Rules & Guidelines
PURPOSE
The primary purpose of creating critique group is to build community and to help each writer grow.
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What to Expect
After you fill out the Critique Group Connections Form, you will be matched with
other writers from the Guild. Once your group has been created, you take complete
ownership of it. Together, you will decide how often you meet and how many words you
want to exchange at a time. Each group will max out at 4 members, your group is
considered closed after that. If there are only 2 members in your group, more writers
can arrive at any time.
Each year, we will do a Critique Group Shake-Up. This is totally voluntary. If your
group wants to remain as is, that’s great. But if you are interested in meeting other
people, learning from other writers, or maybe you’ve changed genres, you can add your
name back into the mix and be assigned to a new critique group.
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Critique Guidelines
1. Critiques will be specific, constructive, honest, and objective. In other
words, the person providing the critique will not allow personal bias to
interfere with the critique. Subject matter is not an appropriate issue for
critique. Genre is not an appropriate issue for critique.
2. Focus on higher-order concerns before lower-order concerns. Higher-
order concerns relate to plot, structure, setting, characterization, point of
view, pacing, transitions, dialogue, conflict, and sensory detail. Lower-
order concerns relate to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word
choice.
3. Use polite phrasing: If you “found this part boring,” it might be nicer to
say “I found this part a bit slow,” or “this part pulled me out of the
story…” and then explain why.
4. Never criticize the writer: Discuss the manuscript, not the writer. If you
“found this part boring,” never tell the writer “you write boring
manuscripts.”
5. Acknowledge what you do or don't agree with in relation to other
critiques. Don't repeat anothers critique except to "ditto" or expand or
disagree. The writer needs this feedback.
6. Don’t take ownership: The writer makes the ultimate decision on
whether to accept or reject any criticism. Even if you feel certain a
change needs to be made, do not push the writer.
7. Don’t rewrite in your own voice: Suggesting word choices or rephrasing
to clarify unclear sections can often be helpful, but do not rewrite
paragraphs, entire stanzas, or pages in your own voice.
8. Be specific: If you “found this part boring,” explain why you found it
boring. Don’t just say you found it boring.
9. Use the sandwich method: start with something you liked, then provide
constructive criticism, then end with something you liked.
Be nice and show respect: Even if you hate a piece of writing, the writer
has invested time and effort on the manuscript. Phrase your criticism in
a way that wouldn’t offend you if it were your writing.
10. Use “I” statements: It’s better to say “I found this part boring” not
“This part was boring.”
11. Offer suggestions: If you “found this part boring,” offer ways to make it
not boring.
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Keep in Mind
1. No draft is perfect: While you may feel strongly about a first, second, or tenth draft, it likely needs improvement. While the number of changes you make hopefully shrinks with each revision, don’t stress if the critique returns with lots of red markings.
2. Don’t take it personally: Criticism of your work is not a criticism of you as a person. While you have put a lot of effort into the manuscript, try to maintain a separation between you and your writing.
3. Refrain from getting defensive in the moment. You don’t need to defend your writing. Nobody is attacking it. Let it go if you don’t agree with someone’s critique.
4. Everyone has an opinion: You might think it’s perfect, others think it’s too long, and still others think it’s too short. Learn to classify voices offering criticism so you can decide which trumps which.
5. Don’t abuse your power: While the ultimate decision of what goes into your manuscript is yours, don’t dismiss criticism that is harsh or might be difficult to implement. Sometimes following the hardest advice can be most worth it.
6. Listen: Don’t just hear, listen – especially if it’s something you don’t like. Often the most useful suggestions are the ones you find distasteful at first. Try others’ ideas out. Be open-minded and challenge your assumptions. The more you listen, rewrite, and see improvements in your work, the easier it will become to accept criticism in the future.
7. Wait: After hearing criticism, let it sit for a day or a week before going back and revising or thinking about changes. You should only make changes in your manuscript based on what rings truest to you.
8. Remember that ultimately, ownership is yours: Listen to what people think doesn’t work for your story, and then figure out how you want to fix it.
9. Thank the members for their critiques. They have spent valuable time helping you improve your work.
