Page Created: 03/15/11. Last Updated: 06/18/20.
..........Critique Group Articles & Links
..........How to Organize a Critique Group
..........Where We Differ from Most Groups
Introduction: How We Do Things -- Commentary by Philip De Parto
The following is a description of how we run our group. It is not a prescription for how you should run yours. There are lots of ways to run a group that work, and lots of ways to run a group that doesn't. My personal feeling is that every story should ideally be critiqued by two different groups which operate in different ways.
Critique groups run the gamut from the Clarion philosophy of chew-them-up-and-spit-them-out to rah-rah cheerleaders. I have programmed authors at science fiction groups for over 30 years. I know writers who have said the Clarion style has helped them beyond words. I know other writers who have said that approach has been detrimental to their careers.
Because the Writers of the Weird is a component of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County, founding members Philip De Parto, Charles Garofalo and others who have since moved on, already knew each other long before the first critique session. This has led to our group being closer to the cheerleader than the Clarion model.
Stories and novels may be critiqued in whole or in part either at our monthly WOTW critique session or via our private Google Group and Website. Members of the group may also email the work to selected members for private commentary.
Here is a link to other ways of doing things at our Critique Group Articles & Links Page.
Live Sessions:
Our live sessions are modeled upon those of a group in Huntsville, Alabama. When we first organized the WOTW, we printed this article How To Organize a Critique Group by former Science Fiction Association of Bergen County member Nancy Cucci in our newsletter, THE STARSHIP EXPRESS. In the intervening years we have done a bit of tweaking, particularly in the area of bringing cake.
Philip De Parto hosts most of the events, with others filling in during the summer months. Phil's are usually held from 4:00 - 7:00 PM on the fourth Sunday of each month, although we have rescheduled gatherings to avoid holidays, etc. Summer sessions usually run 3:00 - 6:00 PM.
We generally get about 12 people per session.
The first order of business consists of news notes. Someone may have made a sale, received a rejection or recently learned of useful market information.
Next we determine who has brought material. This is usually new work, but occasionally someone brings a rewrite to see if the bugs have been worked out.
We then prioritize the work. Does anyone have to cut out early? Is anyone on a close submissions deadline? Is there anyone whose work we did not get to last session?
After addressing those concerns, we begin. The facilitators determine the story order in an arcane process influenced in part by wind direction, tea leaves, zodiac signs, time of year and phase of moon.
Copies of the first work to be critiqued are then passed out. Ideally, the author has brought enough copies for everyone, including him/herself. If not, people share.
This next bit is where we differ from most groups. The work is read aloud, and the reader is someone other than the author. People make notes on their copies. At the end, we all have our say. Comments can be anything from, "this comma should be a semi colon because you have independent clauses on either side of the punctuation" to "your story doesn't really begin until the third paragraph on page eight." Those in attendance then put their name on their copy and pass it back to the author. Often someone will say "I've noted a number of spelling and grammatical errors on my copy and didn't feel it was necessary to bring them all up now."
It's then on to the next work.
This format works best with short stories. Novels require multiple sessions, which is why they are often posted and critiqued through the private website / Google Group. On the other hand, the format also works well for a more detailed examination of a particular issue from a novel. Is this fight scene clear? Does the villain's motivation seem reasonable? Does this description go on too long?
I recently came across this note from former moderator Patricia Nash sent out before our first (April 11, 1992) session:
Somewhere between sycophanic toadyism and greeting the debut of a new work with "IT SUCKS!" there is a happy medium of criticism. This medium is hiding out in his or her basement with a crystal ball and a box of mallomars, not wanting to get involved with possible mayhem. Our goal is to help all members of the group produce one or more published works. If something puzzles you, ask the writer to clarify it--in writing. If it doesn't sound plausible or euphonious, flag it for improvement. Think like an editor. Think like your fifth grade English teacher. Think like one of those obnoxious types who say that the spaceship won't fly because it can't generate enough Delta V for the planet's gravity.
The writer's obligation is to listen. You don't have to act on the suggestion--it's your story, not ours--but sleep on it. If it struck the rest of the group, or just one of the group, as a problem, it might bother an equal percentage of editors and readers.
On Line Critiques
Members of the Writers of the Weird may join our Writers of the Weird in Exile Group or employ Additional E-Critique Options, which have separate listings under Our Events.
Other Events
Members may also meet to network, discuss writerly matters, and occasionally critique at the Writers' Space Salon held before most General Meetings of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County. This is presented in greater detail under Our Events.
Members of the Writers of the Weird have also made a variety of presentations, either in conjunction with other members of the group or as solo presenters, at bookstores, conventions, libraries and other venues. These have additional listings under Our Events.