I recently asked a writer friend why he wasn’t in any critique groups, and his answer surprised me. He told me he’s always been a lone wolf when it came to his writing and that he doesn’t know how to share it without the fear of a group response “killing” the momentum. (Or, I suspect,…
Tag: constructive criticism
How Contests Can Take Your Writing to the Next Level
RMFW’s annual Colorado Gold contest is fast approaching—submissions open April 1st! Have you considered entering? As someone who’s entered several contests, won a couple, lost a lot more, and judged some as well, I highly recommend the experience. Here’s why. You’re forced to perfect your opening. For most of us, the opening is the hardest part of…
Guest Post: A View from the Critique by George Seaton
Several years ago when I was attending critique a lively discussion was prompted by one of the members asking the group if we thought of ourselves as writers or authors. I was surprised by the fervor some exhibited in response to that question. The person who’d brought it up was the group’s constant devil’s advocate,…
Just Submit, Don’t Quit … by Terri Benson
I recently submitted presentations for a conference, and just heard back that mine weren’t accepted. I also submitted full reads to two editors who requested them at a conference last year. One turned me down, the other still hasn’t responded, although he acknowledged he’d gotten it. I submitted chapters on-line to a publisher and an…