The Internet is a wonderful thing.
Anything is possible–you can buy houses, visit countries and cultures, gossip about Lindsay Lohan’s rehab sentence or Paris’ shrinking inheritance, and find other writers to share the highs and lows with.
Looking back, I don’t know what I would have done had I not gone surfing and stumbled upon my current critique group. For me, writing well was something I wanted to do so desperately, but not something I could talk about or share with anyone around me. And when I decided to pursue it, I mean, REALLY pursue it, I understood I couldn’t do it alone.
But how did I go about finding others to learn from? No one I knew had the same interest. I was a social hermit (and a techno idjit to boot), but I needed to get past my fear of reaching out and see where my keyboard could take me.
Joining a writing community was likely one of the smartest decisions I made, and when success rings my doorbell, I’ll know where credit is due. I strongly recommend any writers out there who are not part of a critique group to find one. There are many possibilities just waiting for your typing fingers to find on Google. I’m partial to the Critique Circle of course, but you can always run a search for others, or find ones specific to your genre if you wish. You can also add a city to your Google searches to turn up face-to-face critique groups in your city or area, if you’re looking for a more interactive experience.
So WHEN is it time to get a critique group?
1) If your query letters announce you’re the next JK Rowling, it’s definitely time to get a dose of reality…and a crit group.
2) If you are starting to see your writing strengths emerge and are aware of your weak areas, its time to take the next step and get a critique group.
3) When you read other work (published or not) and feel you can suggest ways to make it better. Sharing your knowledge and thoughts leads to writing growth. Practice makes perfect–the more we help others, the easier it becomes to see waffle-y spots in our own pieces.
4) When you want someone to read your work and tell you what’s wrong with it (as apposed to them gushing how you’re going to be –yep, you guessed it– the next JK Rowling).
5) When you need the support of people who ‘get’ you. Only writers understand the highs and lows, the frustrations and the struggles. If you feel an overwhelming urge to reach out to someone who can relate, it’s time to find a critique group.
The right critique group can be life-changing, not just from the learning aspect, but on a personal level as well. I’ve met many online personalities whom I think of as friends first, and writers second.
Great insightful points. In particular, this one really resonated with me, “the more we help others, the easier it becomes to see waffley spots in our own pieces.”
I have a great critique group. It’ easy to become myopic about your own work — and it’s so valuable to get the objective critical POV of someone you trust.
I just recently joined AW, so I’m still checking out the forums. It looks like a lot of good info’s there, although I find it’s sometimes difficult to find specific info even with the search function because topics go off track a lot or the post titles are ambiguious. That said, though, I’m sure it will just take time to get used to a new system (I moderate at the Critique Circle, so that’s what I’m used to, lol). Thanks for commenting!
I hear you on that. I joined AW last September I think it was and didn’t start utilizing it until about a month later and I’m so glad I did. If it wasn’t for that site, I wouldn’t have tried writing humor, which I’ve found I’m rather good at and which I was nationally awarded for, nor would I have glanced in the general direction of fantasy, which I now love and am writing two novels in (one of those is split with humor).
I much prefer an internet writing community (I should say a mature internet writing community) simply because the variety is so much more vast. While I do crave face to face, the accessibility for someone on as tight of a schedule as I am works wonders.
Angela, love your blog! Very informative and encouraging for other writers. By the way, thanks for stopping by my place and commenting! You made my day!
CJ
Nicely said! I have two groups and neither one has given me the boot yet. (Perhaps it helps that I can’t actually turn up on their doorsteps. Or at least I haven’t . . . yet.) Not sure where I’d be without them.
And now I shall break into song. Something by Randy Newman or Paul Williams?
Thanks, Courtney!
Great post, Angela! I’m looking forward to watching the Bookshelf Muse grow. Congrats to both of you. 🙂