Brinker’s Fiction Critique Group Charter

Your writing group moderator preparing for his task.

I have again been asked, as I have so often credited my writing group with my successes to date, how we do it.  Many people dread or have had bad experiences in a such groups.  We in Brinkers (named for one of our deceased members) treat each other with great courtesy but equal frankness.  One role does require some starch, that of the moderator who may occasionally have to act as referee or judge occasionally.  That means if you have a member who will not play by the rules it does fall to the moderator to actually tell someone, sorry you are no longer welcome here.  It's not fun but you can't allow somone to disrupt the group.  I have usually been the moderator and the fact that I am a black belt is I believe pure coincidence.

We used to meet in public places but our group, a little smaller now, is close enough that we meet in each others homes.  Bringing in a new member is always done on a trial basis.  Attrition happens but usually its when people see the workload and the fact that we are looking for them to produce work on a regular basis.  You need not be prolific and some add value chiefly by critiquing but this is a writing group, not a support group and there is a commitment of time and energy.  Hope this is useful to you.  God knows it was essential to me.

Brinker’s Fiction Critique Group Charter

           

We have worked out a format so everyone's manuscript can be addressed at each meeting.  I will act as the moderator/admin person to handle contacts with LOCATION.  I will also act as a moderator in the sense that I will try to help the group function smoothly in accord with the Charter guidelines and I ask everyone’s help and support with that.  Despite the existence of the guidelines, we want the group to remain as informal as possible.  Humor and camaraderie will be prized and encouraged.

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Purpose: The purpose of the critique group will be to help intermediate or advanced authors prepare novels and short stories for publication.  Only short stories and books are being critiqued; other groups do poetry and other venues are more appropriate for beginners or authors not aiming at publication.

Methods: The group will meet 7-9PM on the second and fourth Thursdays at LOCATION.  We will endeavor to keep the group to about ten members or less.

1. The role of the author is to listen without defending or arguing.  Assume a good intent on the part of the critic.  Don’t explain something unless asked.  This will be good practice for dealing with real editors.  All members of the group will make every effort to be sensitive to the author’s feelings.

2. The role of the critic: This is a critique group, not a support group.  Please endeavor to offer meaningful criticism in an adult, professional and very civil manner.  Each person can critique for 3-5 minutes.  Please don’t feel compelled to use your full time unless you are adding something.  In the event that the moderator feels the criticism is, for whatever reason, straying from the useful, you may be asked to move on or drop a point for the sake of amity.

3. We will take turns choosing which manuscript to begin with by first alphabet letter of the last names of the people present that night. We will sometimes switch from the beginning of the alphabet to the end to keep the order mixed.

4. Critique comments should be written out on a separate sheet or the back of the last page of the manuscript.  Sign your comments so the writer can contact you later if he/she has questions.

5. Length - 20pp.is preferred, if you go much over then your piece may be spread over the next two sessions.  This is not a hard or fast rule and will depend on the volume of work.  Work must be typed.  Please make an effort to have your work in the best condition you can before submitting.

6. We exchange manuscripts at the meeting for the next critique session or we can e-mail to each other in time for reading and studying at home. Check with individuals on this. 

Critique etiquette

1) Please do not attempt to critique a piece that has just been handed to you.  Take it home for mature consideration.  Be present when you are in the group.

            2) Try to avoid interrupting others when they hold the floor for their critique.

            3) It is not your job to persuade the author your critique is correct.  You offer information.   They use it or they don’t.  Don’t argue a critique.

            4) Liking a story or not is immaterial to a critique, though clearly it helps to like the piece.  I detest the Great Gatsby, which doesn’t remove it from the list of great books.  You are trying to help the author tell their story effectively-not to make them write something you like.  The issue is, did they do what they intended to do effectively?  Is there merit to what they tried to do?  Are you not liking it because it’s cliched, hackneyed, poorly thought out, unpersuasive or just because you don’t like war (substitute: romance, SF, mystery, etc) stories.

            5) If you find a piece offensive you may pass on it by doing no more than advising me that you did not feel you can do an effective critique.

Commitment: This group is for those committed to improving their writing and further, to helping others improve theirs.  While no one has to finish a critiquing assignment in a specified time (it’s not like there’s a fine) we are looking for people willing to make a good faith effort to be ready and current every 2 weeks. We all understand about work and family but members should know that there is a workload and that by joining you indicate that you will live up to your end as you hope others will live up to theirs.  Nothing new here, it’s just the “golden rule.”