Today, as I recover from Mother's Day weekend at the bakery, I turn the Back Deck Blog over to fellow OTP author, Marilyn Meredith, who writes not one, but TWO, mystery series: The Rocky Bluff P.D. series and the Tempe Crabtree series. Let's see what she has to say about the value of critique groups and learn more about the latest book in her Rocky Bluff P.D. series, "A Crushing Death":
*****
When
people ask where I learned how to write, my honest answer is “from
my critique group.” I’ve belonged to the same group for nearly 35
years. The members have come and gone as time passed, though the
originator is still with us.
I’ve
learned more about all aspects of writing than I ever did from any
class, book or magazine from the members of this group. They’ve
always been my main resource.
Now,
I consider the group as my first editor. Our leader, now retired,
taught Honors English. She’s taught me more about grammar than I
ever learned in school, and always catches those kinds of mistakes.
The other members are great for letting me know if what I’ve
written makes sense, catching errors in continuity and supplying me
with many ideas.
What
I’ve learned about critique groups and the people who are in them:
To
be in a critique group you need to be able to take criticism and not
get your feelings hurt or argue with someone about their critique. As
I’ve told those in our group, I wouldn’t come if they didn’t
tell me what was wrong. I don’t attend to be told how wonderful
everything I write is, because I know it’s not. Even if I don’t
agree with what someone has said, I make sure to go over what
bothered the person. I might not make the exact change he or she
suggested, but I’ll probably do some rewriting to make clearer
whatever they didn’t like.
Those
who critique shouldn’t make comments like, “I don’t like that
kind of fiction.” Each person should pay attention to the person
reading and make suggestions that would make the writing better.
Some
groups only take people writing in same genre and who are all
published. Because I learned so much from the critique group, I’m
happy to share what I know with new writers. It might take a new
person a while to catch onto how to give a critique, but he or she
can always let you know if they understood what you read and if it
conveyed what you were trying to get across.
What
you want in your group are people who are serious about
writing--preferably writers who bring something to read to most
meetings.
Anyone
had good or bad experiences with critique groups you’d like to
share?
A
Crushing Death
A
pile of rocks is found on a dead body beneath the condemned pier, a
teacher is accused of molesting a student, the new police chief is
threatened by someone she once arrested for attacking women, and
Detective Milligan’s teenage daughter is has a big problem.
http://www.amazon.com/Crushing-Death-Rocky-Bluff-P-D/dp/1610092260/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457618775&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Crushing+Death+by+F.M.+Meredith
Bio:
F.
M. Meredith who is also known as Marilyn Meredith is nearing the
number of 40 published books. Besides being an author she is a wife,
mother, grandma and great-grandmother. Though the Rocky Bluff she
writes about is fictional, she lived for over twenty-years in a
similar small beach town. Besides having many law enforcement
officers in her family she is counts many as friends. She teaches
writing, loves to give presentations to writing and other groups, and
is a member of Mystery Writers of America, three chapters of Sisters
in Crime and on the board of Public Safety Writers Association.
Website:
http://fictionforyou.com
Facebook:
Marilyn Meredith
Twitter:
MarilynMeredith
Tomorrow
you can find me here:
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today. I am tickled to be here.
ReplyDeleteI am a critique group leader for Inspire Christian Writers (in Sacramento). Our group is very supportive of one another not only with our writing but with our personal lives. Any person who is serious about writing should be in a critique group. New writers especially can learn a great deal, as you did. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject.
ReplyDeleteCritique groups are the most important tool I use for my writing. Nice post, Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteHi, Elaine. I totally agree with you. Kathleen, my critique group is necessary for me.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Marilyn. I've learned so much from my critique groups. I say groups because I've been involved in many over the years. I'm 99.9% better than I was when I started. I know this because I can spot the same mistakes I used to make in my partners work. I couldn't and wouldn't dream of writing anything without them. Every writer should belong to one. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDiane Kratz
Thanks for commenting, Diane--always great to hear from you!
DeleteI agree, Marilyn. Critique groups are critical (pun intended) for every writer who wishes to grow and evolve. I know I'm a better writer now because of my critique groups. The hardest part for newbies is learning how to listen, to take in what the others in the group say, and not defend the work. I always tell newcomers that what problems they see in someone else's work is what they are guilty of committing in their own -- that's why they recognize it! I've found that those who come wanting only to hear how great they are, don't stick around very long. It's hard to put that old ego aside and listen with an open mind, but that's the only way to learn. I teach writing, and I believe that we learn the most from what we share and talk about, not from the the lesson I gave. The lesson is merely the framework on which the learning is built; the learning itself comes from within and from the other students in the group. Education comes from the latin "educate" meaning "to draw out." That's what a good critique group does, it "draws out" the abilities that lie dormant within each of us.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the double "s" in my name is a mistake and I can't figure out how to fix it! Ahhh, technology... LOL
Oh, yes, Susan, we've had many over the years who just couldn't take the criticism and tried to argue with everything that was suggested. As you said, they don't last long.
DeleteThanks for taking over the Back Deck today, Marilyn! You're always a welcome guest!
ReplyDeleteI haven't used a critique group persay, but I have had several different people read the book specifically looking for spelling errors, grammar, word usage and continuity. I also belong to a writers' group and periodically read excerpts from the books I write. Only two of them have published books, but they do give an honest opinion.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we always want an honest opinion. I also hire an editor for one series before I send it off. With the other, the publisher assigns an editor.
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