Critique Group Pitfalls

​The journey from an idea to a complete manuscript is often a long process, and having a critique group or partner can be helpful in many ways. It’s even longer if your goal is to have the manuscript published. If getting published is compared to climbing Mount Everest, then a critique group is base camp.

The standard advice is: don’t submit until your manuscript is polished because it requires less editorial work by a publishing professional. Agents and editors are extremely busy, and it’s the writer’s job to get the manuscript in good shape. This is more challenging than it might seem because every writer has blind spots. Since you wrote it, you know what you’re trying to say. When someone else reads it, they bring fresh eyes to point out inconsistent or confusing parts.

Here are some common pitfalls that can arise with critique groups. If any of these happens in your group, try to address the issue so you can get back on track. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to move on and find a new critique group.
 
#1 The feedback you get is too vague.

Saying “I don’t like it,” or, conversely, “I love it,” may give a candid opinion, but without specific details, this is only an opinion, not feedback. While frank, direct opinions are vital, even well-established writers need feedback. A writer has no idea what changes would make the story better from a general response which is emotional. A critique should give at least a starting place for a writer to improve the story, or else it’s not helpful. Draw members out by asking what and when triggered their response.
 
#2 Members’ category and genre preferences don’t match.

When writers join groups to hone their craft with the goal of becoming published authors, the guidance they get from the group should be targeted to the genre or type of book they’re working on. Not everyone in the group needs to be writing the same type of project, but all members should have read widely in that area outside the group and understand publishing norms for the specific genre or category of book a member writes or else their feedback may not be applicable. To find out, start by asking members to share what books they’re reading and what types of stories they love.
 
#3 Nothing seems to be going right in your work.

Every writer has strengths, and members of a group should like your writing and be able to give feedback about what is good about your story so you can keep doing it and add more. Some critique partners tear down a colleague’s work in a way that feels unproductive or even insulting. The feedback should be constructive and conveyed in a supportive way. If all you ever hear is that they don’t like your story and what’s wrong with it, it can feel like they’re tearing you down rather than supporting you as you improve your craft. Consider asking for a final round during which each member shares something positive about your work.
 
#4 Your group gives only positive feedback.

Everyone needs a cheer squad. But, while encouragement is important, when you hear “it’s good” or “you’re ready to share this manuscript” almost exclusively, you may be getting the ready to hit the query trenches too early. Soak in the positive vibes from this group that appreciates you, but see if you can draw them out by asking them to ask you questions about your story.
 
#5 Your group has lost focus.

Most groups involve a social component. After all, you’re friends or colleagues with common goals, and some personal sharing strengthens bonds in preparation for feedback. But, if you’re talking more about your kids, family, or health, the critique group may have crossed the line from being about writing to being a mostly social event. Try to reset with reminders and goals to get back on track.
 
#6 You’re giving more than you’re receiving.

If the work that you’re doing takes up so much time that you don’t have enough time to write, your critique group might be too big. Or, if you’re concentrating so much on your response to other writers that it’s cutting too significantly into your writing  time, the balance gets tilted so that you’re giving more than you’re receiving. It’s important to be generous with critique partners, but it shouldn’t be another excuse for not getting your own work done. Get your work on the schedule to be reviewed by the group, and keep your own deadline even if it means slowing down a bit for others.
 
#7 One member overwhelms others.

Every group has its own dynamics. Sometimes, one member seems to steer the group more than others. This can be someone who has already been successful as a writer,  someone with an overly outgoing personality, or sometimes just someone with strong opinions or who interrupts continually. For whatever reason, there needs to be space for each member to contribute and feel valued. Try thanking the one member for their opinion and asking others to chime in.
 
#8 Your critique group contradicts professional advice.

Joining a critique group is an early step in adding to a writer’s team. This team expands when a writer starts working with an agent, editor, and publisher. While the critique group may have given advice on querying, the critique group transitions back to just editorial advice and cheerleading. The advice from agents and editors takes into account both the specific writer’s career and the publishing industry in a way that a critique group can’t. They know the market in a way that critique groups don’t so it’s not productive for your critique group to contradict the guidance you’re getting from your professional team. If this starts happening, thank them for their support and reiterate that you need to follow the advice you’ve gotten from your professional team.
 
Critique groups provide invaluable insight for writers working on their manuscripts and emotional support when navigating the publishing world. From brainstorming ideas to find a fresh story idea to reviewing a manuscript one last time before submitting, critique group members are the support that surrounds a writer through challenges and successes. You hold each other accountable, and you encourage the artistic vision each member has for their own work. For a group to work well, it should be greater than the sum of its parts. The different perspectives and experiences that each member brings with them to share with the group makes everyone’s writing better. 

by Jennie Dunham