Writing Critique Groups…a Blessing and a Curse!

There is nothing better for your creative writing than finding (or creating) a writing critique group. Having someone else read your work is the perfect way to discover if your novel writing is successful and your story is making it to the page (after all, it’s perfect in your head!) and finding out what works and what doesn’t. Nothing will teach you as fast as learning with your own writing. With writing critique groups, you will learn from each other and your writing will improve drastically. You can serve to motivate each other, and considering how easy it is to put writing aside, there is nothing like accountability to something outside yourself to keep your writing moving forward.

Writing Critique Groups Options

In today’s high-tech world, you have the choice of a face-to-face group or one online. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. In a face-to-face group, you get to meet other writers in your area and there is a social component that feels good and is motivational on the lonely path of the writer’s life. You’ll feel energized after a meeting. You’ll see right away what grabs a reader and what doesn’t. Know instantly when they are confused. You have more back-and-forth as the critique is happening. But, criticism is more difficult to take when it is face-to-face. Feedback feels much more personal when it’s live. You can’t take 10 minutes (or hours!) to move past the emotional component and deal with feedback in your best rational and professional manner. Back to advantage—this process will serve to toughen you up, something all of us tender creative-types need.

Writing Critique Groups Online

In an online writing critique group you have no geographic boundaries, so you can find specific sorts of writers—writers at your same level and writing in or understanding your genre. You can fit your meeting times into your best schedule (late at night or early morning becomes much more do-able) and wear whatever you want; pj’s are fine! You have no travel time. You can get the benefits of a back-and-forth discussion by meeting in a chatroom or skyping (although the wear-what-you-want freedom gets a bit hampered on Skype). Feedback tends to be more complete and honest. You and your critiquer will feel more comfortable with the distance an online format provides. By the same token, it’s easier to handle feedback. If you get upset you have time to get over it and learn from what your critiquer is telling you.

One word about online writer’s groups: proceed with caution. I shy away from “open” groups where anyone can come and look at your writing. I prefer finding a private group where you have to sign up and become a member. This way, your writing isn’t free to millions of faceless people.

Now here comes another warning about both face-to-face and online writing groups: a circle of critiquers can also hamper you and your writing, damaging your self-confidence and pulling you in so many different directions, you’ll find it impossible to write. Don’t be afraid to leave a group that isn’t working for you. People come and go in writer’s groups all the time. There can be many reasons—you aren’t at the right level for the group (too advanced or too beginning) personalities don’t fit, the group doesn’t understand or write in your genre. Keep a professional outlook and leaving a group won’t be messy or personal at all.

How to Find a Writing Critique Group

So how do you find a critique group? Making contacts during a writing program or conference is a great place to meet other writers, but if your travel budget is tight, start searching on the internet. To begin your hunt, google “YOUR STATE writing groups”) and a list of links will pop up. There are also professional groups listed and they are a great place to start. Many have online and in-person writing groups.

List of National Writing Groups with Links

Romance Writers of America

American Christian Fiction Writers

International Women’s Writers Guild

Mystery Writers of America

Sisters in Crime

Horror Writers Association

Best Part of Writing Critique Groups

One of the greatest things I got out of my exploration of writing critique groups, online and in-person, was meeting up with my writing partner. Over the 10-plus years we have been writing together, we have become great friends as well as critique-partners, brainstormers, support and accountability for each other. We met online and have only met in person once (we picked a writing conference in Chicago several years ago to meet) which feels strange considering what good friends we have become. We meet online every week, which has become a consistent deadline that we set for each other.

So, when deciding how to go about building your critique circle (or searching for a critique partner) use a little prudence, a bit of common sense, and remember, there are no geographic boundaries!

Have your group and want a fun activity to do with them? How about a Finding Your Writing Voice Workshop?

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Kathy Steffen is an award-winning novelist and author of the “Spirit of the River Series:” “First, There is a River,” “Jasper Mountain,” and “Theater of Illusion,” available online and in bookstores everywhere. Additionally, Kathy is also published in short fiction and pens a monthly writing column, “Between the Lines.” She writes from a log home in the woods of southwestern Wisconsin that she shares with her husband and three cats. Find out more at www.kathysteffen.com”