Debut Author Interviews

Do you belong to a writing group?

• Melissa Marr on...Critique Groups
• Paula Chase on...Critique Groups
• Sarah Aronson on...Critique Groups
• A.C.E. Bauer on...Critique Groups
• Kelly Bingham on...Critique Groups
• Heather Tomlinson on...Critique Groups
• Joni Sensel on...Critique Groups
• Carrie Jones on...Critique Groups
• Greg R. Fishbone on...Critique Groups
• Stephanie Hale on...Critique Groups
• Tiffany Trent on...Critique Groups
• Eric Luper on...Critique Groups
• Jo Knowles on...Critique Groups
• Ruth McNally Barshaw on...Critique Groups

Do you belong to a writing group?

No. When I started writing short stories (3 years ago), I tried a couple online groups. It wasn’t really a good fit for me. I joined SCBWI & requested info from my local chapter on joining a crit group. Several emails later, I offered to coordinate a new group for others like me who were also waiting. Still, nothing came of it. *shrug* I figured the universe hadn’t willed it to work & my efforts were seeming futile, so I stopped looking for a group.

Ultimately, my novel was read by exactly 2 family members & 2 “objective” readers—a short story writer I met in that first online group and a former roomie—before it sold.

Do you belong to a writing group?

I never joined a writing group. Honestly, it never occurred to me until after I’d already gone it alone for a full year. By that time, I had enlisted the help of two people at my full-time job. One I called an “avid” reader and the other a “universal” reader (translation - occasional). Their perspectives were key in ensuring the book had a decent balance to appeal to both voracious readers and sometimey readers. They would read passages from the book and we’d discuss them over lunch.

Now, I belong to a very small crit circle (that’s what we call it). But we’re all so busy that we rarely have time for the actual critiquing.

Do you belong to a writing group?

For me, a writing community is essential. None of my novels were written alone. I need to talk things out and hear what others say before I am ready to submit. It is part of the process.

One of the great reasons to get your MFA is that the program helps you create community. The writers at Vermont College are smart and have improved my writing. It was a privilege and learning experience hearing what my advisors had to say. But before they ever saw anything, many dear friends—people I trust—weighed in.

Do you belong to a writing group?

I belong to a large group that has met monthly going on 20 years (though I haven’t been involved with it that long :-) ). Its participants change, month to month, although there is a core group of writers that have been involved since the group’s inception and who keep on coming. I get feedback for individual chapters and short stories there, but mostly we give each other a lot of support and share information about the business. There was a smaller critique group I worked with that eventually drifted apart after a few years. Now I have a couple of trusted readers who are able to give feedback on entire pieces. My first reader is my spouse who has a critical eye and isn’t afraid to tell me the truth.

Do you belong to a writing group?

No, but I do have some wonderful and very talented writer friends who will, when they can, read something I have that I need a fresh eye on. I find this assistance priceless. I return the favor when I can. There’s no way I could write anything without the help of my friends—they are an absolute must before anything comes close to being ready for an editor.

Do you belong to a writing group?

Yes. It’s been the single greatest factor in improving my writing. I met a couple of the other members at an SCBWI “critiquenic” several years ago, and they invited me to join their group. Now we meet every two weeks, which gives me

— a deadline to get the next chapter finished
— immediate feedback about elements that are working and those that aren’t
— a chance to vent about whatever’s currently driving me crazy in my work-in-progress
— role models for excellence in dialogue, humor, plot, conveying emotion, etc.
— a carpool posse to go to writing events
— encouragement from sympathetic peers

At first, none of us had published, except for short pieces in magazines. Now, one person has a series in the pipeline with two books already out, and SWAN MAID will be published next fall. As for the other four members, their writing is terrific. It’s just a matter of their finding the right editor!

Do you belong to a writing group?

Yes, indeed. I can’t even imagine sharing a manuscript with an editor without first having sent it past a firing squad of educated and understanding critique pals who can point out the obvious plot holes I overlook, the viewpoint from the opposite gender, the symbolism that my subconscious must have written that my conscious is unaware of, and the parts they like (generating warm fuzzies that help me keep going through tough revisions) — not to mention the typos. Then it feels bullet-proof enough to present to professionals. Thanks, any of you critique pals reading this.

Do you belong to a writing group?

I wish I were in a writing group.

I’m not.

Sarah Aronson mentioned that Vermont College provides her with a writing community, where there’s feedback and friendship. That’s so essential to me, that community, however I’m graduating January 2007.

And writing communities thrive on MySpace and LiveJournal and through forums such as the Class of 2k7’s, as well as a Vermont College forum that my classmate Chris Masselli set up. Then there’s SCWBI. Then there’s my agent and editor.

Still, it’s not quite enough.

It’s hard living in Down East Maine. It’s gorgeous and I’m lucky, but there aren’t ANY children’s writing groups nearby. Any takers? I’m willing to drive two hours…Please?

