A couple of years ago I was invited to join a critique group that sort of spontaneously formed after a workshop held by the Charlottesville Writing Center; a few of us wanted to keep the workshop vibe going. This is the first and only critique group I’ve been involved with, but from our experiences I can imagine how hard it must be to get one up and running. Kind of like sourdough starter: You mix the ingredients together — if it thrives and foams, you’ve got a good thing going; otherwise, you might as well throw it out.
What makes our group work so well? I don’t know what the other members would say, but for me, there are several interlocking factors. We all take our writing seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously. We give good comments and we know how to listen and incorporate criticism and suggestions. We’ve become effective in exploring plot and character development in each other’s work. We are avid readers as well as writers. Most important, our top priority is supporting each other and having a good time. We can bring our self-doubts to the sessions and get honest feedback and encouragement. I’m looking forward to another year with the group.
Filed under: charlottesville, writing
