thanks for the great post!
Hi - I found my way over from Wendy's blog. I missed BEA this year (attended the previous two) so this information is huge. It's interesting to learn fantasy is still so hot. Thanks!
that was awesome, ladies!! a big thanks to Leah, and a greater thanks to all of you for putting this together. there are so many great books to look forward to!!
Stina, the new book information Leah gave us was awesome! Hope you enjoy the new books!
RaShelle, I wish we could get to all of these great events. Excellent point about fantasy. We need books to take us out of our daily lives. These upcoming books sound like they do that well :)
Tahereh, aren't Leah's notes the best? I can't wait for some of these new books!
Marissa
Thanks for the great notes. If we can't be there, this is the next best thing!
Thanks for posting about your experiences. It's great you got to go. I really want to read Plain Kate & Matched.
Julie, reading Leah's notes made me feel the same way. It would have been great to go to BEA, but she made me feel like I was there.
Natalie, Matched caught me eye, too!
Marissa
Wow - great notes! Thanks! Some of those books sound wonderful, I can't wait to read them.
Wow, wow, wow!! Thanks for the amazing amount of information. Love the quote about childhood being a jungle not a garden.. wonder if Peck was ever a teacher :)
Lisa, I wish I had Leah in my college years. My note-taking abilities are nowhere near hers!
Jemi, as a teacher, I say amen!
Marissa
BRILLIANT NOTES/INFORMATION and I can SMELL the enthusiasm which oozes from ALL your posts.
There is NO DOUBT in my mind that both of you will be BIG in the writing world. Your blog is easily one of the best in the blogosphere already.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Great summary. Thanks so much for sharing your notes. Lots of valuable information and insight, as always. (Smiles) Have a super Tuesday:) P.S. Keep up the great work on your blog. Love it!
Wow, Leah. Great summary. Almost feel like I was there...almost. Thanks for your hard work. And to M & M...you both rock!
Thanks Ann Marie! Right back at you :) We can't take credit for Leah's great notes, though. She's a superstar.
Buffy, thanks for the encouragement! We love getting uplifted on your blog, too.
S.A., Leah does put us right in the event. I am beyond excited about some of the books that come out later this year. Your site rocks, too! Everyone should check out your interview with Casey McCormick today!
Marissa
Hi everyone--Richard Peck was a teacher--an English teacher! So you pegged it right. It was great to be at BEA-if you get the chance, you should go! Of the books I mentioned, I've read THE DUFF, and it's lots of fun--a bodice-ripper for teens. Can't wait to read the others.