Critique Groups – What You Need to Know
So you want to join a critique group? Good for you. But there are some things you should know before you jump in with both feet and commit to a group for the long haul. Or even the short haul.
Do you know the people in the group? If yes, do you respect them as writers and trust them with your work? This is critical. You must feel comfortable and safe in a critique relationship, not babied, but safe. If you do not feel either comfortable or safe, do not join the group. Or if you’ve joined, leave immediately. More about leaving a group a little later.
If you don’t know the people in the group personally, or only know some of them, make it clear to the group that you’d like to try them out for a specified amount of time to see if you gel with the group. Do not make the trial period too long. One or two meetings should be ample time for you to get a good feel for the group and the type of critiques offered. Remember, one person can change a group’s dynamics. Perhaps, they’ll even want to audition you to see how you fit with their group. This is a good thing for everybody concerned. You want that great fit.
If you do try out a group and find out it’s not working for you, what do you do? Well, if you’ve followed my advice and done a temporary try-out with the group, there should be no hard feelings for anyone. Keyword in that sentence is should. But what if there are hard feelings, or what if you didn’t have an agreement with a new group? How do you handle this?
I think the best way to handle any situation is with candor and honesty. Meet with your group, if that’s the way you all critique, or email the group if you don’t meet in person. Explain to them simply- and with grace - that this isn’t working for you. You don’t have to go into any specific reasons. In fact, it’s best if you don’t get into personalities or dynamics of the group. The group should respect your decision. If not, it will just confirm to you that this was not the best group for you.
So, let’s say you’ve picked out a group and you’ve set up your time limit for your trial and they’ve agreed. What do you look for? Well, that depends on what kind of critique you’re looking for. That might sound strange, but there are all kinds of critique groups. Some offer detailed critiques, tantamount to line edits where misspelled words are corrected, grammar is addressed, story, plotting, the whole ball of wax. If this works for you, wonderful. But what if you don’t want that kind of detailed critique? What if it messes with your creativity? Maybe you’re really looking for a group to give you the big picture, to help you with plotting issues, brainstorming or giving feedback to scenes that aren’t working. If that’s the kind of group you’re looking for, make it clear when you check out groups to join.
If you’re a big picture person stuck in a group that’s examining every comma, you’re going to be miserable. You’re also not going to be giving the rest of the group the type of critiques they want. And likewise, if you’re in a big picture group but want a detailed critique, you’re not going to be in the right group either. So pick your group type carefully based on your level of need.
Another thing to consider is the expertise of the group members. Has the group been together a while and are all members on about the same level? If you’re just starting out, your lack of expertise may cause you not to fit in with the group. That’s okay. The group wasn’t for you. Not now. You may be a good fit at a later date.
Or maybe you discover the group is not as advanced as you’re looking for. If you discover this, move on.
I think it’s best to look for a group of people who are relatively on the same level as you are. Or are a level or two up or down from where you are in your writing. Too much disparity in levels of expertise may cause resentment from some members. Remember, everyone who belongs to the group has their level of expectations on what they expect from the group. Each member of the group should profit from membership in the group.
If you’re a group just forming, that’s great. But remember, it still might not work out for some of the reasons already mentioned such as expectations, expertise, etc. But if you are with a group of people who want what you want out of a critique group, are on about the same level as you are and get along great, well – maybe you’ve found your group. You’ll need to experiment for a while to fine-tune the group. Your group may very well be a work in progress, just like your writing.
And if you find a group that works for you, you’ll want to treasure it and guard it. Be kind to the others in the group. Show your appreciation for their help. Be prompt to respond to their need for help. Hold up your end of the bargain. Be a giver as well as a receiver.
Best of luck in finding a critique group that is perfect for you.
Kathy
© Kathleen R. Jorgensen, April, 2006