|
Critique partners are one of the
most valuable tools a writer can
rely on for support and objective feedback. But how do you find a
partner? How do you know they know how to critique, and do they trust
you?
American Christian Fiction
Writers organization has put together a
wonderful program that helps provides a way for authors to develop
critique skills and establish relationships with other authors. Each
month, ACFW provides a two-day critique class. After taking this course
in basic critique skills, new writers are able to enter the large
critique loop and work with hundreds of other authors. We’ve developed
this program intentionally to raise the level of not only writing
skills, but also the critiquing skills of our authors. Once everyone
knows the basics, it becomes much easier to find a partner out of the
many who are searching for a comfortable fit.
Critique is a special kind of
relationship. It’s built on trust and
commitment to always work for the good of one another. Several other
issues come to play: different personalities, genres, and levels of
education, and even distance may interfere with meeting a crit partner
personally. The large group allows authors to share at any time while
giving back critiques for others. In the process, small groups and
partnerships that mesh well form. Many of these small groups and
partners have been meeting for years.
Benefits of critique are the
support system and the meeting of like
minds, but many attribute publishing success to the feedback received
in critique—feedback that sometimes takes courage to hear. Being in the
writing business means thinking of it as a business—learning not only
the craft, but also how readers respond. If the reader is confused,
then brainstorming how to tighten and clarify is a critique blessing.
Though reading a manuscript,
query, or proposal is very much a part
of the barter system in the crit world, learning how to professionally
and inoffensively convey the weak areas is an important skill. By
taking the two-day course offered through ACFW, you’ll be sure to learn
the ropes prior to entering the larger group. The skills learned in the
course will make you 1)
feel more comfortable critiquing; 2)
more aware of the standards; and 3)
able to know how to both give and receive.
What happens once you become
part of the group? You’ll begin
interacting with other people within the safe environment and
guidelines everyone agrees to follow. As you become familiar, you’ll
start to recognize names and begin to trade critiques. You are welcome
to stay in that larger group and never move into a smaller one;
however, participants are also welcome to build relationships with
others. If that critique group or partnership doesn’t work out for any
reason, you can go back into the larger group until you find a good fit
with someone else. Whatever plan works best for your writing is the
plan for you.
The beauty of joining the ACFW
critique group is that publishers and
agents expect it of you. It’s good for your writing career. It’s part
of the business of writing. Filtering your work through the critique
process shows agents and editors you are serious and willing to accept
help and direction. Without this key element, it will be very hard to
convince anyone to take a serious look at your work. No agent or editor
wants to be the very first to lay eyes on a book. They know the amount
of work it takes for a new author to produce quality work. They’re not
going to double their work with one who hasn’t received help from a
crit partner to ferret out the major issues and errors of a manuscript.
Save yourself this reason for rejection by taking care of business and
showing your professionalism right up front.
Does your critique partner or
group members have to write in the
same genre? The answer is yes and no. It helps for the person to know
your genre well, but some people find it works well regardless if they
are at least compatible in personality. My critique partner writes
futuristic fantasy, while I write both Christian nonfiction and
fiction. Writing different genres, but knowing the others, keeps our
relationship and skills fresh and interesting. It also keeps us aware
of changes within the industry. This is truly a personal choice.
Finding a critique partner or
small group used to be difficult prior
to the establishment of the critique loop by American Christian Fiction
Writers. Watch on the Main Loop (see last month’s article) for the ACFW
Volunteer Officer announcement about a week prior to each new class.
Margaret Daley sends out a message with a link on how to sign up and
get started. She’s developed the mentoring project and teaches the
how-to and then releases the newly blossomed writers into the large
critique pool to swim with their peers.
If you are an American Christian
Fiction Writer member, all you have
to do is respond to the notice. If you are a member, but are not on the
Main Loop, please contact Margaret Daley (volunteer officer) at vol@acfw.com
to request your invite to the next class. If you are not an ACFW
member, please visit http://www.acfw.com
and join. The very small fee gives you incomparable value just in the
opportunity to join the critique pool for free, not to mention the
education you can get from our monthly course and main loops.
Before closing, I’d like to draw
your attention to the ACFW Ezine,
the “Afictionado.” We’ve revamped it and added a free monthly Writer’s
Toolbox! This is an abundant wealth of teaching from well-known
authors, a different one each month, who will include a downloadable
pdf worksheet. You do not want to miss out on James Scott Bell’s
article and special download! We’ve also changed the release date from
mid-month to the first of the month from now on. Please come and enjoy
the “Afictionado” by visiting http://www.acfw.com/ezine, and be
sure to peruse the archives.
|
