Network News: There are critique groups and there are critique groups

By Gill James

And they’re all valid as they address different needs. It all depends on what exactly is your cup of tea.

This week I’ve done a round-up of some of the type of groups offered by the networks. If you see something that appeals, check with your Network Coordinator to see whether that sort of group exists in your area. If you’re really keen to join a group like this, why not start one?

Remember, you need to be a member of SCBWI to join a critique group. Perhaps this is a good reason to join?

The mish-mosh

Work is normally e-mailed in advance. All genres and any age-groups are accepted. There tends to be a lot of submissions to this type of group and about ten to twelve attendees. Feedback can be less focussed here but the fact that you deal with several genres gives considerable objectivity and can be useful to writers who are still uncertain about where their work should be pitched. You maybe thought you were writing a picture book but actually your text is more for an emergent reader.

The genre-specific group

This tends to work well for groups of about half a dozen, all writing for a similar genre and age-group.  Usually work is emailed in advance. The members know each other and each other’s work very well and give focussed feed-back. One does have to guard against developing a house-style, however. This type of group may well work together for several months or even years then split apart as members become published or move on to other projects.        

The pre-beta group

This is a very small group - maybe just three or four – where the writers become writing buddies.  They’re not quite beta, though they could provide beta services to other groups. True beta readers must come cold to a project in order to give objective feedback.  People in this group know the members and their work very well and may often offer emotional support as well as constructive criticism.

The tea-party

Members bring polished work and read it out. This is a celebration of what succeeds. It can include extracts of members’ published work also. You will receive feed-back but normally only positive. This will be a larger group – maybe twelve to twenty and there may be some rota of who is to read. You’ll probably drink lots of tea and coffee and eat cake. Or you might even have a glass of wine.

The sandwich

This is really a type of feedback method than can be applied to any group. You say what works. You say what is working less well. You say something else positive, perhaps making a constructive suggestion about how the work can be improved.

Over to You...

• What category does your SCBWI critique group fall into?
• If not critique, what does your SCBWI group do?
• If you're not in a group yet, what type of groups would you like to see operating near you?

If you’d like to find a group near you, contact your British Isles network coordinators here. 
  

To join SCBWI and take advantage of the many opportunities to raise your profile: market your work, meet fellow writers, artists, the gatekeepers to publication, while being supported in the development and pursuit of your craft, visit scbwi.org.

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Gill James writes mainly for young adults. She is your Network News editor and is interested in news stories about your network. Contact her at networknews at britishscbwi dot org.