Purpose and Goals:
The purpose of the group is to help each other get published. We’ll accomplish this by reading and critiqueing each other’s work and encouraging each other to finish and submit work. We will attend seminars and workshops and bring what we learn back to the group.
Writer Requirements
All writers of all skill levels, experience, ages, and interests are welcome. We just ask that you be serious about the craft and business of writing and be a reliable and active participant. Space will be limited so if you think you will not be able to meet regularly or don’t think you can or want to honestly critique the genres and work other writers are submitting then please step aside so someone else can take part.
Participants will also need a dropbox account. Dropbox is how we’ll share work that we would like critiqued.
Times and Deadlines
Meetings will be the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00 PM
Submissions for critique must be uploaded by the third Wednesday of the month.
Submission and Critique Guidelines
Submit original work in .doc or .rtf format by the second Wednesday of each month. Submissions should be a maximum of 10 pages.
Schrodinger’s Rules of Order
Here are the rules of order used at meetings—far better in my opinion than Robert’s Rules of Order.
1) No throwing of objects not actually owned by you.
2) No duelling indoors.
3) Absolutely no blood on the carpet, or on any latex flat-painted surface.
4) Anyone making allegations of questionable parentage about another writer must be prepared to provide proof.
5) Payment for all emergency medical services and supplies required during the course of the meeting are the sole responsibility of the person or persons who made them necessary.
Schrodinger’s Rules of Critiquing
1) Critique the writing, never the writer. Never say, “You are…” or “You should…” Instead say, “The writing is…” or “The story should…”
2) Find what is right in each piece as well as what is wrong.
3) Don’t say, “This is how I would write it;” how you would write it isn’t the point.
4) Remember that subject matter is personal. You don’t have to like a story to give it a fair critique.
5) Remember what your biases are and critique around them.
6) Remember that real people wrote this stuff, and real people have real feelings.
Things you may not say while critiquing.
“That’s awful.”
“That’s stupid.”
“You couldn’t write your way out of a paper bag.”
Schrodinger’s Rules of Being Critiqued
1) Listen. The person who is speaking has taken the time to listen to your work, and wants to help you find ways to make it better.
2) Wait until everyone has finished critiquing before making comments.
3) Explain only if necessary. Don’t rebut.
4) Take notes.
5) Realize that everything can be improved.
6) Be willing to make changes. Conversely, don’t change anything you feel must remain in order to make the story yours.
Things you may not say when being critiqued.
“You’re wrong.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries.”
