tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post1190749799267434759..comments2023-10-30T09:45:16.159-06:00Comments on Writing on the Wall: Should Critique Groups Die?Precision Editing Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17054725687044240043noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-15631476654165732672012-08-13T02:29:24.927-06:002012-08-13T02:29:24.927-06:00Your style is so unique compared to many other peo...Your style is so unique compared to many other people thank you for sharing the info I found helpful details.online diplomahttp://www.sandfordhighschool.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-58550241843193604172012-08-04T11:45:30.116-06:002012-08-04T11:45:30.116-06:00i'm personally sort of between groups right no...i'm personally sort of between groups right now (the people i used to work with have been busy with other things) and i'm really missing it. having feedback helped me grow so much as a writer- and the accountability definitely helped too!Tatianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10677482793943331701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-74065868370780380842012-08-02T09:16:36.720-06:002012-08-02T09:16:36.720-06:00I also don't know what I'd do without my c...I also don't know what I'd do without my critique group. I was sitting on a manuscript, unfinished, for nearly three years. Within the first six months of being in the group, I finished it and then cut it in half. A year later, I have something nearly ready to send to publishers. It wouldn't have happened with out them. A year may seem slow to someone else, but for me, it's a fraction of the time I was spending before. <br /><br />I've grown so much. I can't believe how much easier my next story's first draft has been to write. The writing is better and my plotting is stronger. My confidence is higher. <br /><br />My critique group and I do spend a lot of time talking about things unrelated to our manuscript, but usually at the end. I like it for the same reasons as you. It gives me a chance to talk to people who really get me. Plus, all that time talking with them has helped me trust them even more. I know where they are coming from and that they really care about me, not just my writing.JoLyn Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955836826124221435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-48446872339523721172012-08-01T20:24:28.204-06:002012-08-01T20:24:28.204-06:00I wouldn't publish anything if my critique gro...I wouldn't publish anything if my critique group or beta readers hadn't seen it first. <br /><br />My situation is different. I'm part of an online critique group. And while I can't wait around to have the entire book read that way, I can pick and choose the chapters that I feel need the most help. And like you said, Annette, members of a critique group will read your entire manuscript quickly and get it back to you. Frankly, I was skeptical of critique groups. But now after two years in? I don't know what I'd do without them.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333633574964790121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-3456131437215735012012-08-01T15:01:08.645-06:002012-08-01T15:01:08.645-06:00Great point, Jordan!
I should have probably clari...Great point, Jordan!<br /><br />I should have probably clarified that when we send each other entire mss, that's the chance to see the big picture--because as you said, that is almost impossible to do when you're reading a book a few pages at a time over months and months. Absolutely.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113459088262891680.post-48281542202559996442012-08-01T13:46:33.922-06:002012-08-01T13:46:33.922-06:00I think that critiques groups are great when done ...I think that critiques groups are great when done right.<br /><br />I think the "slow" can be a valid criticism when it becomes difficult to see a novel as a unified whole. I would find it very difficult to remember a first chapter for a year and a half to be able to say, "Yes, this climax gives us the perfect, fitting resolution to the story question and character journey promised at the beginning."<br /><br />This critique of critique groups actually led to a change in format for mine. Instead of trading chapters, we take turns being critiqued, so one of us will bring our whole book over the course of 2 months. I find it a lot easier to trace the characters, the story and the structural underpinnings when we're able to see the end from the beginning.<br /><br />OTOH, we probably don't dig as deep into the language itself (well... apparently I can still eviscerate chapters on that level pretty well). <br /><br />I think it's important to remember that critique groups and their format can be flexible, too. If your current group isn't helping you enough, try to figure out why and see what you need to do to change it.Jordan McCollumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16523599384793856702noreply@blogger.com