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Regional Advisor:
Assistant Regional Advisor:
Illustrator Coordinator: |
Critique Groups Looking for a creative boost? Need help expressing your ideas? Another point of view? Are you ready for some motivation and a deadline? Then it’s time to take the plunge—join a critique group. Let the eyes, ears, and minds of fellow authors and illustrators help you to take your work to the next level. Do critique groups really help? Here’s what some Midsouth notables have to say: “Joining a critique group was the best thing for me to do as a new writer. It was also the best thing for me to do as an intermediate writer. I think it's the best thing any writer can do to polish their work.” -- Genetta Adair “Mine has saved me from terrible gaffes…” -- Martha Bennett Stiles "Critique groups are the best thing that ever happened for my writing..." -- Hannah Dills “I was happily writing nonfiction when I had an idea for an opening chapter of a novel. I wrote it just as a writing exercise, with no intention of writing the entire book, and read it to my critique group. They loved it and asked what happened next. I had no idea, so I wrote another chapter to find out. This continued until I finished my first novel, Anna of Byzantium, which has gone on to sell almost 200,000 copies. I've now written six more novels, and I know I wouldn't have gone that route if I hadn't read that chapter that day. I love my critique group!” -- Tracy Barrett “I gain as much from critiquing others' work as I do from having them examine my pieces. Nine times out of ten, whatever I think someone's piece could benefit from—stronger voice, clearer desire—is just what my own piece needs at that very moment. Critique groups are a win-win situation. In addition, knowing that others will be reading my work helps motivate me to polish and meet deadlines. Even if I'm submitting a chapter from an uncompleted manuscript, it's amazing how much harder I'll be on myself when I know the red pens (well, my group mostly uses pencil)—are out and circling.” -- Jessica Leader What is a Critique Group? A critique group is team of writers or illustrators who provide constructive criticism of each other’s work in progress. Often a group focuses on a particular reading level, art media, or genre, but not always. Some groups meet online, others face-to-face. Some meet weekly, others monthly. The details are up to the group. Choosing a Critique Group Critique groups take commitment—every member has to provide new material and critiques according to the group’s schedule and rules. With that in mind, start by reading all group information in the Midsouth Critique Groups section below. If a group is open to new members and is appropriate to your work and schedule, e-mail the group leader. Replies will vary, but you’ll probably get an invitation to sit in on a couple meetings. This is your chance to audition the group, and their chance to audition you. If your styles mesh, the group may ask you to join. If the group isn’t right for you, try another — but once you join a group, commit yourself. Midsouth Critique Groups Group leaders,
please email your group information to the
Critique Group Coordinator. Writers (face-to-face)
Writers (online)
Illustrators (face-to-face)
Illustrators (online)
Still looking for a group? Don’t see a group that’s right for you? Nothing in your area? You’re not alone. E-mail the Critique Group Coordinator. Midsouth maintains a list of people looking to form new groups. If there’s someone in your area, we’ll put you in touch. And if you’re willing to lead a new group, please let us know. Midsouth has several articles about getting started and a list of mentors who can help. Can you mentor a new group? If you have critique group experience and are willing to guide a new group through a couple of meetings, please e-mail the Critique Group Coordinator. Helpful Links "Critique Groups and Critiquing" -- from an SCBWI newsletter for the Tri-Regions of Southern California. From Writer’s Digest, a listing for The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide, including downloadable critique group worksheets: "Starting Your Own Critique Group" -- by Margot Finke, from Harold Underdown’s site, The Purple Crayon. From the Institute for Children’s Literature: "Critique Groups: Your Chance to Grow" "Creating Successful Critique Groups" "The Give and Take of Critiques" -- by author Linda Sue Park. "Join a Critique Group to Get Your Writing Moving" -- by author and writing guide W. Terry Whalin. The following files are for SCBWI members only. You must be logged in to access them, and they may not be posted elsewhere. You'll need Adobe Reader to view them. 1. Go to www.scbwi.org. 2. Log in. 3. On the home page, place your mouse pointer on "Resource Library" (upper right corner). A drop-down list appears. 4. Select "SCBWI Publication Guide Online." The SCBWI Publication Guide Online page appears. 5. Select "Getting Started: Preparing and Submitting Your Work." The "Getting Started" page appears—there’s a lot of good info here, including pages on critique groups and manuscript formatting. |
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SCBWI-Midsouth logos on this site
created by Susan Eaddy. |
