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Critique Guidelines

STARTING A CRITIQUE GROUP

One of the primary goals of the SCBWI is to bring writers, illustrators, and others in the children’s book field together. We very much appreciate your interest in helping to start a critique group and we want you to know that we are ready to help you in any way we can.

The following are some guidelines on ways to start and conduct a critique group. It only takes a few writers and/or illustrators willing to read their work or share their art and eager to exchange opinions, to form a cohesive critique group. Groups are organized in as many different ways as there are people. Here are some basics:

HOW TO BEGIN: To start a critique group:

• Check with Gwen Holmes to see if there is a group in your area,
• Look at the roster to determine if there are enough SCBWI members in your area to warrant a group.

In any event, contact Gwen Holmes to let her know what you’re planning so she can refer people to you as they join the SCBWI.

If there is not a group, and not enough SCBWI members to start one, group members can be found:

• In writing or art classes.
• Through notices in local newsletters.
• By talking to librarians, bookstore personnel, and other writers or illustrators.

When you have a small list of interested people,

• 3-5 to begin/10-12 maximum is recommended.
• Contact them by phone, mail or email.
• Choose a time, date, and place to meet. Meetings can take place in a home, at a bank or other community room, a library, a church room – anywhere that is agreeable to the group. A set day or night and an exact time usually works better for most people so they can plan ahead, and so after the first meeting, you won’t have to mail notices about when your next meeting is coming up.

Once word gets out, you’ll probably find there are more willing and eager writers or illustrators than you expected. You may find you have to limit your group to a number that serves all of its members well. If your group gets too large, you may find it necessary to divide into several smaller groups. When new people ask to join and your group doesn’t have room, encourage them to contact Gwen Holmes about starting a new writers’ or illustrators’ group and offer help. Perhaps they could sit in on one of your meetings to see how it’s run.

COST:
You might want to accept a small donation to purchase coffee and snacks, or take turns bringing refreshments. Some groups charge regular dues (and use them to celebrate sales), but this isn’t necessary the functioning of a good group. It doesn’t have to cost anything except time and dedication to have a critique group.

PROCEDURE:
Again, groups decide on what works best. Some ways that groups work are:

• The number of pages read or artwork displayed is limited to (x) amount according to the size of the group and the amount of time available to meet;
• The first to come is the first to read or exhibit;
• In some groups members photocopy their work for everyone in the group;
• In some groups members mail or email copies of their work before the meeting to everyone in the group for written comments;
• Some groups pass their writing to someone else to read so the author can hear the flaws;
• Some groups work very casually deciding who will read or exhibit art when everyone has arrived and each author reads his/her own manuscript.

Choose the method that is most beneficial and agreeable to your group.

Some part of the meeting should be devoted to marketing news, articles discovered, new books, writing classes, other information to be shared. In some groups it’s necessary to put off these helpful discussions and socializing until after the meeting or the meeting never gets started.

You might want someone to be in charge of chairing and keeping track of time so everyone gets a chance to read or exhibit and hear criticism.

Whatever works best for your group is right.

GIVING CRITICISM:
Criticism should be constructive not destructive. "I didn’t like the way you wrote (or illustrated) that" is never valid criticism. It always helps a fellow writer or artist to know the strengths of a manuscript or illustration as well as the weaknesses. A compliment offered first softens a "constructive" negative to follow. Try to tell your fellow writer or artist why something doesn’t work for you and offer possibilities for change. Always be encouraging. Not everyone will respond to a manuscript or illustration in the same way. Those receiving criticism should remember that any suggestion offered can be accepted or rejected. The author or artist has the final word on what stays.

Remember that you are in a critique group to get feedback. Often, your words or pictures can surround you so you can’t see flaws in your work. Try not to be too defensive when you’re criticized; be good-natured about it. All creators feel protective about their "children".

A critique group can remain strong only when the sanctity of that group is respected. Thus, it is never okay to use the ideas or the research done by another member, to impose upon their contacts in the publishing world, or to reveal to others outside of the critique group the work-in-progress without the author’s or illustrator’s express permission.

FINALLY:
When a member is published, celebrate! Let the SCBWI People column know by dropping a note to the SCBWI office.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Gwen Holmes.

GOOD LUCK!

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