Are you in a Critique Group?
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3/29/14
UNFORTUNATELY OUR CRITIQUE GROUPS HAVE
CLOSED FOR THIS YEAR DUE TO AN
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE!
We have 72 people in 9 critique groups on Facebook.
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We can no longer facilitate critique groups. If you are still in need of a group…
Go to the tab above that says “Need A Critique Group?”
You will be able to connect, on your own, with others there
who are looking for a critique group.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a reminder…
This is the RhyPiBoMo Pledge that you have agreed to
as a participant of the event. Please notice #5.
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#5 on the Pledge is: To write and/or revise a rhyming picture book and submit it to be critiqued by a rhyming critique group or a rhyming editor by the end of April.
Here are some tips for critiquing someone’s manuscript…
When doing a critique… Don’t be afraid to comment if you read a line and it just doesn’t flow or scan. Even if you don’t know how to fix it or what the writer should do, let them know that that line was sticky and needs some more work.
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You don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, you don’t have to have any of the answers on how to fix it. We just need to be a sounding board and a safe place for writers to test their work. You will know if something feels off or doesn’t read smoothly or if something doesn’t seem oriented for kids…The author needs to hear this.
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What is NOT helpful to an author:
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“I love, love, love this rhyming picture book so much and I can’t wait until you get it published so I can read it to my grandchildren!” *
“Everything is perfect and there isn’t anything I would change.” *
“All your ending words rhyme so I guess this is a good rhyming picture book.” *
“Your characters are glowing with joy and exuberance for life and I wish I’d have written this book.” *
‘Good” “Bad” “Good” “Bad” Very Good” Very Bad” *
“I really liked your story. You are such a good writer that I can’t find anything wrong anywhere.”
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These are all very nice comments but what the writer needs to hear and why you are in a critique group is to hear what is working, but mostly what isn’t working.
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What IS helpful to an author: *
“I loved your hook! It really grabbed me but the rhyme scheme in the first stanza is a little off.” *
“I think your choice of rhyming words is great in the first half of the manuscript but they seem to be less effective as you go down the page.” *
“Maybe try a few 2 syllable words to add some jazz to it.” *
“I think your rhyme and rhythm is very good but you lost me when you said that they started giggling. That didn’t seem to go with the rest of your story about burying your dead goldfish.” *
Be specific! Be direct yet kind! Be honest! But most importantly, be dedicated to your group. If you can’t turn your manuscript in on time, please let the group know ASAP and when they can expect it. *
If you can’t keep up, please drop out and ask to re-join when life slows down. We completely understand that life, family and even our day jobs must come first. This is only fair to your group and will free up a spot for someone else. *
Courtesy of Wayne E. Pollard 2013 (C)
May you write brilliant rhyme and singing poetry and if you don’t…may someone in your new critique group catch it and let you know before you send it off to an editor! And…don’t change critique groups!
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~Angie
Angie Karcher 
Angie, I would love to join a critique group, but must admit that all of my rhyme attempts thus far, frighten me and make my dog laugh.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
I would love to join a critique group, but must admit that I am a novice to rhyme. I love reading it, but haven’t mastered the craft.
Angie, Is it possible to view the comments at your site without participating? I’m involved with several projects right now and feel i would not do justice to another critique group;however, as a novice rhymer, I’d love to hear what others have to say. Either way, i understand..
Everyone will be able to see the daily comments on the blog posts but not for critique groups. Those are closed groups on Facebook, only open to the members. I see what you mean about learning from the comments but I don’t think most writers would be comfortable sharing their work and having it critiqued for all to see. Sometimes it’s hard enough to submit to 7 people you don’t know. I appreciate your support and hope you stop by and visit here often! = )
Great post Angie – the giggling comment made me, well, giggle. You made many fantastic points about truly helping each other grow as writers. Looking forward to a fabulous month of RhyPiBoMo!
Hi Angie, I am not on FB and dont really want to sign up at this point. Is there a way to join a group by email? Or participate somehow with a friend who is on FB and already assigned a group? Thanks, Natasha
From: Angie Karcher Reply-To: Angie Karcher Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 05:30:07 +0000 To: Subject: [New post] Its Tuesday5 days to go and counting!
angiekarcher posted: “Are you in a Critique Group? * * Just a reminder… This is the RhyPiBoMo Pledge that you have agreed to as a participant of the event. Please notice #5. * #5 on the Pledge is to: Write and/or revise a rhyming picture book a”
Angie,
I have contacted Dawn and she mentioned one other non-facebook critique participant. Could this be the “Natasha” that posted here? If so, any way we could communicate to help each other out?
Thanks.
Margaret
Hi!
I’m not sure, it may be her…I added a tab at the top of the page that says “Need a Critique Group”. Click that, read all the information and then you can add your name and email address to the comments on that page to hopefully find a critique group or critique partner. Good Luck and Happy Rhyming!
Hi Natasha, I completely understand. Facebook groups are the easiest way for us to organize on our end. Contact Dawn Young and I’ll ask her to start a list of people who prefer to form a critique group outside of Facebook. Once she has at least one other person, she can connect you and then the two of you can decide how you want to proceed…I’ll explain this to Dawn but contact her ASAP. Thx for participating! = )
Sorry Natasha, here is her email…Dawnyoung7@cox.net
I added my name but I don’t know if I’m in a group yet.
Robyn, Dawn Young will add you to a group if you let her know you are interested. Contact her if you don’t see your new critique group listed under your groups. You will need to request to join and she will add you then. Contact Dawn on Facebook with questions. Thx!
Yes. But I’m the only member consistently trying to rhyme. BTW, I think I’m getting the hang of how to comment:)
I’ve already written mine and submitted it to my critique group. Here’s hoping they like it! I have some lines that I know will need work though.