#Critique Groups #HelpOrHinderance

Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

Critique Groups have always helped my writing.

When deciding whether or not to from a partnership with one or more people there are some must dos. To begin with, you must have partners who are knowledgeable as well as kind. All reviewers of your WIP must understand the genre you write in even though they might write in a different genre. The authors you work with need to understand they are not trying to write the book in their voice.

Critique Groups: The Pros

With great review partners.

1. They will find issues that can easily be fixed before you send to a publisher .
2. Understanding Point Of View is important, and the trusted friends who look at your book will catch uncharacteristic changes in POV.
3. When problems occur with your WIP, the author can talk out the issue with their partners.
4. Personally, I have comma issues. Critique partners can certainly help with these as well as other grammatical problems.

Critique Groups: The Cons

1. An author should never rewrite their manuscript to please the reviewer. This can result in changes that are out of your character’s image.
2. If you disagree with the person reading your WIP, don’t get into an argument. This can only result in hurt feelings.
3. Suggested changes should be made with the attitude that you as the reviewer are effectively criticizing the authors baby.
4. Until an author is well seasoned and can accept harsh criticism, this process is like walking on egg shells.
5. Changing your manuscript to suit a reviewer when you disagree with the changes, should not be done and can only result in frustration and perhaps anger.

I reached out to three of my critique partners and asked for their opinion. I heard back from two.

Critique Groups: Other Opinons/Genene Valleau, author and cover artist.

I am pleased and humbled I found critique partners who were at about the
same stage in writing as I was when beginning to write seriously. I was
also fortunate to learn to critique using the sandwich method–say
something positive, point out something that could be improved, then
wrap up with encouragement.

Pros:
–The feedback was invaluable. They could see gaps in the plot, problems
with dialogue, and possibilities when I was too close to the book to see
these things.
–They encouraged (and sometimes pushed!) me to submit to contests and
editors.
–We became friends and a support network for writing and other areas of
our lives.

Cons

I’ve been fortunate not to experience these drawbacks but have heard
horror stories of things that could happen, such as:
–If someone doesn’t read or write the same genre you write.
–Someone might try to “take over” your story and rewrite it the way
they would.
–Slice and dice style of critiquing rather than constructive ways to
improve.

Critique Groups: Other Opinions/Rosemary Indra Author

A Pro side of Critique Partners is everyone has a strong point in their writing ex. point of view, dialogue or description. So if you struggle with point of view your critique partner may see something that you missed.

Choose critique partners wisely. Everyone with similar motivation and writing skills with positive comments and encouragement.

Please feel free to leave comments if you have something to add.

Check Out My New Release: Sweet Surrender

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READ FIRST CHAPTER

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Ripped from her family at the top of Infinity Cliff, Kimi McKenna finds herself thrust somewhere into the future. Dark elements threaten to destroy the earth unless Kimi can work together with the white witch to stop the destruction. Confused by her mate’s role in the conspiracy, she refuses to acknowledge the connection. But amidst raging fire and attacks on the people she is coming to hold dear, she allows Maska O’keefe into her heart.

Maska O’keefe has loved the beautiful shapeshifter for years. Unable to save her life years ago, he vows to watch over her as he is given a second chance to convince her that even though he is a witch and not a shifter, they are indeed soul mates. Kimi’s divided loyalties between her family and the cause she is now a part of will determine their relationship. Only the part she plays as the messiah can bring this to a conclusion in the final battle.