Is a Writing Critique Group Right For You?

Before I started my freelance writing and editing business, I was looking for ways to spark my creative writing practice. In 2016, I joined a critique group formed at my branch of the California Writers Club. At the time, I craved accountability and deadlines to keep me motivated to write.

We had about ten people show up for the first meeting. Over time, attendance shrank as people discovered being a member of a critique group takes work—reading and preparing feedback for the other writers before the meeting, and listening to what everyone has to say about your work at the meeting.

We discovered not everyone knew how to give and receive feedback thoughtfully and respectfully. One way to grow the necessary "thick skin" a writer needs to survive countless rejection letters from potential publications is to join a critique group! So, we devised a set of ground rules to keep our meetings running smoothly and limit hurt feelings.

Over the years, all of the original members of my critique group have left except for me and one other member. This turnover allowed us to screen and hand-pick replacement members. We do our best to help guide each other in revision and act as a sounding board to work through the stories we want to tell.

My original goal for joining a critique group was to produce fun-to-read short stories—a few of which have been published. Pre-critique group I never dreamed of writing a novel, but responding to my fellow writers' novel chapters made me think I could do it too! So now I'm in the middle of writing a novel, and I don't think I would be if it weren't for the support and guidance of my gals!

If you are curious about joining or starting a critique group,watch the March replay of my monthly "Ask an Editor" workshop cohosted by Lila LaBine on "Getting the Feedback You Need to Hear: Beta Readers and Critique Groups." We explore how to get editorial feedback from author peers and your book's ideal audience before you publish.