Many writers are looking for someone to make a read-through of their manuscript and offer feedback or constructive criticism.
The problem is, usually, finding someone to do it. Family and friends are frequently not the best choices…either they’re not big readers, don’t read the genre we’re trying to sell, or else they’re not wanting to hurt our feelings and offer genuine feedback.
Fortunately, the online writing community has blossomed. It’s now possible to find writers online to trade critiques with—you read their work, they read yours.
I’ve posted on critique groups before, but I’ve recently had a few writers ask how to find them, so I thought I’d run a post again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a crit group, but I do pay attention when they’re mentioned online.
Finding a Group
Clarissa Draper has been particularly good about keeping up with critique groups that are available online for writers. This post mentions quite a few of them. She also helps connect writers with critique partners, personally. Here is a post that explains how and here is where you sign up.
If you’re looking for an in-person group, it’s worth the few minutes to pop over to Meetup.com and type in ‘critique group’ and your location to see if there are groups in your area.
How Groups Usually Work
Usually, with online critique groups, you’re paired with one person or a small group of people who write the same genre. You email each other the work you want critiqued. Each group should operate with its own set of rules, covering how often each member can send in material to be critiqued by the others (it’s no good if one person sends a chapter every day and the others are too busy reading the one person’s work to write), when your critiques of other writers’ work is due, etc.
Other Thoughts on Making a Critique Group Work Well
I found, in the groups I belonged to in the past, that everything worked a little better if I was paired with another mystery writer, or someone who read mysteries.
It’s also good if you’re roughly at the same level of ability (otherwise it’s like playing tennis when you’re poorly matched. You either get killed each time or you’re killing the other person. Not as much fun.)
I’ve found that it’s nice to tell beta readers or crit partners exactly what you’re looking for. Are they supposed to be just looking for typos and grammar problems? Are you looking for global revision suggestions (character problems, plot issues)?
Also, it’s good to be positive. If the person’s book really needs work, there should at least be something there to comment positively on—the concept of the book, an interesting character, a cool setting, etc.
I think it might also be important to know what we’re looking for, ourselves. Are we really ready to hear that our book needs work?
Have you ever used a critique group? Was it online or in-person? How did it work for you?
It can be really hard to find the right critique group. I’ve gone through bumps and bruises but have been lucky enough to discover a fantastic group of ladies.
My critique sisters and I came up with this questionaire to help:
http://critiquesisterscorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/critique-group-questionaire.html
Elizabeth – Thanks for this very useful information! I think there are two important points to make about finding the right critique group. One is to pay close attention to how you think the group is working. If you’re not getting what you need from a group, look for another. There needs to be a good “fit” with one’s group. Another (and you made this point so well!) is that group members need to be clear about what they want from one another. We’re all in different stages in our writing and we all have different strengths and needs when it comes to writing. So working out what the group members will provide for each other is critical, I think.
My three partners are online and they are awesome! Two write science fiction and Regeny romance but it works great.
I think writers should find other writer/bloggers online and form a friendship. There’s nothing wrong with asking someone if they’re looking for a critique partner. Most will probably say yes–especially if they write the same genre.
I been in a couple writing groups that didn’t last. I think it’s best to find readers as the stories progress. Maybe one or two quality readers. Also, with my play, I had a live read-through with several friends. That was one of the best experiences of my life!
Elizabeth, I’ve been part of a small on-line crit group since about 2003. There are 5 of us, and we all bring different skills to the table. We tried to grow the group bigger but it didn’t work – when it gets bigger there’s always that one person who subs like mad, but is always “too busy” to crit work in return, so we closed the group down again and went back to our original 5. That’s a nice number to deal with. Not too big, not too small. And as we’re on line we can all work at our own pace, despite being on 3 different continents! :)
Judy, South Africa
I’ve been in a lot of critique groups (and workshops and classes). Some were great, some awful. Some I enjoyed some I hated. (And which were great and awful didn’t always line up with loved and hated.)
I think it’s good for a writer to experience all different kinds of feedback… but I find as I get older, I get pickier and pickier.
This is something I’ve thought about but have never perused.
Thanks so much for your always informative information sweetie.
God bless ya and have a fantastic weekend!!! :o)
Heather–Thanks so much for that resource! Very helpful. :)
Alex–I think if they *get* your genre, that’s fine, too!
Margot–Exactly. I sort of moved from group to group for a while. Then I ended up being more of a loner…I’m thinking it must have been me!
Clarissa–That’s another good idea! :)
Mary–Sometimes it only takes 1 really good reader, doesn’t it?
Judy–That sounds like a good number to me–enough to get different perspectives, not so many as to be unmanageable.
Nezzy–Thanks so much for coming by! Have a happy weekend. :)
The Daring Novelist–I’ve been a tough match for crit groups, too. One group I was with writers who really didn’t read or write or understand mysteries (this is in the late-90s online, so there weren’t a lot of writers to match up with.) One time I was the most serious writer in the group (not ever a good thing…they wanted to socialize and I’m not good at socializing! Need to work on that…)
It is pretty hard to find the right person(s) to help in the critique part. And you’re not sure how they will take your suggestions either. Being on line, esp. You don’t see their initial reaction and don’t know if when they say “thanks” they really mean it.
I’ve felt that things are probably not said to me for the very same reason. Thus, I’ve steered clear of it.
Lorelei–I think that it’s one of those things that, if you find a good one, you’ve struck gold. But finding the right group might mean trying different ones.