I recently came across a workshop presentation I gave many, many years ago on the “Top Ten Things to Do to Sell Your First Novel.” It was interesting to see what I thought were the keys to publishing success back then: 1) Finish your book. This seems obvious, but I still encounter writers who get…
Tag: critique groups
Online Critique Groups: A Path to Better Writing, All from Your Comfy Couch
Are you frustrated with last year’s accomplishments? Feeling uneasy about your 2019 writing and publishing goals? Being an active member of a community of writers can help with your anxiety, as can regularly attending a critique group. If you’ve been reluctant to join a critique group due to lack of time, babysitter, or local availability,…
Critique Groups, Part 3: Finding Your Perfect Critters
I’ve posted before about the six types of toxic feedback, as well as five reasons to quit a group that’s not working. The good news is, when you find yourself in this position (because you inevitably will), there are countless opportunities to go forth and find new, improved crit partners. Whether you want to swap…
Critique Groups, Part 2: When It’s Time to Quit
As I discussed last month, a critique group is a wonderful thing. I owe much of my technical and professional development over the last few years—as well as countless friendships—to my crit groups. I encourage all new writers to find a group and start critiquing as soon as possible, because in my experience, a good…
Critique Groups, Part 1: Spotting Toxic Feedback
Over the course of several years (and several groups), I’ve experienced the joy that a healthy critique group can bring. It can invigorate your writing practice, inspire you to work harder, provide friends to celebrate (and commiserate) with, and help your writing skills flourish. But not all groups are created equal. Sometimes groups, or individual…