How To Lead a Critique Group

The best part of creating your own critique group is that you can tailor it to your exact needs and desires. Are you a casual group that meets over coffee every other month? Are you a regimented group that analyzes a new chapter every week?

As critique group leader, it’s up to you to set the tone and most importantly, the expectations for how your group will run. 

Agree on the rules for how your critique group will run. 

As group leader, the other members will likely look to you to set the tone. Think about the guidelines you would like to set for the group. For example, you may require that participants:

• submit a minimum amount of manuscript notes/critique before each meeting
• attend a minimum number of group meetings
• not use generative AI in their work or critiques

All guidelines are at the discretion of you and your group members.

Whether strict or lenient, the most important part of the rules is that everyone agrees and understands what is expected of them. Set expectations early by putting these details in your SCBWI Critique Group description.

What type of critique are you really looking for?

Ideally, all critique group participants should agree on the style of critique they want to receive.

There are a few different types:

• Cheerleading: Where a reader gives only praise and positive reactions. This isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes we all need a little positive reinforcement to keep us going through the long, arduous process of creation. A cheerleader is good for letting you know what parts of the story work well and can give you a sense of a reader’s emotional journey as they travel through the story. The downside is that you don’t have a full picture of what isn’t working for the reader. 
• Line Edits: When a critiquer gives you specific feedback on a line by line basis. They may drill down to critique your specific word choices or tell you when a sentence should be cut. This can be incredibly helpful to polish your craft, or you may choose to disregard their advice. 
• Questioning: When a critiquer offers you a list of questions in the mind of the reader. This can be especially helpful for longer novels when you want to understand how the reader is processing the information you’ve fed them. Some questions (“Why did Sally react that way?”) might indicate that something isn’t working and you need to feed more information to your readers. Other questions (“What will Sally do when she realizes the truth?”) may let you know that your reader is engaged and asking the right questions. 

Critique Philosophy

When giving critiques, it is often best practice to keep in mind what the author is trying to achieve rather than what you would write if you were them. This is especially important when dealing with genres that are different from your own. 

Each genre comes with its own set of expectations. For example, a science fiction novel may come across as “weird” or “unrealistic” to readers who prefer contemporary fiction. A quiet middle grade novel may seem “slow” or “light on plot” to someone accustomed to high concept thrillers. Try to keep these conventions in mind, and try to understand what your group partner is aiming for–this is where book comps come in handy. If you find yourself critiquing a manuscript that is in a genre you’re not familiar with, it's okay to admit that upfront. There are still plenty of topics you can help with, like dialogue and character development, which transcend genre.

What do I do if someone steals my work?

If someone intentionally steals your idea, concept, or even your title, that is a tough situation to deal with. The stealing of ideas is very hurtful, but unfortunately, an idea cannot be copyrighted. Books with similar concepts are written and published every day, but it is the way an author handles the material (their voice, style, and distinct point of view) that gives a book its essence. Most agents and editors will tell you that the way a story is told is much more important than the concept of the story itself. 

If someone steals your actual text, either partially or in full, then you do have grounds for legal action. 

Troubleshooting

Sometimes critique groups fizzle out, and that’s okay. Each group has its own life cycle, from a few months to decades of connection. If you find that your group isn’t working for you, or that you’ve already gotten the feedback you need, you can choose to leave the group or disband it completely. If you retire your critique group, you are welcome to return to the SCBWI Critique Group portal to start again. Make sure to go into the “settings” of your group and scroll to the bottom of the page to “delete” the group. This will free you up to create a new group.

In a critique scenario, where hearts and egos are on the line, it is normal for some conflict to arise between members. We trust you to moderate these disputes amongst yourselves. However, if you experience harassment in your group (including bullying, discrimination, intimidation, or stalking) please report it immediately via our SCBWI Harassment Report Form. Familiarize yourself with our full Critique Group Code of Conduct here.