You've gone over your manuscript again and again. Something isn't quite right, but you can't put your finger on it. Maybe it's best just to put it in a drawer for a few weeks, then take a fresh look. That's a good idea, but here's a better one – find writers you can trust and start a critique group - you'll be glad you did.
How to Choose the Authors for a Critique Group
The most important decision when choosing members to form a critique group is which types of writers to include. Many critique groups consist only of writers who create in the same genre - poetry, fantasy, adult nonfiction, children's books and so forth. Core members of the group can decide if they want to include authors who write in different genres, keeping in mind that good writing is good writing. A poet may not know how best to plot a novel, but she can help fiction writers create a tighter and more compelling manuscripts by cutting unnecessary words.
Every member of a critique group needs to be professional and confident but not competitive. Each writer must want everyone in the group to be successful and strive towards that goal without jealousy. They should be able to share in one another's successes, not feel threatened by them.
A Positive and Supportive Atmosphere is Important
Critique group members must be willing not only to offer positive, helpful advice but also to be able to accept such advice from others in the group. Self defensiveness is inappropriate when writers strive for success. Everyone in the group needs to fee free to offer their opinions on what might make the work stronger and to accept reciprocal advice. A critique group is for serious writers who want their work to be the best, not for people who want to share their work in order to receive only positive feedback.
Organizing Critique Group Meetings
The size of a critique group is critical to its success. From six to ten members is probably the best size. Once a group of authors had been together for awhile, adding new members needs to be done with caution. A balance of trust and respect will develop among those already in the group that can be unbalanced by adding someone new.
In many groups, the writers take turns reading their own writings, then the others comment on what they've heard. But a much better method, one that can reveal subtle weaknesses in the work, is for the writer to make double-spaced copies for everyone, then have one of the other authors read the piece. This gives the writer a chance to listen carefully to her/his words and recognize opportunities for improvements. In addition, a person unfamiliar with the work may stumble over an awkward sentence that the writer could gloss over or mispronounce an obscure word that the writer assumes is common knowledge.
The critique group members should each mark small problems like typos, word repeats, or errors in punctuation directly on their copies of the manuscript and save the verbal discussion for general issues such as organizational problems, awkward dialogue, or unbelievable characters. Critique doesn't mean "criticize" - it means evaluate, so it's important to point out what works well, not just what doesn't work. Each critiquer should initial their manuscript copy before handing it back to the writer, too, in case the writer wants clarification or can't read the handwriting.
Editing Beyond Meetings
Some groups limit their individual responsibilities to attending the regular meetings and offering honest suggestions for improvements at the meetings. But others agree to help their members with longer passages or entire manuscripts, which can be passed out at meetings or sent by email. It's important to be clear about just how much time each member can offer the group. In any critique group, some authors may be open to longer critiques while others can't afford the time; such limits need to be respected.
Writing Is Not Necessarily a Lonely Profession
A successful critique group can enrich a writer's career in many ways. Outside input improves every author's work. As time passes, the critique group members also learn how other writers work, giving them new tools and techniques. The group provides colleagues who can share both frustrations and joys. When writers share with others, they are part of a sharing and learning community.
Dorothy Patent - Dorothy H Patent has been writing nonfiction books for children for many years, as well as coauthoring adult nonfiction and writing for a ...
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