posted
Is there any good way to find a local critique group? Is taking a creative writing class at a community college the best way of finding other aspiring writers?
I haven't found much on a google search yet (I'm in Dallas). I've found a few organized, large groups that don't meet or critique very often. What I think would be most beneficial would be a smaller group where everyone's stories get read and critiqued on a regular, weekly basis if possible.
posted
Well, fancy that. I'm in Dallas too. I googled writing groups here a few months ago and found a couple in bookstores, but haven't tried any of them, so I don't know what they're like. Here's what I turned up:
The link for Half Price Books was broken, but I took a look on their website and found those events at the Northwest Highway store. Didn't even think to look there! Do you know anything about that Writer's Block group?
I might try that out while I wait for the next community college class to start up. Thanks!
posted
No, unfortunately, though I'll be interested to find out, if you do get the chance to go. I don't have a car, so transportation's a bit of an issue for me here.
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posted
I belong to a workshop group that actually is more of a dedicated readers' cell. It's entirely one-on-one and all comments, insights, advices, sources, manuscripts, and critiques are exchanged through email.
I've got five regular and six occasional participants in my cell, which spans the globe. Each of the other members have their own distinct cells and never the twain shall meet.
We cross genres and modes. The two things we share in common are our passion for writing and the manner in which we exchange ideas. Some of us have no other possible outlets, health, finances, remote locations, whatever, we've made our own way with what we have.
posted
There is one at my local library that does a formal 45 min presentation/discussion on some set topic, followed by a break, then 45 mins of critique on anyone's work who submitted copies at the previous meeting. They meet every 2 weeks but at a time of day on Saturdays that just doesn't work for me.
Instead I attend a regular group at a chain bookstore. It works for me. I like the people in the group, several have practical experience in things like writing ad copy and writing financial briefs, one has self-published poetry, there's an oral storyteller who does storytelling workshops at local libraries and schools, a retired nuclear physicist, a lawyer, a software geek. It's pretty cool, now that I think of all the range of experience in the group.
Our bookstore group is more of a writer's support group, less emphasis on the critiquing, but I have found everyone to be very helpful when I have emailed and asked for critiques of stories of mine, and occasionally we do 20-line critique circles.
If you write in the christian lit genre at all, there is supposedly a strong christian lit writers group community, at least in my area.
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