To Be Or Not To Be...In A Critique Group

I attended Josi Kilpack's class @ UVU on Critique Groups. It was enlightening and pushed me over the edge of wanting to be in one. Especially when she guarantees I will be published if I don't quit! Can't beat that!

Here are a few ideas/questions for creating a critique group:

• Do want the group to be genre specific or general? Fiction vs. nonfiction?
• 4-5 people are a good start on a group. The group needs to have rules for adding members or bringing people to the group.
• Pick a day, time, how often and how long to meet.
• Does everyone need to bring a chapter each meeting? Do you want to focus on one piece or give everyone a turn? You might need to set a time limit for each piece as well. Do you want everyone to email their work to the group ahead of time or bring a hard copy and read aloud?
• What is the commitment level of the group? Be there every meeting? Is everyone okay if someone doesn't show up for months?
• Pick a location that works for everyone. At a home or restaurant or library, what your group decides.
• Have phone list including cell. Also, Facebook, Yahoo or Google list is a great way to stay connected. Work can also be sent through a couple of these groups to the critique group.
• Don't talk about others work outside of the group.
• Critique the writing, not the writer.

More later on how to give and take critiques.