SPACE COAST WRITERS' GUILD

Topic: What would you like out of a critique group?

Dean Naegel - 2/9/2008 10:13:09 PM I have held a critique group, known as Blueprints II for two years. Throughout those two years, I've discovered different people expect different results from a critique group. Some writers expect to have their manuscripts read and reviewed by their peers, to catch the minor errors in grammer, punctuation and format. Some writers just want to receive an overview of their manuscripts, (ie. Does it hook the reader? Is the topic, characters, and plot interesting enough?) I am curious as to what you would like to receive from a critique group. Write in this blog and tell me your feelings, expectations, and concerns regarding the end results from critique groups.

2/24/2008 7:42:50 PM - H.V. Rhodes www.BrainDeadPress.com Dean- This may be a gross oversimplification, but I expect a critique to answer the following question: In the piece of writing under consideration, what will cause an acquisitions editor to reject it, or, what will cause the general reader to lose interest in it? This obviously opens the door to many, many possible problems (and their solutions). I'll also add that I'm indebted to all those who have helped me. If you're reading this, much thanks! Hate your job? Work for an idiot? This book was written for you! THE BRAIN DEAD MANAGER

2/24/2008 8:44:58 PM - Louise I want to know: (1) Did my first paragraph grab you? (2) Did you want to read more after the first chapter (for a multi chapter book) (3) If you hated it and just couldn't read any further, when/where did you stop and why?

3/2/2008 8:16:52 AM - June 1.Honesty. (Which can be difficult to take but very enlightening at the same time.) 2.The basic concept of the book; Do you like it, is it something that could sell? My first critique meeting was brutal. I was embarrassed and mad at myself for being too lazy to "fix" the stuff that I knew was wrong. (I didn't have the time to go over it, so I sent it in 'as is' instead of waiting.) On the way home, I laughed at myself... a lot. It was one of the best critique meetings that I have been to so far.

3/2/2008 1:04:52 PM - Valerie Allen Dean Maybe it's a fine point, but there is a difference between editing and a critique. I think of editing as fine tuning, the nuts and bolts of writing; make sure the writing is within industry standards, punctuation, proper format, etc. Critique I think of in broader terms such as the hook, the flow, the voice, depth of character, interesting content, plot, subplot, etc.

3/29/2008 9:53:51 AM - Athena Sasso First, I want to know what impression the reader took from the piece. Then, I want concrete suggestion about what is weak and what I could do to make it better. The worst critique is "I love it,"