How To Spot A Good Critique Group

If there is a voice in your head telling you that you do not need a critique group, then silence it.

“Writers are often the worst judges of what they have written.” -Stephen King

Either they will miss problem areas entirely or judge a piece too harshly.

One of the simplest ways to discover originality is through collaboration. A good critique group can help weed out cliches, spot similarities, and help develop a story outside of your sources.

Lastly, critique groups can help you grow. Face the criticism before publication and avoid pain later.

Not all critique groups are created equally.

Here is how to spot a good critique group:

1. They are diverse. If you find yourself in a group where everyone has the same taste you will get one-sided critiques. Imagine being the odd one in a group of similar tastes! You will be picked apart for no good reason. Diversity can help create balance.
2. They are your friends. This does not happen at first, it takes time, but it does mean you need to stick with a group for the long run. This could be a blog topic by itself.
   1. Friends understand you, love you, and they want you to succeed. There is no place for competition in a critique group.
   2. Honest friends are better judges of your work than strangers because strangers are often too focused on formulas, styles, and can get caught up in their agendas. This is my biggest pet peeve with online critique groups. Avoid online critique groups at all costs.
   3. Fresh eyes are not always best. You need people familiar with past chapters, characters, etc.
   4. They need to spend time reading longer works outside of group time. Critique groups won’t catch bigger picture problems like pacing and plot, you need dedicated readers for that.
3. They read out loud. Reading out loud will help you “hear” the language, tone, and problems that you miss reading silently.
4. They are disciplined. They stay on task, bring work in regularly, and attend even when they have nothing to share but their critiques.
5. Individuals that like to dominate the conversation should be at a ratio of 1 to 5. That sounds oddly specific, but it seems to take four people to keep one person from “over-critiquing.”
6. They are open to disagreements.
7. They offer emotional support. Some people attend critiques for validation. It is important to know before a critique if your peer is looking for validation so you can respond appropriately.
8. They limit the time for each critique. This is important because some critiques or individuals can monopolize the time making an unsatisfying experience for everyone.
9. They encourage several positive messages for every negative one. I think it is best if people are encouraged to regularly give two positives before every negative. I understand this is hard because you are looking for ways to help them improve, not stroke their ego. Positive comments are not helpful, right? However, some people just want validation (point 7) and everyone needs to leave feeling motivated, not discouraged.
10. Despite point 9, your critique group should challenge you. If you are getting nothing but praise, then you may need to find a new group.
11. They have thick skins. The most useful critiques I have ever received were also the hardest to hear. In high school, I was an active poet and I regularly received praise from my peers and teachers. Until an AP English teacher called me over to her desk to say, “Your poems are very pretty, but they mean absolutely nothing. Why are you even breaking lines? There is no purpose.” She was criticizing free verse, really, but from then on I added meaning, function, intent, and structure to my mental checklist when I wrote a poem. Over time it made me better.
12. They share industry knowledge, relate events or opportunities around town, and celebrate victories.
13. You are just as important to your critique group as everyone else.
    1. When you are receiving a critique, treat your peers like they are better than you. Their feelings are valid. You will never find a critique group that you have nothing to learn from. No kidding, it won’t happen.
    2. When you are giving a critique, treat your peers like you want them to improve and succeed. The stronger your critique group is, the better you will become. No revenge, no competition, no discouragement.

I hope you find a critique group that works for you!