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.
Following are some guidelines to start and conduct a critique group. It only takes a few writers and/or illustrators, who willing to share their work and eager to exchange opinions, in order to create a cohesive critique group. Groups are organized in as many different ways as there are people. Here are some basics:
How to Begin
- Check with Kevin Sheridan to see if there is an existing critique group in your area
- Look at the list to determine if there are enough SCBWI members in your area to warrant a group
If there isn't an existing local group, and not enough SCBWI members to start one, members can also 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 that 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 Kevin Sheridan about starting a new writers’ or illustrators’ group and offer help. Maybe 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 for the functioning of a good group. It doesn’t have to cost anything except time and dedication to have a successful critique group.
Procedures
The group together should decide what works best. Example of way that groups work include:
- 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
- Deciding who will read or exhibit art when everyone has arrived and each author reads his/her own manuscript
- Members photocopy their work for everyone in the group
- Members mail or email copies of their work before the meeting to everyone in the group for written comments
- Pass their writing to someone else to read so the author can hear the flaws
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, and 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.
Remember that you are in a critique group to get feedback. 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. 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 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 Kevin Sheridan.