Private Crit Groups


Ok everyone I was just wondering what you all think of starting up private crit groups in this forum.

For those of you who don't know what they are here are a few basics and I hope it helps you understand what a privat crit group is.

Well a crit group is a group of several writers ranging from 2 to maybe ten.
Once a week each member of the group will enter a chapter and in return will crit two chapters of other members work.
So in a group of eight or so it would be fair to assume each week every member would get at least a chapter critted.
then after that the members are able to edit there work and resubmit it if they wish for fine tuning.
The rules would generally suggest that all members must be activly criting and submitting. People who wouldn't follow those rules should be rejected from the group so not to slow down the flow.
They should also crit properly not with comments such as "this is good" or "great work." the chapter should be critted in a edit type method.
Crit groups will be put into categories, depending on the interest, it is not just designed for stories, it will be for all forms of writing.

I am after everyone's opinion on this.
If I get enough responses and support with this I am aiming to have it up and running soon.

I think it's a good idea, ariella. The only problem I have is that it's difficult sometimes to meet commitments over the long-term because of work. If I was to join a private group such as you suggest, there might be periods when I couldn't participate for a couple of weeks. How does that fit in with your idea? I'm guessing that most people would have the same problem once in a while, too.

Cheers,
Rob

Good question, everyone has their times when they are unavailable so all that has to be done there is for you to notify whoever is in charge of the crit group you have joined so that your position in the crit group won't be filled with another member.

Ariella,

I am still interested. But I'd be useless in a fiction group. I'd be interested in poetry only. :) Great idea. Look forward to it all starting. If there is any way I can help, please let me know.

I am all for it
Place me in the romance, fantasy or poetry group please
hahaha
cant wait to try out your idea ariella

i am online most of the time So I will try to be active

I am defiantely for this venture. :)




~Raven.

I think its a good idea as well! I think that you have to also make sure to sets some clear rules and guidelines so people arent left feeling cheated if one of the other members doesnt do their part.

Crits are what make us better writers..great idea :)

Thanks everyone for showing interest. If all goes well I am hoping to get it set up in January.

Will keep you all updated.

Ari

Got my vote...

Thanks Ferret. It's appreciated. :):):):)

I'm interested as well. Please count me in for fiction critiquing. :)

Thanks Willow, hope to get it underway very soon.

I like the idea. It'd help generate some constructive feedback for writers.

I'm just not sure how to run it. My fear is that too many people will want in.

yeah a good system should be formed in order to avoid traffic

Seems like that would be the man probelm....
You'd have to have more than one group going at once...(duh)...perhaps by genre or like a "clan"- kind-of system

Yes well I am pretty certain we will start off with 1 crit group and each time a crit group is filled we will start another crit group so that there should always be enough room for everyone to join a group and get their work critted.

There are a few rules and guidelines that must be followed in order to join.

I can see one immediate probelm with that...
some one joins a group and A) nevers posts in it and B) stops posting all together....
After all there are plenty of people here and around the internet that post once, then the martians get'em... thats the only probem I can see at the moment...

That is where they are sent a pm and very politely told that if they cannot be an active member of the crit groups then they will be removed from that crit group and a new opening will be placed in that crit group for another member to join.

Either that or flatly post it in the actual post...application page? Where ever...

It will be posted in the crit rules, but as you have said some poeple may join and do that anyway without giving good reason so in those circumstances they will be pm'd

Sounds like a good scheme, and there's plenty of consideration as to how such a group could be run. No reason why the rules can't be tweaked and evolve with the group.

Cheers,
Rob

I guess this would make a good idea.
But you need to get it very organised.

Thanks Princes.

What great practice this would be! Peer review combined with scrutinizing the work of others could improve our writing ability tremendously. I'd like to participate, please.

This is also on the way. I just need to set it up. ;)

Lpspider, thank you!

And also thank you ariella ... this is the sort of thing I was looking for on www.writing.com but they failed to provide it properly.

I wish to be counted into any of the groups that will form (because I guarantee there'll be a few straight away). :D

bluemouth, I will let you know as soon as they are ready.

Thankyou LpSpider, it is most appreciated.

The whole forum should work on those principles. I don't see the need in the group because of that. People should return favours anyway, or critique out of good will.

A resounding yes to this idea - I feel terrible if I see a zero reply thread, at the same time it's very tough to keep pace and give a detailed crit. for all of them, especially as my interest is in the novel section.

Well shouldn't be too much longer now before the crit groups will be started up.

There will be som strict rules put in place and I do hope no one sees them as too harsd, if so please inform me straight away.

Thankyou

Ariella :):)