I was sitting at my assigned lunch table at the Pike’s Peak Writers’ Conference yesterday, and as the table filled up with attendees, I learned that they were all from the same critique group. As we chatted, it became apparent that these aspiring writers were doing it right and in a way that is all too uncommon. Writing is a solitary act, but you don’t have to go it alone. Here are a few of the many benefits of a critique group:
You can all ambush an agent at a conference. OK, let’s just skip that one.
They keep you writing. When left to your own devices, you can decide that you’ll just do it tomorrow. You’ll write that novel when the time is right, when you’re not too busy, and when inspiration strikes, and that all too often ends up being never. A critique group will force you to create something to share. They’ll give you homework.
They keep you writing well. The #1 goal of a critique group is to give objective, useful feedback. You could upload a series of finger paintings to KDP, and your mom will give it 5 stars. You could show your sweetie your newest chapter, and they’ll look at it, count off in their head, “One Mississippi, two Mississippi…” and then tell you it’s brilliant because keeping you happy is in their best interest. Even if Mom was an English teacher, she won’t always tell you that the protagonist’s conflict isn’t properly felt in a certain scene because you have the POV all wrong.
They share resources. If one of them hears of an upcoming class or reads a useful article, they’ll often share that with the group. You can share subscriptions and contact lists and craft books and chocolate.
They share skills. The group yesterday had someone who was best with dialog, someone else who was best with feeling, someone else who was best with character, etc. And together, they formed Voltron.
They keep you in line. If an unfortunate dialog tag is proof that you’re the worst writer on the planet and you should swear off written communication altogether, they can talk you down and set you straight. If the first draft of your 180,000 word memoir is your immediate ticket to superstardom and will dazzle agents and publishers everywhere, they can talk you down and set you straight. To invoke Ice Cube, they will check yourself before you wreck yourself.
They can be an introduction to an agent. If you are a member of well-known critique group, agents will take that into consideration. If someone in your group lands an agent, they could potentially refer you when your work is ready. It worked for me. I signed and sold a gorgeous piece from a client’s writing partner, and I’d love to work with her forever.
They’ll also help catch typo’s.
If you’re serious about becoming a career author, you should look into utilizing a critique group. Chances are, they already exist in your local writing community, and if they don’t, start one yourself. Reach out. Find these people. Writers are everywhere. To give you an idea, in about a month, I’ll be traveling from Book Expo in New York to a conference in Kansas that’s held 2 hours’ drive from the nearest airport. There’s no excuse. You can find other writers.
But what if you live in a town that has 17 people, depending upon if anyone stops there for gas? You’re reading this on the internet. We’ve likely never met, but we’re exchanging information. There are plenty of resources from email to social media to cloud sharing to online desktops to video chats, etc. Check around and see what works for you.
Remember: The best you can do alone is not the best you can do with help. That’s why you seek agents and publishers, and it’s why you should seek your fellow writers with that same fervor.
