An effective critique group spices up what’s right about your writing. Astute readers and editors
fire the imagination and demonstrate how to serve up fresh fare. But it may be confusing to hear contradictory interpretations
of your carefully chosen words. Careful preparation will help you determine which comments will feed your creativity and which
ones are just empty calories. Here are seven strategies for getting the most out of your colleagues’ observations.
1. Taste before serving.
Read your piece out loud before you submit it to your group. Listen for words that you’ve
repeated too often and phrases that may cause readers to stumble.
2. BYOB
In many groups, a facilitator reads every manuscript. If that is the case, bring an extra copy of your Book
(story, poem)-To-Be to the meeting and make notes next to the appropriate sections.
3. Compliment the chef.
Draw plus signs on your manuscript
next to passages that listeners praise. Jot down every positive comment. It’s important to recognize your best dishes
and learn to build meals around them.
4. Take second helpings.
When you hear the same response for the second and third time, take note. Your writing
is not coming across as you intended. You may need to take it home and adjust the seasoning.
5. Pay attention to picky eaters.
Some
listeners have pet peeves, e.g. disjointed body parts, use of clichés, and overuse of adverbs. Finicky eaters will
sniff out these ingredients every time; and they will assure that your piece is free of them.
6. Keep the cook in the kitchen.
Resist
explaining why the soufflé is flat. The critique group acts as the editor who’s considering your work. Once it
hits the submission desk, the writing must speak for itself.
7. Please your own palette.
The chef gets the last word. Write what you love, in the way that you love to write
it. Critiques, like recipes, are only suggestions.
Follow these seven steps and you will feast on a smorgasbord of creativity.