Not everyone wants to see his name on the New York Times Best Sellers list. I do. But I’m not everyone. Many of the people that come to a critique group are there to have a third party confirm that they can write, they’ve lived a fascinating life, or the tragedy they’ve suffered is more universal than the individual pain.
I’ve seen countless people come to a meeting. Once. Whether they got what they wanted or were scared off like a bag of cats at the Iditarod, I’ll never know. I do know that not everyone comes in with the same expectations.
The critique groups I work with exist for people who seek publication. Novels. Magazine articles. Memoirs. Non-fiction. We aim to understand the markets and the criteria to publish in those markets. Grammar, yes. But also point-of-view, query letters, book proposals, market trends, building a platform, social marketing, character arc, pacing, conferences: anything that relates to selling your work to the unsuspecting public.
So before you sign on for the race, know your fellow mushers. There are as many kinds of groups as there are writers. Some focus on fiction, screenplays, poetry, non-fiction, or another specific form of the art. Critique groups can help you grow immeasurably as a writer, but only if the particular sled is going your way.
Which way is your sled skidding? Are you seeking publication? Readers for your blog? Are you working with a group to improve your craft? We’d love to hear about your experiences.
p.s. Photo By Alaskan Dude
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Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
I’ve never heard of critique groups before, but it’s a BRILLIANT idea. How cool that writers can get together and actually give other writers advice? Many people would be too petty to help the competition, but the support you’ve found sounds awesome.
The petty ones never last, or they find their own group of misery. A good group is like a creative cup of espresso. Anything less is a waste of time. I’d bet there’s a group in Cancun somewhere . . . Thanks for the kind words!