Writing Advice Group
January 05 2022
If you’d like to improve your writing by working with other talented writers, please join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at La Madeleine’s restaurant in Katy near I-10 and Grand Parkway. We meet at 6:30 PM. More information here. There is a $1 voluntary donation. Since the restaurant donates the space, we also ask you to buy something from them. A cup of coffee is fine.
We believe that writing critiques should be honest and helpful, not sugar-coated. To do this, we’ve established a clear credo for our writing critique meetings:
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I will be honest, thorough and fair in my critiques.
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In all cases, I will be polite and respectful.
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When someone else is giving a verbal critique, I won’t interrupt. I’ll wait my turn to present my view.
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It is not my job to teach other writers how to deal with criticism. It is my desire to help them improve their writing.
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I understand writing skill and experience levels differ. I will tailor my advice and tone to the skill and experience of the writer whose work I am critiquing.
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I will endeavor to make my critiques solution-oriented. If I have a “problem with X” (character, plot, scene, etc.), I will either propose a solution to the problem or an approach to develop a solution.
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When I offer a critique, it is simply my opinion. I’ve been known to be wrong. If I have a spouse, he or she can confirm this.
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This is a writer’s group - and I am one member of that group. I will endeavor to allow everyone the opportunity to offer their opinions.
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Written critiques are only useful if they can be understood. I will make my commentary as clear as I can. At my discretion, I can provide my name and indicate if I’m willing to elaborate outside the meeting.
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There is little value in pointing out each spelling and grammar error in a verbal critique. I will indicate such errors with written comments; in the verbal critique I will provide a more summarized comment on general spelling or grammar.
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I will accept differences of opinion with grace.
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I will be concise - so that more work may be heard and critiqued.
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I will give praise where praise is due.