Do you belong to a writing group?

Until I read Carrie’s answer, it hadn’t really hit me how lucky I am to live in a concentrated area of critique groups.

I belong to a great group here in Massachusetts. They help me polish up a lot of the rough edges in my writing and provide a sounding board for half-baked ideas. I think an effective critique group should have the following:

* A person who excels at cutting unnecessary words, transforming awkward phrases, and turning weak passive sentences into strong active ones.
* A person who has an instinctive sense of emotional resonance, who can tell you if a character’s actions and motivations seem forced or inauthentic.
* A person with a good memory for continuity issues, who can remind you that your character who was blonde in Chapter 2 seems to have inexplicably turned into a brunette in Chapter 12.
* A person who knows the market and can let you know if a similar book has been recently published or if your book is unlikely to appeal to editors and/or readers.
* A person with a sense for dramatic structure and pacing, who can tell you if your second chapter should actually be your first chapter and whether or not the middle of the book drags too much.

You may yourself be one or more of the above people, but I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t benefit in at least one of these areas, even if it’s just for a “second opinion” on your already well-informed thoughts. Of course, your critique group will only be effective if you’ve developed the ability to listen to them and apply their comments.

Do you belong to a writing group?

Yes. I am a member of a critique group with two other women, called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Manuscripts. We are exclusively online as we all live in different states. I hooked up with Carmen & Bethany through the teenchicklit loop. We are very lucky because we really compliment each other! I was overjoyed when I found them because even though I belong to SCBWI and RWA, I don’t have any chapters close enough to me that I can be involved in them.

I can’t stress enough how important these two women have been for my writing. We have only been together since January. At that time none of us were agented or had sold……………………now all three of us are agented and two of us have sold. The only reason the third hasn’t sold yet is that her agent hasn’t started to submit yet.

If you can find compatible critique partners jump at the opportunity!

Do you belong to a writing group?

Yes and no. I’ve longed for a writers’ group, but it just has never really happened for me. What has worked for me really well, though, is exchanging crits w/ close writer friends I’ve made along the way. Thus, my communities have always been small. In my MFA, I belonged to a writing community of 2 (me and a friend) because we both secretly wrote genre fiction. We challenged each other to write a book in our first summer of grad school. She went on to win the Newbery Honor, and I am *finally* getting my first book published (though it’s not the first novel I’ve written). I’m selective about crit partners to be certain we’re aesthetically compatible, but it’s wonderful to have such an excellent small circle of fellow writers.

Do you belong to a writing group?

I was broken in to the concept of writing groups when I was in college. It was uncomfortable the first time our professor took our short stories, made copies for everyone, and then handed them out for public criticism among my classmates. Thankfully, the authors’ names had been crossed out, but there is something about having your story read in a group that makes a writer feel exposed. In fact, some of the more insecure writers were reduced to tears from the discussions (we were not seasoned enough to know how to use kid’s gloves or couch criticism in constructive comments) as the veil of anonymity lent itself to less tactful comments.

Nevertheless, this “toughening” during my college experience taught me how important critique groups are. No longer are the days when an editor will take an author under his or her wing and cultivate ability. Agents want authors who have already been published and many only serve on the business side of the fence. These days, manuscripts are accepted only if they are polished and close to being ready for publication. That being said, I think critique groups are an essential part of being an author.

I think a good critique group is a constellation or network of individuals who can help you bring your piece from being good to being publishable. Fortunately, technology helps with this.

I have two critique groups (one live and one online) as well as several spot readers who have different areas of expertise. I take my work to any or all of the above depending upon what weaknesses I perceive in the piece. If I sense an issue with dialogue, I show it to a person who is very good with dialogue. If I am having a problem with POV, I take it to my POV commando. If I need a layperson’s opinion, I have readers for that as well.

Do you belong to a writing group?

At the moment I’m not in an “official” group, but I’ve been in writing groups for several years and I would never be where I am today if it weren’t for all those wonderful and supportive people giving me feedback. I also learned a ton simply listening to other people read and hearing the pros give suggestions. It’s amazing what you can learn from just listening.

I have a great circle of writing friends to share my work with now. We don’t get together very often, but we send our work via e-mail. Right now, that process is working for me. Wait. Does this count as a writing group? I guess maybe it does.

Do you belong to a writing group?

I just joined a critique group!

I’m so excited about it. I wrote ELLIE McDOODLE without a critique group. It was a very lonely and unsure process. Two months ago a local group invited me to join, just in time for ELLIE revisions.

My editor wanted a more climactic Lost in the Woods scene. The new crit group gave me lots of new ideas to use in that scene, to build tension and make it feel scarier, and actually the editor said it became *too* scary. So she and I cut out a few elements and the scene works great now.

The critique group consists of about 7 or 8 members, all brilliant, and they bring all sorts of backgrounds - science, teaching, bookstores… It’s very valuable and I’m thrilled to be a member.