Are they beneficial and helpful, or stressful and
frustrating? Both!
Several years ago, when the idea of writing my first novel was
conceived into my soul, I joined an online writing group called
CritiqueCircle.com. I was excited to be
in a group of like-minded individuals, where most understood me. Having no other writers in my family, most
not even casual readers, I felt odd, alone and most often without a voice. Explaining something creative in a room full
of pragmatists is frustrating and fruitless; beautiful words bouncing off empty
walls.
Watching how the critique process flowed, I began to offer
my own opinions, suggestions and edits to those bravely submitted story
chapters. It didn’t take long, before I
gained the courage to submit a sample of my own work – offering it like a
sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered, mutilated, dissected, inspected, judged and
criticized. That takes a lot of courage,
because submitted work is part of the author’s imagination; part of their soul;
their interpretation of life around them, displayed in artistic form with black-lettered
font. It was brutal. It was bloody. It hurt.
If you want to see an example of courage, faith and
determination, visit an online critique group.
Because it’s filled with people who set themselves up to get knocked
down as a form of training, and choose to get back up, shake the dust off, make
adjustments, and then offer themselves up once again. The weak will cave to the pressure. The stubborn will break or leave. The determined will persevere. The arrogant will be humbled. The student will become the teacher.
The best thing that ever happened to my writing ability, was
subjecting it to criticism. I learned
from my mistakes, edits, suggestions, and critiques. I also learned to trust my
instincts and hold to my convictions. I
trained my critical mind to work in conjunction with my creative mind. Mostly, I learned that trial and error is the
best training tool.
It’s been years since I’ve been fully involved in an online
critique group, because since publication, I’ve focused on marketing; building
my writing career and moving it forward.
However, this past week I delved once again in an online group called Scribophile,
and discovered critical creative muscles were a little out of shape. It didn’t take me but a few days to get back
into the swing of things. I can’t
express how fulfilling it felt. It not only offered me an opportunity to sow
some of what I’ve learned over the past few years into budding writers, but allowed
me to feel the excitement of learning.
Being around a bunch of excited new writers, filled with hope, dreams
and expectation, is exhilarating. Much
better than being in a room full of literary elites who forgot writing started
as a dream.
For published alumni who wish to sharpen their skills, or
dreamers who want to develop them, visit an online critique group.
Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
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