Writing Group Tip #2: Accepting Criticism Gracefully
When a roomful of writers comes together to share their work in an open forum, an undercurrent of anxiety often courses through the group. The process reminds me of the way I felt in ballet class as an eight-year-old. Asked to line up on one side of the room, we watched as one student at [...]
Writing Group Tip #1: Why You Should Never, Ever Apologize for Your Work
Here’s the scenario. Today is your day to be critiqued by your writing group. One by one, your peers provide you with thoughtful feedback, analyzing the ins and outs of your work. Everyone is tuned in to your writing, catching things you missed–okay, let’s say a lot of things. Still, all in all, it’s a good [...]
Don’t Let ‘Em Get You Down: Tips for Surviving Writing Groups
Recently, I wrote a piece on writing groups for Inside the Pod, and it got me thinking about how we can sometimes be our worst enemies when it comes to both giving and receiving critical advice. Since I’ve been fortunate enough to belong to quite a few writing groups–academic and “real world,” professional and just-for-fun, [...]
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