Guidelines...
-Sign in sheet. Check whether or not you read the previous session. Order preference will be given to those who haven’t read the prior week.
-A writer may bring their work for critique. Please bring 5 to 10 copies so members can write comments, correct grammar and make editing suggestions. Please number your pages. Writers are encouraged to read their work out loud to catch errors that might be missed otherwise. Or copies can be passed out for work to be read silently. All copies will be returned to the writer unless otherwise arranged.
When working on a novel: Try to keep your chapters to about 10 double spaced pages. Sometimes writers have found it useful to bring in longer chapters for help on where to break up a chapter. And then bring back a re-write that can be read out loud at another meeting.
-A writer can ask a writing related topic instead or bring in book covers or illustrations instead.
-A poet may bring in 2 short poems or less. Any member may ask for a poem to be read a second time.
-Comments of work will follow. All members are encouraged to participate, but can also PASS. An author may answer a question if the question can be answered in one sentence or less. Otherwise the question should be written down and addressed in the general discussion afterwards.
-During the critiquing, the critiquing member has the floor. Critiques should not be more than five minutes.
-After the critiques are completed the author has the floor and general discussion can follow.
-In reviewing someone’s work, please consider the following:
For Fiction:
Opening, Conflict, Plot, Setting, Characterization, Dialogue, Point of View, Show vs Tell, Format, Grammar and Spelling, Style
For Poetry:
Subject, Title, Form and Structure, Rhyme, Meter, Layout and line breaks, Sound, Cliches, Internally consistent images, Appropriate vocabulary, Superfluous adjectives and adverbs, Showing or telling
For Nonfiction:
Overall structure, Logic. Problem/ conclusion, Informative, Readable, Entertaining, Illustrations, Anecdotes, Accurate facts, Visuals, Reference, Detailed examination. Grammar/spelling, Title, Interest Factor