Page Created: 12/22/11. Last Updated: 12/22/11.
Alternate Ways to Run a Critique Group:
The Clarion model is the most widespread within the science fiction community. James Patrick Kelly's article below outlines the operation of workshops in this tradition. There are many other methods as well.
On Line Workshops:
In an On Line Critique Group, members of the workshop post to a private website which only members of the group may access. Members privately or publicly post their critique. Group members do not actually come face to face. To ensure a quid-pro-quo, on line groups often require members to critique a certain number of works by other members before newcomers are allowed to post work of their own.
Advance Reading Workshops:
In an Advance Reading Workshop, members post their work on a private site before the In Person gathering of the group. Workshop members print copies and annotate the works. They turn their copies over to the author in person when the group meets. Depending on how the group operates, members may give a capsule summary of their critiques verbally and/or the author may ask for feedback on specific points.
Cold Critique Groups:
In a Cold Critique Group, members do not see the work until the start of the session. Copies of each work are passed around to everyone. Each person silently reads the manuscript and writes their comments on the work. A group may or may not allow verbal comments as well. A nearby general (multi genre) writers group to which some WOTW members belong operates in this manner. Each member is limited to two pages per session. After everyone has read and annotated the manuscript, each member of the group can make two comments about the work.
Writers' Workshops / Critique Groups
.....Live Workshops
..........Clarion Writers' Workshop: http://clarion.ucsd.edu/
..........Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop: http://www.sff.net/odyssey/
..........Viable Paradise Workshop: http://www.sff.net/paradise/
.....On Line Workshops
..........Critters Writers Workshop: http://www.critters.org/
..........Online Writing Workshop: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
..........Other Worlds Writes Workshop: http://www.otherworlds.net/
Articles
...............Cambridge SF Critique Manifesto by David Alexander Smith at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/some-notes-on-critiquing-method-and-the-csfw-critiquing-manifesto/
...............A Checklist for Critiquing Science Fiction by David Alexander Smith at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/a-checklist-for-critiquing-science-fiction/
...............Critiquing in a Workshop Context by David Alexander Smith at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/critiquing-in-a-workshop-context/
...............Glossery of Terms by David Smith at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/being-a-glossary-of-terms-useful-in-critiquing-science-fiction/
...............Hardcore Critique Guidelines by Amy Sterling Casil
http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/hardcore-critique-guidelines/
...............Links to Writers Workshops at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/links-to-writers-workshops/
...............Turkey City Lexicon at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/turkey-city-lexicon-a-primer-for-sf-workshops/
...............Writers' Workshops by James Patrick Kelly at sfwa.org
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/writers-workshops/