tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post638469697673440271..comments2023-11-03T07:01:16.104-05:00Comments on C. Hope Clark: Know When Your Critique Group Doesn't FitHope Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319310910383413396noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-82224225331622699132011-02-04T21:17:04.036-05:002011-02-04T21:17:04.036-05:00A critiquing group is a must if you want to get pu...A critiquing group is a must if you want to get published. They will improve your writing in ways you can't imagine. If you can't find one locally, then look online. For some people, a critiquing group during a first draft helps them understand what's working and what's not, so they progress more quickly. Others need to listen to their unconscious mind and ignore the rest of the world during a first draft. It's important to figure out which of those groups you fall into. <br /><br />Two things I recommend looking for in a critiquing group: critics who tell you when something's not working, but don't tell you how to fix it; and critics who don't just give you reactions, but also tell you *why* they felt that way. For instance, a comment like, "Your protagonist is so mean!" can be incredibly destructive. But "This line of dialogue makes the protagonist sound mean -- did you intend it that way?" can be incredibly helpful. If you intended her to sound mean, then you know you've hit the mark. But if you didn't intend her to sound mean, you know what passage you need to change.Andrea Wengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614778745975148084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-84161910945415674662011-01-24T13:16:00.039-05:002011-01-24T13:16:00.039-05:00Fantastic advice. My group runs much like you desc...Fantastic advice. My group runs much like you describe in #3.<br /><br />We started out as all aspiring writers, and our skill level grew together. We've had some growing pains (having to leave behind a couple of members who had different goals and weren't contributing, others who moved on for other reasons), but overall, we've had some amazing success.<br /><br />Among us, we now have close to 30 books published and lots of awards, including 2 members on the verge of being able to write full time. I know a lot of people in my area that hear about my group and are immediately jealous--"You're in THAT group?" We're almost legendary. :)<br /><br />(One former member: NY Times Bestseller James Dashner, who read some early chapters of The Maze Runner at my kitchen table. Fun now to say I knew him when.)Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-3939369328966998152011-01-24T10:52:45.377-05:002011-01-24T10:52:45.377-05:00I have little desire to belong to any groups, but ...I have little desire to belong to any groups, but that said, for those who do, it's worthwhile chosing a group that does not critique something that is still in progress. There are good reasons. If you share chunks of an incomplete work, the words of the group will change the course of how the work goes and it ceases to be your own work. <br />I feel that any work in progess should be kept close to the chest until it is finished. Some love to talk about their WIP (*sigh*) but to me, you lose the purity of your creation as well as the energy.<br />Just my thoughts, as a non joiner. <br />Oh and grammar and spelling Nazis are a big put-off.Vivhttp://zenandtheartoftightropewalking.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-11372736335031975362011-01-24T08:22:24.851-05:002011-01-24T08:22:24.851-05:00Would love to try a group, unfortuately none appea...Would love to try a group, unfortuately none appear to be in my area. So hey plod along on my own for now! :-)Lesley Galston / Sloanwriterhttp://www.sloanwriter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-37612266219180232102011-01-23T12:30:02.874-05:002011-01-23T12:30:02.874-05:00Would love to see it, Jfinn.
hope@fundsforwriters....Would love to see it, Jfinn.<br />hope@fundsforwriters.comHope Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17319310910383413396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-41842947999632856232011-01-23T09:48:50.372-05:002011-01-23T09:48:50.372-05:00Hi Hope, my group is having its fourth conference ...Hi Hope, my group is having its fourth conference in October. Face-to-face contact for an international group has been amazing. I'd be happy to share with you the article in Poets & Writers about how we arranged our first conference. Our sessions are geared for what our group needs. Something must be working because we've had 4 members nominated for the Pushcart Prize and another was just nominated for the Edgar.Jfinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09488106858619705955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-33367074147948136682011-01-22T18:31:05.343-05:002011-01-22T18:31:05.343-05:00Hope:
All you say is true. I had to separate fr...Hope:<br /> All you say is true. I had to separate from a writing group for most of these reasons. Plus, the one who took over spent two extra weeks dealing with something that should have been dealt with and put behind us. And it really wasn't about writing.quietspirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086016141181470311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-51736956022045879532011-01-22T11:40:27.776-05:002011-01-22T11:40:27.776-05:00Hope, I can't agree more! Several years ago I ...Hope, I can't agree more! Several years ago I joined an online critique group which I thought would be very helpful, but after a couple critiques from the group I realized all they were flagging were grammar and spelling errors.<br /><br />When I complained about it they informed me they couldn't "get past" those mistakes to notice anything else. So I went so far as to have my niece proofread the piece before I submitted it to the group. <br /><br />The result? A mailbox full of "I loved it!" and "It's perfect."<br /><br />It was not perfect! At that point I'd never even heard of Echo and I had quiet a rundancy in it as well. I was also telling a great deal.<br /><br />Needless to say I quit that group pretty quick.B.L. Hamiltonhttp://www.freewebs.com/shakespearefn/index.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-86076041684882207942011-01-22T10:54:19.930-05:002011-01-22T10:54:19.930-05:00I belong to a long-time running international crit...I belong to a long-time running international critique group, too. Grand collection of people. Gosh, I'd adore meeting them face-to-face. I've met three of them - two because I knew them before they joined. One came over from Paris for a visit. Love those people.Hope Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17319310910383413396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-24619527839637758752011-01-22T09:54:31.276-05:002011-01-22T09:54:31.276-05:00Hi Hope, I moderate a successful long-running inte...Hi Hope, I moderate a successful long-running international Internet write/crit group that was featured in Poets & Writers in 2008 when we had our first conference. Your comments are spot on--every group needs not only rules but the willingness of its members to be generous with their time and expertise. When the match between writer and group works, it's magic.Jfinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09488106858619705955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-80886771926503818852011-01-20T15:20:07.138-05:002011-01-20T15:20:07.138-05:00Thanks for the tips.
Donna v.Thanks for the tips.<br />Donna v.Donna Volkenannthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-66149445416635917182011-01-20T09:46:23.808-05:002011-01-20T09:46:23.808-05:00Well, it's a good problem to have a wealth of ...Well, it's a good problem to have a wealth of invites! :)<br /><br />Having just returned to creative writing, I'm looking to join a group, it was of great value to me in the past. I've just started taking a writing class locally and am about to attend AWP, so I'm keeping my ear to the ground for possibilities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-25696217992920248382011-01-20T09:39:27.374-05:002011-01-20T09:39:27.374-05:00Also, if it lapses into a mutual admiration societ...Also, if it lapses into a mutual admiration society, where each person just gushes, "I love it!" after each reading...It's not a good fit.Sioux Roslawskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924021828536277618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14016238.post-36551828986007443472011-01-20T07:49:56.613-05:002011-01-20T07:49:56.613-05:00Great advice, Hope!Great advice, Hope!BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.com