The join information suggested that it may take a couple of weeks for one to be placed in a group. In practice, how accurate is that claim, or in other words, how long did you personally have to wait?
And how does the initial contact with your assigned group work?
Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 1118) on :
Be patient, oh fearless one. Post to this board, continue your writing, and before you know it a group will be yours. I cannot remember how long I waited before Kathleen found a group for me, but it seemed short to me.
Posted by Nofear (Member # 1384) on :
Oh, I don't mind waiting. I was merely curious is all.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
KDW will reveal all, I am confident. There are a few variables that you should be aware of.
KDW does not, to my knowledge, actively solicit for people to fill out a group, but simply waits until there are enough writers to start a new one.
KDW tries to assemble groups so that they are oriented towards the particular goals of the members of that group, so if your goals are unusual, you may have to wait longer than ordinary.
If you apply just after a group has been formed and started running, you may well have to wait longer than usual.
I had to wait what seemed like a fairly long time, on the order of several months (I just checked this and it was only two months, but it seemed like longer).
I have recently applied to join another group myself, the only variable I've mentioned so far that seems likely to imply you could get into a group sooner rather than later.
While all this information may not help much, 'tis really all that I have to give.
[This message has been edited by Survivor (edited March 02, 2002).]
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
By the way, what is the point of the Critiquing Guidelines in Ways to Critique? Are these intended as a discussion, an administrative message to the writer's groups, a general information post, or what?
Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :
I've been in a few groups----I think the guides are there to give the person new to crits something to go by when they start out. A look for these things---
If someone says--I like longer sentences---I may be inclined to think well, good for you. I ike them this way. But if someone says---the pace is choppy, I think it might read more smoothly wiht longer sentences---
Ok that makes sense. SO the guide is there to give people an idea of what to lok for in a crit---
IMHO
Shawn
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Survivor is right about my practices, though they do change as I learn more about what I'm doing. For example, I am finding myself actively soliciting people to fill out groups more often--many groups that I start lose members when people realize that they are unable to participate after all.
I have had a question about joining an already existing group added to the sign-up form to help me know who is willing to do that.
Shawn is right about the critiquing guidelines. I have been meaning to post them here on the forum for quite a while because people ask for such guidelines often enough that there seems to be a need for them.
If you already know what you are looking for when you give feedback on a story, you don't need them, but some people like to have some help in that direction. I hope they do help, not only with feedback, but perhaps with self-editing as well.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
What are the writers' groups like? Are there some kind of assignments given, or are the writers working on their own ideas?
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 1369) on :
I ask, by the way, because after a couple years of telling myself I would never write _Dominion_--because I wasn't good enough to do it; because it would offend people; because I'd never get the story to work--the plot has suddenly started to simply fall together in my head, and I think I'm going to have to at least try or go crazy.
Must be the incubation thing.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
I'll tell you what I tell everyone who signs up for a writers group without having written anything:
The purpose of the Hatrack Writers Groups is to provide a workshop experience to writers who have completed stories, or articles, or poems--so that they can receive and give feedback on the material the group members have written.
Those who would like help in getting started writing, or in finishing stories that they have not been able to complete so far, are welcome to participate in the Writing Class and here in the Open Discussions about Writing areas of the Writers Forum.
There are "assignments" in the Writing Class forum (back in February 2000, so you'll have to ask the website to show you all of the topics) that you may find helpful in getting a story started.
You are also welcome to ask me questions in email and I will see what I can do to help you and advise you.
Then, when you have some material ready for feedback, feel free to let me know and I will see about a group for you.