I’m declaring this Critique Group Appreciation Week. My gratitude for the six women in my group, who have patiently commented on my novel for over a year, has exceeded the bounds of one or two thank-you emails.
Only in the company of other dedicated writers, do I feel comfortable enough to display my “baby.” The others may suggest a change of how I clothe it or perhaps a proven technique to raise it up right, but they never say it’s ugly. Instead we bare our insecurities and ask for advice for the latest stages of writers’ development.
Okay, occasionally I need to think a day or week or month about some off-the-cuff comment that now spells a few hours of my time to lay a stronger plotline into the story’s structure. And sometimes I’m surprised when my advice isn’t immediately embraced as sheer insightful brilliance. But every time I leave our monthly meetings, I am impressed by the improvement we’ve all shown over the months, and I look forward to everyone’s next installments.
Thinking about why this group works so well for me, I’ve distilled the following attributes. Every member is serious about perfecting her project and improving technique. We have a high level of empathy and compassion for the challenges we face telling our stories. We seek to improve our ability to provide useful feedback and resources to our fellow writers. We display honesty and integrity in our comments. Last, but not least, we all serve great snacks when it’s our turn to host.
I recommend to any aspiring author that they seek out a critique group. Listen to the members; they are good representatives of your future readers. And celebrate with them when you each become published. Thank you Janie, Julie, Lani, Paula, Vee, and Vi.