By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers search for the best ways to receive helpful feedback for their manuscripts. We all desire to develop new skills by learning from those who know the craft. Face to face meetings offer an opportunity for the writer to reach professional goals. Meeting with a select group of writers who share the same joys and challenges inspires us to continue toward our goals.

Critique partners can help us define our manuscripts.

Finding the right personality and expertise for a writer’s group is like searching for a new doctor. Not everyone is a good fit. A writer seeks those special people who have the same or advanced skills. Some writers prefer a critique group in which all the members write in the same genre.

Critique partners who meet in person develop trust and share social time.

Online critiquing helps battle the time crunch. I’ve done both and understand the advantages and —the disadvantages.

Establish a few ground rules with a potential critique group or partner so writers understand the expectations. Each member must be committed to the group and willing to give back.

Here are a few considerations:

• Will you and your partner(s) meet online or in a physical place?
• How many pages will be exchanged?
• How many writers will be in the group?
• Will the critiques be a line edit or a content edit?
• What will be the turnaround time?
• How will writers handle a critique partner who fails to submit her work on a consistent basis?

These guidelines will help ensure success for any critique groups. Merely tweak for the format that best suits the writers’ needs.

1. Determine how many writers in the group.
2. Establish a meeting place.
3. Establish manuscript format.
4. Submit 1-inch margins.
5. Use double spacing.
6. Use 12 point – Times New Roman or New Courier Font.
7. Include a header with automatic page numbering.
8. Pre-determine the length of submitted manuscript.
9. Format the manuscript to number lines.
10. Submit polished writing.
11. Bring copies of the manuscript for each participant.
12. Initiate someone other than the writer reads the work aloud.
13. Permit writers a two-minute lead-in before work is read.
14. Initiate a writer doesn’t speak during the reading.
15. Provide each writer with 15 minutes of critique time.
16. Don’t interrupt the reader.
17. Thank the person who has given the critique.
18. Don’t take suggestions personally.
19. Create ground rules for constructive criticism. Use the Oreo method. Begin with a compliment, make appropriate suggestions, close the critique with encouragement. Honesty is critical, but unkind remarks are forbidden. Harshness does not make a better writer.
20. Make specific suggestions. General comments do not help the writer.
21. Address punctuation, flow, content, and credibility.
22. Critique according to writer’s ability/level of expertise.
23. Confirm writers who don’t submit shouldn’t critique another writer’s work.
24. Enjoy the experience! This is a time to admire and respect your peers.

If a situation no longer works for a writer, she can graciously resign from her commitment. A sense of responsibility is not a reason to continue in a relationship that no longer has value.

I treasure the friendship of my critique partners. We pray and play together, which ensures our friendships are mentally and spiritually rewarding.

What tips can you offer for a successful critique group?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

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