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Many aspiring children’s writers - and even published children’s writers - find critique groups to be helpful.

Through the years I’ve belonged to several critique groups myself.

Quite often though, I’ve seen writers get discouraged from the feedback they received through critique groups and a few of these writers even gave up trying to write for children.

That should never happen!

Here are some tips for helping everyone make the most of a critique group:

1. Be sure to join or start a critique group that includes at least a few published children’s writers. If no one in your group has been published, it is a case of “the blind leading the blind.” Writers in the group might not know what to look for in a manuscript. As a result, comments and suggestions will be based more on personal tastes rather than any real knowledge of what makes a children’s manuscript marketable.

2. Make sure the comments and suggestions given to each writer are positive and constructive. Too often, manuscript critiques turn into attacks on a manuscript rather than any positive and constructive criticism of the work itself. Also, beginning writers tend to nit-pick over small details (the color of a character’s hair or the word used to describe something) rather than the elements that will make or break a story - elements such as conflict, rising action, point-of-view, etc.

3. Start by critiquing short pieces rather than novels-in-progress. I recommend this for a couple of reasons.

First, critiquing short pieces will allow time for everyone in the group to submit work for critique at each and every session. You want each person to feel he/she received something of value at each session. With shorter manuscripts there is less of a tendency to get bogged down with a single manuscript and spend too much time on it, leaving little or no time for critiquing all the other manuscripts presented for critique.

Second, shorter pieces are easier to critique, especially if everyone is checking to see if these short works include all the key elements of a marketable story. It’s often difficult (particularly for beginning children’s writers) to identify just what needs to be changed or revised in the chapter of a novel, for example. But generally, the problems in a short work, like a picture book manuscript or a short-story, can be easily identified if writers know what these are.

4. Give yourself time to get to know and trust each member in the group. Your critique partners can become valued friends and associates over the years. But it takes a while to really get to know and trust someone new.

When you join or start a critique group, before each and every meeting, remind yourself to be positive, helpful, and constructive in your criticism.

Try to never leave the session knowing that you’ve made a writer feel hopeless about his or her work. Do everything you can to make each writer in the group feel comfortable, even if you are not the leader of the group.

Over time, members will begin to trust each other and be willing to share more and more of their work with the group.

5. Celebrate each member’s publishing successes.

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For a professional critique of your children’s short-story or picture book manuscript, join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club today and submit your manuscript for critique by Wednesday, October 31st.

Then join other members for a live critique telesession on Thursday, November 1st, at 8:00 p.m. (central time). You’ll receive the call-in information for this session with your membership verification.

Join the club Here.

Happy writing!

Suzanne Lieurance

by Maurene J. Hinds, Contributing Editor

In today’s busy world, few of us have the luxury to spend hours pursuing a writing dream. There’s no such thing as finding time to write. You have to make the time! As with other priorities, if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to fit some writing time into your schedule. How do you do this?

First, you need to dispel some of the myths about writing. You don’t need huge chunks of time. Several focused, 15-minute sessions can be very productive over the course of days, weeks, and months. Can you expand that time to half an hour? Even better! Whenever you can squeeze in some time, do it.

Don’t wait for inspiration. One of the greatest myths about writing is that you have to feel fully inspired to write. While inspiration is great, it’s not a prerequisite. Writing is like any other skill. The more you practice, the better you get. Sitting down to write and producing something—anything—is better than not writing at all. Waiting for the muse is a great way to procrastinate and make excuses.

Now that you know two important rules (or non-rules), how else can you make the time to write? The following tips will help you spend more time writing and less time thinking about it.

1. Commit. If you want to be a writer, you have to write, plain and simple. Make writing a priority.

2. Share your commitment with others. Let your family and friends know that writing is important to you. Of course, you need to demonstrate this by writing. Once they see that you are committed, their level of support will likely increase.

3. Realize that some things may have to go, or at least be put aside. Most people can’t do it all. For some, even making fifteen minutes means that something else, such as vacuuming, is going to be put on hold. The house does not have to look perfect.

4. Keep your priorities in perspective. Yes, your children come first. So that means your writing time may need to happen when the kids are asleep. For many writers, this means getting up early, before everyone else, or staying up late after everyone else is asleep.

5. Give yourself mini goals. For some, a page a day is a reasonable goal. For others, it’s 500 words. Figure out a reasonable, yet still challenging goal, and stick to it.

6. Keep writing.

7. Turn off your inner critic. This is the voice that tells you your writing is no good. First, you need to get something on paper (or screen). You can call on this voice later when it’s time to revise. (Many writers find that early morning writing is the best writing time as far as keeping this voice quiet.)

8. Keep writing.

9. Don’t think about “big picture” issues such as whether or not the work will be published and where. This comes later. The top priority is getting those first drafts done. Then you can work on the other stuff (such as revising!).

10. Keep writing

As with other important things in life, writing takes time and effort. However, few things match the satisfaction of setting a goal, sticking to it, and watching your writing grow.

For more about Douglas Evans and his books, visit his website here.

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own. Visit her website for more information about her writing and writing services.

How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own.

How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Childrlen’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.

If you’ve been thinking of joining the Children’s Writers Coaching Club, now’s the time to do so before our special one month FREE membership offer expires tomorrow.

To join, and enjoy all the benefits of Level 1 membership, at no charge for the first 30 days - click on the link in the right sidebar of this page.

To learn more about the benefits of membership in the Children’s Writers Coaching Club, click on the link that says “join our club” at the top of this page.

On Sunday, June 24th, children’s nonfiction writer Laura Purdie Salas will be teaching a 6-1/2-hour workshop in Minneapolis called, Writing Nonfiction Children’s Books for the Educational Market. The workshop will be at the Loft Literary Center (http://www.loft.org/index.cfm), and participants wil be surveying the field, analyzing publishers’ catalogs, learning how to prepare an introductory packet to submit to publishers, writing rough drafts of cover letters, analyzing series, going over tips for once you have your first assignment, talking about pay and contracts, and more.

If you’re in Minnesota or the Upper Midwest (or anywhere else if you’re an eager traveler) and can make it to Minneapolis that day, I’d love to have you join the workshop. So far, 22 writers have signed up, and the max is 30. Laura Purdie Salas has taught this workshop several times, and it’s always very practical and informative
and fun, too.

If you would like more info, go here.