Writers' Group

All writers are welcome, from beginners to experts. Contact me for more information, to register your interest, and for the day and time of the meeting.

During the first meeting, I will welcome input on what you are looking for from the group and suggestions on how you would like the group to function.

Note: The following is only for a group meeting live. 

I propose that the initial structure be similar to a very successful prototype as follows:

• We meet for three hours, once a week. Group size will be limited to 10 members.
• Members will queue up their printed manuscripts of up to 30 pages to be critiqued on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• Each member will read the manuscript next in line ahead of time, and prepare notes for their critique.
• The member being critiqued will bring snacks to be consumed during two 10-minute breaks. First break will take place after the first hour and the second break after the second hour.
• Depending on how many members are present, a volunteer moderator will keep the critique grandiloquence of each critic to 5 minutes. If there are ten members, the critiques will take 50 minutes. If there are fewer, the moderator will be somewhat lenient with the bell. The critiques must be kind, positive and encouraging. Constructive suggestions should be phrased with the author's delicate ego in mind. Furthermore, we all agree that what is shared in the group, remains in the group and that we treat all writing as fiction.
• After breakfast and bathroom break, we will spend the second hour critiquing the critiques. For the whole time during the first two hours, the author will sit silent, erect, strapped to their chair, with a blindfold to hide the tears, and duct tape over their mouth to muffle wails and outbursts. The critic being criticized during the second hour will also be required to keep their mouth shut.
• After a second 10-minute doughnut break, during the third hour, the author will collect the written critique notes, thank the critics at length for their insights, ask critics questions to clarify their critiques, and occasionally, man— or womansplain what they really meant to write.
• Before the end of the meeting, the next person in line will distribute printed copies of their manuscript to the rest of the group to allow one week of reading and preparation to critique the work at the following meeting.
• On the rare occasions that there are no manuscripts ready to critique, we will have a writing business meeting during which we can moan about the difficulties of our chosen profession.