Not only is the Bookies Critique Group a way to get excellent constructive feedback on your work, but it’s also a great way to force yourself to sit down and write, because, let’s be honest, if writers are anything, they are masters of avoidance and procrastination (or is it just me? LOL). The slight anxiety of sharing your writing with others can be a great motivator on its own, but, when done with a group of people as eclectically experienced as the Bookies, you can’t help but strive to get those pages written, because you know, by the end of the meeting, your story will have improved and you will have grown as a writer.
Upcoming Meetings
General Meeting Outline
- Welcome and Introductions: Begin the meeting by welcoming everyone and having each member introduce themselves, including their name, writing experience, and what they hope to gain from the group (goal-setting). Allow each member to share any updates on their writing projects, such as progress made or upcoming deadlines. This can be a great way to keep everyone motivated and accountable.
- Group Business: Discuss any business related to the group, such as upcoming events, changes in meeting times or locations, or administrative tasks that need to be addressed.
- Discussion of Writing Techniques/Share Time: Discuss a writing technique or topic that members are interested in, such as character development, dialogue, or point of view. This can be a great way to learn from each other and spark new ideas.
- Writing Workshop: If there are any pieces to be workshopped during the meeting, assign each piece to a member and allow time for everyone to read the work. Then, have each member provide constructive feedback on the piece, being sure to discuss both strengths and areas for improvement.
- Wrap-up: Before concluding the meeting, review any action items that were discussed during the meeting, such as revisions to be made on workshopped pieces or research to be conducted. Make sure everyone knows what they need to do before the next meeting and set a date for the next gathering.
What if I get a critique I don’t agree with?
We’ve all been there. Maybe the critique misses the point. Maybe you don’t agree with their suggestion. The most important thing to remember about critiques is that they are “take it or leave it”. Most of the time, you can disregard critiques you don’t agree with. But maybe you don’t agree with it, but you don’t quite get what they mean. In that case, asking “Can you provide more context/reasoning behind your critique?” will let the critiquer explain without causing personal feelings to come into play.
If you feel that you’re being bullied, please contact the president with your concerns.