Fortunately I have both. I’ve been a member of my writing support group for over fifteen years. We are a closely knit group of six writers who have become trusted friends. We still meet every month and still share the same excitement for writing that we did when the group was first established. At the core we’re romance writers, some published in category and some in mainstream women’s fiction. It creates a diverse dynamic. We don’t always agree – but our disagreements are thoroughly entertaining :). We also have a healthy respect for our differences. We commiserate disappointments and celebrates successes. When we’re together we talk about everything from craft, industry news to our favourite movie heroes. We started out as a critique group and over the years – as we learned our craft under the guidance of our mentor, a long established and highly successful Harlequin author – we gradually moved from critique to support.
Critique, of course, is a vital part of learning to become a better writer. I have three critique partners and belong to an online critique group – and I value each of them for the way they have enabled me to become better skilled at my craft. As I have worked through my first round of editorial revisions over the past few weeks, I did it under the supportive eye of one of my cp’s. Her feedback was invaluable and critique, I believe, can add depth an dimesion to a story. I think it’s important to remember that critiquing isn’t always a two way street. Sometimes a cp might need more help, or less. Sometimes it’s all about me 🙂 . And that’s OK too. I believe the key to a successful cp relationship is about showing trust and offering honest feedback . So, whether it’s writing groups, online groups, cp’s or the like – it’s about working with other writers … while doing something you love. And that’s a good gig, right?