1varielle
What is the thinking concerning writer’s groups?. I’ve belonged to a few over the years and have found them helpful. I’m currently writing guidelines to help a new group get off the ground. I was at a not very good writer’s conference last weekend where the leader expressed his disdain, saying that they give bad advice and if the members were any good they wouldn’t be in a writer’s group. I found that pretty condescending.
2Cecrow
I would advise a "critique group" rather than a "writer's group". A critique group, consisting of people who've learned a lesson or two and agreed on the ground rules, can be fantastic. I've been a member of one (four of us total) for, I kid you not, more than twenty years now. To begin with, a couple of us had short story credits. Now three of us have published novels (via the traditional method). Which leaves me the odd one out, but there's hope for me yet! So much for credentials.
Your instructor's point was valid if you expect your group to teach you how to write well. It doesn't apply to critique groups, who are only there to tell you how they are reacting as readers, and what they reacted to. You still have to do the magic yourself.
A critique group has a few essential qualities: you do not defend your work, ever. You critique the writing, not the writer. You give advice based on your reaction as a reader, not a writer. But a critique group is also not the same as 'beta readers' (but has some of the same qualities); you are also going to provide comment on theme, structure, etc. that it does take some writing knowledge to offer.
A couple of helpful tips to critique well: try to summarize the story you read in one sentence. Point out any place that confused you (e.g. dialogue), didn't make sense (e.g. inconsistent behavior for that character) or seemed very unlikely (e.g. too much coincidence or good/bad luck) when you read it. Perform minimal line editing (since the draft will significantly change, it's not really worth your effort). Include comments that capture how you're reacting emotionally as you read. If you have time, give it a sober second read now that you know the ending (and note which of your comments are from the 2nd pass).
A couple of helpful tips when being critiqued: don't take it personally. Every story can be fixed, and no story is perfect. You can't please everyone, so focus especially on the critiques that had consensus (but consider every comment and dismiss nothing out of hand). Check those emotional reaction comments to see if you triggered the reaction feelings you were going for. Forget about trying to impress/entertain your critique group into silence or nothing but compliments. If they're any good to you at all then it'll be impossible: they're only helping you if they find something "wrong" and point it out to you, so expect it and let them do their job. And if you ever do start getting nothing but compliments ... find another group.
Your instructor's point was valid if you expect your group to teach you how to write well. It doesn't apply to critique groups, who are only there to tell you how they are reacting as readers, and what they reacted to. You still have to do the magic yourself.
A critique group has a few essential qualities: you do not defend your work, ever. You critique the writing, not the writer. You give advice based on your reaction as a reader, not a writer. But a critique group is also not the same as 'beta readers' (but has some of the same qualities); you are also going to provide comment on theme, structure, etc. that it does take some writing knowledge to offer.
A couple of helpful tips to critique well: try to summarize the story you read in one sentence. Point out any place that confused you (e.g. dialogue), didn't make sense (e.g. inconsistent behavior for that character) or seemed very unlikely (e.g. too much coincidence or good/bad luck) when you read it. Perform minimal line editing (since the draft will significantly change, it's not really worth your effort). Include comments that capture how you're reacting emotionally as you read. If you have time, give it a sober second read now that you know the ending (and note which of your comments are from the 2nd pass).
A couple of helpful tips when being critiqued: don't take it personally. Every story can be fixed, and no story is perfect. You can't please everyone, so focus especially on the critiques that had consensus (but consider every comment and dismiss nothing out of hand). Check those emotional reaction comments to see if you triggered the reaction feelings you were going for. Forget about trying to impress/entertain your critique group into silence or nothing but compliments. If they're any good to you at all then it'll be impossible: they're only helping you if they find something "wrong" and point it out to you, so expect it and let them do their job. And if you ever do start getting nothing but compliments ... find another group.
