Critiques

 

Currently we meet at 5:00 p.m. each 4th Monday before meetings. There is also a daytime group that meets in Pecan Plantation. Peggy Freeman has more information about this group. 

 

Goal for critiques: 

         What is each person’s individual goal? 

                  1.  Sell? 

                  2.  Enjoy hearing one another read their writing? 

                  3.  Giving everyone equal time? 

 

Remember the main goal is giving and getting helpful, real constructive help. Don’t leave right after you read. This is rude. We realize this is occasionally necessary, but please try to attend the entire meeting. 

 

Critique group rules: 

         1.      Group must be less than 8 and is best at less than 6. 

         2.      Take 3 to 4 minutes per person at the most to critique each manuscript read. 

         3.      10 minutes per reader is an hour if you have 6 manuscripts to read. Add 6 critiques and that’s another 

                  20 minutes. 

 

Dividing the group: 

You can divide the first 8 to arrive into two groups. Then we can add the net 4 to those two groups. Now we have 6 in each group. After 2 groups of 6, we start the 3rd group. 

 

Rules for professional, time efficient and polite critique: 

1. Don’t defend your work. Say thank you and then either ignore or take the suggestion. 

2. Don’t explain. If they didn’t get it, neither will the editor and he/she does not call to get you to clarify. 

3. Don’t waste time with a personal story when you are critiquing someone’s work. Tell them later. Have a timekeeper to make sure you stay on track. 

4. Keep your critique comments in the sandwich order: praise, criticism, praise. 

 

 

Compiled from group request and other critique rules and approved by members.