I hope you don't mind me suggesting some things. I've belonged to a
writer's group for 30 years now, about half of those years very active.
I've
also been in other writer's groups that I didn't like, either because
they were too 'social' (not enough real work done) or too snobby (only
'literary' counts.)
First of all, we go into these things hoping
we'll get rave reviews, even if we don't know it. Not only don't we
usually get rave reviews, normally, but they find plenty of things
wrong.
That's just natural.
After all, that's what you are there for.
So keep your expectations low. Expect criticism.
Secondly,
until you know what people in the group are like, you won't really know
how valid their criticisms are, how much are personal baggage or pet
peeves or simply wrong-headedness.
Third, people are follow the
leader in these groups. They tend to repeat what a previous person
said, which doesn't mean it's right.
Fourth, people also tend to
contradict each other, so that you can come out of a group getting
conflicting messages. So, again, you have to figure out which
criticisms is grounded, and which is either too harsh, or -- on the
other hand -- a muddling of legitimate critique.
People think they are saving your feelings, but instead, sometimes the message just gets watered down.
Fifth,
if the message doesn't get watered down, and it seems to be a
consensus, then that's what you should take away. Doesn't mean they're
right, but it's more likely.
Sixth, they could all be wrong. They could all be too easy. They could all be too harsh. It's a continuum.
Seventh, they could all be right but that doesn't mean what you've written is bad -- maybe it just needs to be changed.
Also, don't get defensive. Just inwardly take what seems right and accept it -- and reject what seems wrong.
Eighth, don't be like all "I meant it this way." That's no excuse. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
Ninth, use the group as a TOOL: take from it what you can, reject what isn't useful.
Tenth,
no matter what they say, just remind yourself that it isn't finished.
Things are often the most messy just before you get it all together.
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3 comments:
I was really getting into writing about 25 years ago and went to a southern oregon writers group. They were so harsh on my work that not only did I never go back, I was completely discouraged in further writing. So, you have to get some idea of the group members and dynamics if possible, I think, or you risk complete demoralization as I did. If nothing else, don't give the group anything of yours to critique until you feel comfortable with watching how they operate. I did write them a note some weeks later expressing that they completely forgot about the word "constructive" in their criticisms and that it was conducive to my further interest in the group. Too bad, I think both myself and the group could have benefited from each other!
Yeah, I've heard of these kinds of groups. Some people seem to like them...
Anyway, what I try to do is find three things in every reading that I think might improve it. Said in as constructive a way as possible.
The recipe is delicate -- there are those readers who can take a lot and others who can take little.
There are critics who can really dish it out, and critics who are way too nice.
Finding a balance that keeps the group both alive and at the same time useful can be really hard.
Thanks Duncan, that was really helpful. They really liked my stuff, by the way. :)
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