Join a Critique Group
Jackie Hosking
Hello boys and girls. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Once upon a time...
Of course I'm being silly now... or am I? Sometimes when you're stuck, 'Once upon a time' can unstick you. For me it is like a key. It unlocks my imagination. Good advice? Now there's a word us newbies crave - advice, and for the record I used to always spell it wrong (with an 's'). Thank you
so much for all your advise, I wrote to a very well
known children's author who promptly replied and corrected
my error. Needless to say I've not spelt it wrong since.
Have I wandered? Am I leading you astray? Definitely not. In
today's writing world editors are too busy to correct our
silly errors. Our work must be perfect with a capital 'P'.
Stephen King once said that to write is human but to edit is
divine. Wise words indeed. So if editors are too busy to
edit, how can we make their lives easier, and consequently
our chance of being published more likely? And here's where
my slightly windy path is leading - nothing like the scenic
route to heighten the senses, wouldn't you agree? - JOIN
A CRITIQUE GROUP!
Last time, I talked about joining Yahoo! groups. Hands up
who did their homework. Writing can be a lonely business but
with today's technology it doesn't have to be. Use the
Internet to your advantage. Meet other writers, ask them
lots of questions, don't be shy. There is nothing more
flattering than being asked for advice. When Marg asked me
to write this column I couldn't stop smiling - I'm still
smiling actually.
Human beings are tribal. We learn from each other which, if
you think about it, saves us a lot of time. Imagine having
to learn everything from our own experience only. You get my
point. Join a writing tribe. Learn their rules, perfect them
and pass them on. It makes for a richer experience.
Okay, enough philosophy.
What is a critique group and where can you find one?
STOP!
Before I elaborate let me just side step for one minute. I
am not an expert critique group creator, finder or member,
for that matter, but I do follow, and here's that word
again, this little piece of advice - write what you know.
This column is about what I know and I offer my experience
to you - which in turn provides me with more experience:
priceless stuff. A critique group will do the same for you.
You will learn, and as you learn, you will teach, and as you
teach, you will learn some more.
In my short writing life I have belonged to about seven
different critique groups. Presently I belong to five and I
am active in three but you need to be sensible. It is a
trial and error process. If, after participating in your
group you find that it does not suit, then leave, there are
plenty more out there. All of my groups operate via email
which saves on travel time. It also means that I can belong
to a group that is based overseas. This is handy if you wish
to submit your work to foreign markets.
Back to what I know. You have two choices:
1. Join an existing group.
2. Create your own group.
How do you find existing groups? You can contact your
local or state writers' centre, you can search for groups on
the Internet, or you can do what I did and stumble across
one just by chance. I wouldn't recommend that now that I
have the benefit of hindsight. It's just silly.
Try typing these words into a Google search - writing
critique groups + your country*
+ beginners - and see what comes up. To find groups more
specific to your style and needs add - poetry or children's
or short story or science fiction etc.
[**Type in your country, or, if you
wish, a different country]
If you are partial to writing for children, as I am, you
might like to sign up for my free networking newsletter,
PASS IT ON. List members interested in forming or
joining a critique group may contact me to register their
interest. Three new groups have been formed this way. There
are six members to each group. It's simple. I am not
involved. I just put interested parties in touch with one
another. Easy peasy - so what are you waiting for?
HOMEWORK!
Last time I invited readers to join a Yahoo! group. As a
challenge, for all of us, I suggested that you find and join
a group that I would try to create. I met that challenge and
so far we have two members - Marg and myself! So this month
you have two tasks and to make it easy I will give you the
link to the home page of the Yahoo! group that I have
created. The link is...
Group home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thewritingjourney
Your second challenge is to seek and find a critique group,
because without one you are only cheating yourself.
Till next time.
Your writing buddy
Jackie
© copyright Jackie
Hosking
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