Exciting Week!

Wow! What an exciting week. I worked and prayed through hitting the "Wall."

You probably know the place I'm talking about. For me, it was knowing that something different needed to happen with my chapter, but not knowing what. Then I met with my critique group, and together, we worked through it. I've been writing all day today and am very excited about moving forward once again. It feels just right.

Do you have a critique group?

I can't overstress the benefits of belonging to a good critique group. By "good," I mean one where you are not only encouraged to write on a regular basis, but each member actually presents fresh work every meeting. It's important that each member contribute their individual expertise as well. Some members are good at catching grammar errors, others are good at spotting inconsistencies, and still others are gifted at helping with a "fix."

How big should a critique group be?

Mine is limited to five members and we meet twice a month. That really keeps us on the ball and allows plenty of time to review everyone's work. It's amazing how close you grow as a unit when you work like this. When one member rejoices, we all rejoice. When one member hits bottom, we all pitch in to cheer them up.

Don't know of any critique groups?

Why not start your own? That's what I did. The first time was over fifteen years ago when I only knew one other writer. He and I were the only members for several months. Then our group grew to be so big, we had to split in several units. It's easy to get on the phone and start calling your writing friends. But it's a good thing to pray first. A good critique group will be one of your greatest treasures!

Enjoy the Son!