Forming a Critique Group
Central Oregon Writers Guild Members can join a private Facebook page to communicate their interest in forming a Critique Group. Go to Facebook and search "COWG Member Critique Groups"--you'll be asked a couple of questions in order to be vetted into the group. From there, just post what you're looking for and check back.
What to consider when forming a Critique Group:
Intention
Are you looking for a group to share your work with and receive praise over wine and cheese, or are you looking for feedback that will help you publish--or something in between?
Frequency and Volume
How often do you want to meet, and how much do you want to read for each session? Should you take turns? Is there a page limit? Do you want to set a schedule?
Genre
Workshop groups with multiple genres can definitely work, and you may learn a thing or two reading different genres (good writing is good writing), unless of course you have absolutely no interest in reading outside your genre—then don’t.
Workshopping Advice
Goal: To offer the author intuitive, constructive feedback so they can write their story as effectively as possible.
Remember: We are building something, not fixing it.
Author (before workshop):
Provide a finished piece (as far as the you can take it on your own, including proofreading, spellchecking, punctuation, consistency in tense and point of view, etc.). Let your readers know any areas of concern that you have for the piece (Does the ending work? Do you understand the intent? Is there enough tension in the part where Jimmy falls into the well?).
Readers (prior to workshop):
Read the piece through once sitting on your hands, then read it again, making notes as you go along.
During workshop:
For the author during workshop:
Be quiet and listen actively. If you need to explain the piece during workshop, it means the information isn’t on the page. Make notes of what you hear and want to say, so that you can include it in your revision. After feedback is offered, thank everyone for their time, and ask and answer questions. You may hear a lot of different opinions, but always remember this is YOUR work and YOU get to decide how it is written, but do bear in mind that if you get the same feedback from a lot of people, it’s certainly worth taking note.
Central Oregon Writers Guild Members can join a private Facebook page to communicate their interest in forming a Critique Group. Go to Facebook and search "COWG Member Critique Groups"--you'll be asked a couple of questions in order to be vetted into the group. From there, just post what you're looking for and check back.
What to consider when forming a Critique Group:
Intention
Are you looking for a group to share your work with and receive praise over wine and cheese, or are you looking for feedback that will help you publish--or something in between?
Frequency and Volume
How often do you want to meet, and how much do you want to read for each session? Should you take turns? Is there a page limit? Do you want to set a schedule?
Genre
Workshop groups with multiple genres can definitely work, and you may learn a thing or two reading different genres (good writing is good writing), unless of course you have absolutely no interest in reading outside your genre—then don’t.
Workshopping Advice
Goal: To offer the author intuitive, constructive feedback so they can write their story as effectively as possible.
Remember: We are building something, not fixing it.
Author (before workshop):
Provide a finished piece (as far as the you can take it on your own, including proofreading, spellchecking, punctuation, consistency in tense and point of view, etc.). Let your readers know any areas of concern that you have for the piece (Does the ending work? Do you understand the intent? Is there enough tension in the part where Jimmy falls into the well?).
Readers (prior to workshop):
Read the piece through once sitting on your hands, then read it again, making notes as you go along.
- Identify what it appears to be about (can you summarize it in a sentence or two?).
- Identify the controlling idea of the piece (theme, intent, significance).
- Identify where it starts and ends.
- Identify the protagonist and antagonist (which may not be actual characters)
- Identify the desire, conflict, climax, and resolution.
- Identify areas that you want to know more (or less) about.
During workshop:
- Share what you liked and what you thought worked well in the piece.
- Identify areas that you don’t understand or where communication with the reader breaks down.
- Identify craft-related areas of concern (point of view, verb tense, clarity, filtering, redundancy, cliché, sensory details, metaphor, dialogue, narration, pacing, drama, back story, action, intent, scene, structure, etc.).
- Identify craft-related areas of possibility (same list).
- Do not micromanage or try to rewrite for the author; focus on the piece in front of you, not what you would have written.
- Be nice. Be honest. Be of service. See “Goal.”
For the author during workshop:
Be quiet and listen actively. If you need to explain the piece during workshop, it means the information isn’t on the page. Make notes of what you hear and want to say, so that you can include it in your revision. After feedback is offered, thank everyone for their time, and ask and answer questions. You may hear a lot of different opinions, but always remember this is YOUR work and YOU get to decide how it is written, but do bear in mind that if you get the same feedback from a lot of people, it’s certainly worth taking note.
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