Writing Groups

Members: Your end of the bargain

• All members participate, both as critics and bring work to be workshopped
• Respect for writers and their work
• Give concrete, constructive criticism that a writer can use to revise (or not)
• Discuss the piece thoughtfully

Procedure

1. Author reads piece aloud (and is then silent until the end)
2. Members read the piece silently
3. Members write on the copies: notes to self and notes directed to author
4. Start with praise: Go around the group: what, specifically, did you like about the piece?
5. Start with general observations and discuss as a group. Pretend you are reading a published work: what does the piece seem to be about, what happens, what's the tone, what do you think is the author's intent, who is the audience.
6. Get down to specifics: characters, plots, sentences, lines, dialogue, paragraphing, word choice. What works? Why and how. What doesn't work? Why and how. Sentence starters: I noticed...I felt...I wondered...I was confused...
7. Specific constructive criticism. How would you change it to improve the piece? Sentence starter: What would happen if you changed...
8. Author speaks: can respond to what was said, ask any questions, request clarification.