In Praise of the Crit Group
Two nights ago I met with a crit group for the first time in several years. We used to meet regularly, but the group swelled — with wonderful people I really really like — yet with so many people, it became difficult to settle in, especially since all of us were women, many were moms, and one was a sex columnist.
There was a lot of chatter about kindergarten and sex.
I'm not against chatter, but with a bakers' dozen writers worth of chatter, there wasn't a lot of time for concentrated work. It was also impossible to reconcile everyone's schedules, so it was hit or miss who came each month. Personally, I know I missed an average of every other meeting. With everything so sporadic, there was no ongoing spur to take notes, run with them, then come back for more. So while the group was fun and at times effective, it wasn't the intense workshop I'd kind of hoped it would be, and we eventually stopped meeting.
Then a couple weeks ago I made a few calls, and got the three (including myself) original members of the band back together. We met over drinks at a restaurant (okay, I had hot tea because I swore I was going running afterward. Did I go running afterward? Of course I didn't go running afterward.), and after the requisite catching up, totally dug in.
It was spectacular. What I brought to the table was a new novel in its very early stages. I'd started it, gotten sidetracked with other projects, and was now ready to dive back in… but I wanted other eyes on it first. Their feedback was great — they were very specific about the elements they loved and the ones that weren't so terribly exciting, and I came away completely inspired to get back to it and delve deeper. We're meeting again in one month, on a date that works for all of us, and despite all the other things on my plate, I know I'll take the time to work on the new novel, so I can share its next step.
What makes a great crit group? Size, I now know, is key. Too big and it stops being useful. Mine is particularly small, which I love, but it doesn't have to be that tiny.
An even bigger must is that you trust and respect everyone in the group. You'll be reading a lot of your crit group members' writing, so if you don't generally like their writing, you'll have a miserable time. Of my two fellow group members, one is someone with whom I've worked a million times on television shows, so I know and love her work. The other I didn't know until the group first started, but the minute I read something of hers I was completely hooked.
Beyond respecting their writing, you also have to respect your group members' critical perspective. My two co-horts give great notes — the head-slapping "of course that's how it should work!" kind of notes that click on all the lights in my brain.
How do you feel about crit groups? Do you have one you meet regularly? Or instead of scheduled meetings, do you prefer a trusted group of "beta readers" you only approach at certain times in the writing process? Are your early readers other writers, or is there someone else you always turn to for a key opinion — a spouse, maybe.
Let me know — I'd love to hear what works best for you!
