Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Tiny Cars & Critique Groups

It's good to be home, but I had a wonderful visit with family. My 2 year old nephew is such a sweet child. He didn't want to give me a hug or a kiss when I was getting ready to leave, instead he kept saying no. My sister-in-law says he thinks if he doesn't say goodbye to you, you can't leave. Anyway, he was laying on the floor where we'd been playing cars and I kept trying for a hug. Finally he said something instead of "no". He said "sad". Talk about breaking my heart. I told him I was sad too but that I'd see him again soon. I not only got a hug and a kiss, but also a Matchbox Rolls Royce to keep me company on the plane ride home (with an explanation about how the doors opened and where the babyseat would go). I adore that child.

Anyway, work beckons. I'm writing an article on critique groups and I'd love your feedback. Here are a few questions: (If you don't want to answer these publicly, email me with the answers at kristen @ romancedivas.com - minus the spaces. Let me know if you do/don't want to be quoted. This is for the RWR.)

1. Are you published or unpublished?
2. Did getting published change your critique group needs? If so, how?
3. Have you ever left a critique group? Why? How did you know it was time to leave?
4. What's the right number of members in a critique group for you? Is that how many your current group contains?
5. How many members of your group are published?
6. How did you form the group you're in?
7. If you don't have a critique group, why not?
8. If you only have a singular critique partner, why is that your choice?
9. Things you love about your critique group.
10. Things you'd like to change about your critique group.
11. Is your group online, do you meet in real life, or both?
12. How many critique groups, partners, etc. have you been through?

Thanks!!!

3 comments:

  1. Hey Kristen, I'm going to answer your questions via email, mkay?

    ReplyDelete
  2. PS: Your nephew sounds adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. Are you published or unpublished?
    Unpublished
    2. Did getting published change your critique group needs? If so, how? N/A
    3. Have you ever left a critique group? Why? How did you know it was time to leave? Nope
    4. What's the right number of members in a critique group for you? Is that how many your current group contains?
    I don't know. I think I like maybe three or four. Not too many. Too much input is overwhelming for me.

    5. How many members of your group are published?
    All of them but me. *sniff*
    6. How did you form the group you're in?
    Mostly by accident. I met them through RD and we IM'd a few times. We don't really call ourselves a "group" but they're the ones I brainstorm with the most. I don't use the RD Crit group yet.
    7. If you don't have a critique group, why not?
    I think it's a size thing. I don't want fifty people giving input or only a select few. I like the whole small group thing or like in Diva Contest.
    8. If you only have a singular critique partner, why is that your choice?
    I really don't. I have several people I use. But a single cp will learn how not to spare feelings.
    9. Things you love about your critique group.
    They tell the truth.
    10. Things you'd like to change about your critique group.
    More time together. We're all so darn busy.
    11. Is your group online, do you meet in real life, or both?
    I haven't met any of the people who read my stuff and critique it. Isn't that funny?

    12. How many critique groups, partners, etc. have you been through?
    I still have them all.

    ReplyDelete