Seven years ago, I emailed my manuscript to an editor. After reading the first chapter, she advised me to find a writing critique group before sending the rest.
I told her I had recently moved, and that there were no critique groups where I lived. She repeated her advice and suggested I keep searching. My response was to continue protesting. She did not waver.
Reluctantly, I searched further and found a group on Meetup. They met every week in the city I no longer lived in. Since my prospective editor did not consider it a barrier, I entered the address into my GPS. It was only an hour’s drive away.
It was the most important step I have ever taken on my writing journey.
Types of Writing Critique Groups
Critique groups vary in number, level of commitment, and format. Here are four common types you may encounter:
Live Reading: Drop in
The Meetup group I found met in person on a drop in basis. There were no fees, and donations were optional. Writers had fifteen minutes to read their writing aloud and receive feedback. I found I could read close to 1200 words and get a fair amount of feedback, but the “sweet spot” was around 900 words, giving me more time to receive critiques.
Online
In 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, the group transitioned to Zoom. We uploaded our work to a shared Google Doc prior to the meeting. As writers read aloud, others in the meeting typed comments in the margins. If there was time, participants vocalized their critiques after the writer was finished reading.
This group continues to meet online weekly, with an in-person meeting in a college cafeteria one evening per month.
Live reading: Closed Group (In Person/Online)
Because of the increased accessibility of meeting online, the group grew in attendance. A few of us met (online) apart from the main group in order to read and receive feedback on larger manuscript portions at a time.
With a smaller group that was committed to showing up every week, each of us had the option to share 2400 words or more of our manuscripts. This allowed us to critique entire works in a shorter period than we would have been able to in a larger group.
The consistent attendance also allowed for focused feedback. For example, I wanted critique on my fiction podcast (The Compound), which required specific feedback on how the work was heard rather than how it appeared on the page.
Advance Reading: Closed Group (In Person/Online)
I had been invited to a closed group that met in person twice a month. Participants emailed their submissions to one another one week prior to meeting at a library to share critiques.
Just before I was to attend my first meeting with this group, lockdown began and we met online instead. We continue to meet online for convenience and accessibility.
We once had membership dues, but then decided it was no longer necessary.
Tips For Participating in Writing Groups
Keep in mind:
- If you are seeking a critique group, consider joining a few in order to find what works best for you. My advice is to start big, with a larger group and a smaller commitment. Eventually, you may find your way into a smaller, perhaps genre-specific group with a larger commitment.
- Joining your first critique group can be scary. As I mentioned earlier, it was the most important step I have ever taken on my writing journey. It will be an important step for you, too, in improving your writing. The feedback you give will be important to others as well. You have something to offer.
- Fictionary stresses the importance of kindness. Please remember this when you critique the work of others, and know that their critiques on your work most likely come from a place of kindness as well. You have given one another permission to provide honest and constructive feedback.
- Time is precious. While you are receiving feedback, it may feel natural to defend or explain your writing. But if you must defend or explain something you have written, it might mean that what you have written is not clear to the reader. The person offering the critique may be wrong, or they may be right. Make a note of what they tell you and give it some thought later. Take in as much feedback as you can during the allotted time.
- The importance of praise or recognition of what a writer has done well can go a long way. We want to encourage rather than discourage a writer to write.
How to Start Your Own Writing Group
Depending on where you live and your accessibility options, it might not be easy to find critique partners. Existing groups may meet at times that conflict with your availability, or perhaps are genre-specific and your writing does not quite fit in. Whatever the reason, one option is to start your own group.
While I suggest you do your best to find an existing group, sometimes we have to create our own spaces if they do not exist.
Think about the formats of the groups I have mentioned. Do any appeal to you? If not, what variations can you make to suit your needs?
When are you available to meet? Where will your group meet?
Once you have decided on the format, time, and place for your critique group, put it out there. Here are some places to find other writers:
- Writing conferences: Attendees are often open to making connections. For folks attending online, look for Discord chats or other forums. If you want to start a genre-specific group, conferences are be a great place to find potential participants.
- Public libraries: Speak to a library worker about your idea of starting a writing critique group. Most writers like to read, and some readers want to write. Your critique group might inspire and encourage someone to begin their writing journey.
- Fictionary has a great writing community. It is full of writers! That would be a great place to begin.
Conclusion
Writing critique groups are invaluable. There are many supportive communities out there. One such community might be yours, whether you find or create it.
In a writing critique group, you will learn where you can improve.
You will find out what you do well.
You will become a better writer.