Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Recipe for the Perfect Writers Group





Patti started a great discussion about the importance of critique groups, or writing groups, and I have to admit that the only writing group I am in at this time is Novel Matters. I have been in three different critique groups in the past 20 years, and they all deteriorated into social gatherings or dwindled in numbers. The reasons:
  • No one had time to read the manuscripts ahead of time
  • No one had time to write in general
  • Members dropped out because it wasn't a priority
  • Members dropped out because they were highly sensitive & wanted to hear that their writing was perfect
  • The writing levels were at different ends of the spectrum
  • Personalities got in the way
I met a wonderful lady on the plane trip back from a family reunion this weekend in Tennessee. She commented on my current read, How To Be An American Wife, and showed me her Nook. The conversation branched off into a discussion of her book club and she gave me some great suggestions for the new book club just starting at our church. She mentioned, as with a writers group, that her book club had become an extended family - providing dinners for her when she went through chemo and providing support when she had to find a care home for her husband with Alzheimer's. I began to put together my own recipe for my idea of a perfect writer's group:

  1. Start with really good coffee. Add dark chocolate.
  2. Gather the freshest ingredients of time, sensitivity and skill for each member to do a proper manuscript critique
  3. Stir gently so feelings will never be hurt nor their hopes fall after processing
  4. Fold members in to provide support for each other, even outside of writing
  5. Stick to the recipe so that the group will stay focused on the purpose for meeting and not digress
  6. Do not omit any ingredients. Each member should contribute and not become spectators or feel intimidated by the quality of writing of others in the group
  7. Treat this unique recipe as a treasured family secret: What happens in the group, stays in the group
  8. Research new recipes: Each member would read and report on a book on writing OR the group would read a book on writing together and discuss it
  9. Follow the proper baking time, making adjustments for success: Consider the needs of the whole group in setting and date. Every member should respect the time and date of the meetings and be faithful in attendance.
What would you add to this description of the perfect writing group? What negatives or positives have you experienced? If you're not in a group at the present, what would make you set aside time for it? We would love to hear!

10 comments:

BK said...

Sounds like a good list. I have found that in our group, while a member may initially be super-sensitive to feedback, they do learn how to handle it if they're serious about pursuing their writing.

Another thing I thought of while reading these posts this week: making it a hard and fast rule that the group is not for "hit and run" writers--those writers who selfishly show up only to have their work critiqued and when it's done they disappear. These groups seem to work best when the group believes they're in this journey together.

Jan Cline said...

Great recipe Debbie. As I posted before, I have struggled a bit in leading my group. I like things organized and in order so I think I just need to make the vision and guidelines more clear. I am rebuilding the group since the "hit and run" writers as BK called them all left. Now I am down to the more serious writers and I just need to reel them in and make this thing solid.
Thanks
Jan

Debbie Fuller Thomas said...

BK and Jan, great to 'see' you this morning. Do your groups submit portions of their WIPs in advance so that you critique on your own time, or do members read aloud the sections during the meeting? I've seen it done both ways and both have advantages.

Susie Finkbeiner said...

My group reads them aloud. Most of us are so busy with our own wips that we wouldn't really have time to review them ahead of time. Besides, there's just something about hearing the words aloud while looking at the words that helps me edit/critique more effectively. Does that make sense?

Patti Hill said...

Debbie, you're such a teacher and tender heart, so wise. Thanks for sharing your recipe. This going into my writing groups file.

Jan Cline said...

Debbie, they each bring a portion of their WIP, no more than 1500 words and read it while the others follow along with their copy. It's handed back to them with our scribbles after we take turns critiquing. I had never thought of doing it ahead of time. Dont know if my group is ready for that. Sometimes I feel like a kindergarten teacher trying to get the class ready for first grade! I do love it though.

BK said...

Most definitely submitted in advance (2 weeks before meeting) with a 20 pg max submission limit (we're a small group). I don't process info well audibly (nor do most of the writers I know locally). I've heard of other groups reading their work aloud and I'm sure there's probably benefits to doing it that way, but I want to be able to sit and absorb a work ahead of time and scribble my notes.

Debbie Fuller Thomas said...

There is a disadvantage to having the author read her own work aloud. She puts the inflection where she wants it and emphasizes words that are crucial to the story. A reader wouldn't necessarily do that. It might be a better idea for someone other than the author to read the passage to see if the meaning still comes through. Does that make sense? The words have to stand on their own without help from the author.

Susie Finkbeiner said...

Yes. That does make sense, Debbie. That might be something we do in our group in the future. Thanks for that tip!

Jack G Hardy said...

Debbie, I do almost as much baking as writing - so I appreciate a well written, easy to follow recipe. My favorites have a clearly stated objective. The best include comments on the objective's development. My favorite? Mango Banana Bread!