Dipping your Toes in the Critique Pool, Part One
By Renee Geffken, Coastal Dunes Branch
If you want feedback and conversation from other authors, join a critique group. After retiring, I lived in a community without a writer’s group. I joined an online critique service and soon concluded it was disorganized with several rude reviewers. A Writer’s Digest issue of “100 Best Websites for Writers” revealed Critique’s Circle as the top authors’ critique website for writers. I signed up and was happy that the administrators emphasized politeness (they hail from Iceland), and the review process made sense. Since August 2016, I’ve submitted eighteen short stories or chapters, received 115 critiques, and composed 347 critiques.
My current short story, “Rocket 66,” received many helpful reviews on Critique Circle, and I plan to submit it to the next Coastal Dunes CWC anthology. I continue to cultivate my excellent critters by reviewing their stories in the nonromance genre. If you want to know more about Critique Circle, contact me through the Coast Dunes website: www.coastaldunescwc.com.
For those who are not shy, nothing is more satisfying than reading your sweat and blood to other writers and praying it’s not as bad as your inner critic makes it out to be. Here on the Central Coast, I’ve attended two face-to-face critique groups. One enjoyable monthly group had three fellow writers out of seven attendees from Coastal Dunes CWC. Judith thrilled us with her novel about Jubilee, growing up in a 1940s racially charged neighborhood; Brenda provided a memoir of her special-needs son striving for more independence; and we were on the ground floor when Carole started her memoir The Hardest Year, now at its final stage for publication. We also had a lovely young lady who finished her Master of Fine Arts in Poetry and wrote stirring poems. She also described literary devices. I soaked up that knowledge.
The only negative experience was a husband-wife team (not our sweet Willeys) who criticized my every comment. Their disagreeable attitude encouraged me to pester them with even more well-thought-out suggestions to improve their story. I enjoyed being out of the house, and the restaurant food was delicious.
My second face-to-face group was the Words Wizards, which met weekly during the day with fewer than five members. For several weeks, we reviewed my revised/revised/revised, etc. “Rocket 66” story. One of the members, Wanda, another Coastal Dunes member who writes brilliant children and horse stories, told me, “Renee, the supporting characters have their issues resolved, but not the main character.” I stared bug-eyed at her, and my jaw dropped. She said she hoped she hadn’t offended me. I waved my hand and said, “No. You’re absolutely correct. Why didn’t I think of that!”
And that, dear readers, is the value of belonging to a critique group. Fellow members see from perspectives that you’ve overlooked. I took Wanda’s advice to heart and revised my ending. Now I’m satisfied with it and can write a short story sequel.
Alas, Covid forced the face-to-face meetings disbandment. Over the past three years, my severe health issues also put the kibosh on my energy and ability to sit with others. Carole, my good buddy, and chair of the recently formed memoir/nonfiction critique group called “Write On!” must have grown tired of my many ‘poor fragile me’ emails and volunteered me to join the group—I don’t write memoirs and rarely nonfiction—I’m submitting my father’s memoir. After critiquing several “Write On!” members’ pieces, I rediscovered the joy of writing. I enjoy helping in my modest way.
When you present your selected manuscript to a critique group, here are a few tips:
- The document should follow industry standards—one-inch margins, 12 pt. font, and typically Times New Roman.
- If it’s the first chapter, inform members of your publication plans—traditional or independent.
- If it’s chapter two and beyond, include a brief summary of the characters and plot and the last paragraph from the previous chapter so the reviewers can get their bearings and evaluate transitions.
- After your story, provide questions about what you need help with—the plot, character motivations, grammar, etc.
- If you can accept all criticism, let the members know you have a rhinoceros’ hide. They’ll be more honest.
This essay originally appeared in Imprints,
newsletter of the Coastal Dunes Branch. Come back next month
for Part Two with tips for giving
a well-thought-out critique. It takes diplomacy.