May 2005

How Should We Structure Our Critique Group?

A group of us children's writers got together at a recent conference and decided to form a critique group. We agreed to meet once a month since some of us will have to drive quite a distance, but other than that we don't really have any structure and don't really know what to do next or how to set up a our meetings. We were wondering if you could give us some suggestions. Anything at all will be helpful!

I am happy to give you some suggestions; however, it's important that everyone in the group be involved in making decisions about the structure so you can address individual concerns and needs. The structure of your sessions will depend on how many members you have, their experience, and whether they write novels or picture books. Since you will be meeting only once a month and some of your members are driving quite a distance, I suggest that you set up a private Yahoo group for your members. That way you can keep in touch as a group and begin planning your structure without anyone having to drive to a meeting. Once you establish your group online, you can begin exchanging manuscripts by email and mail. Online critique groups are much more efficient than in-person meetings. And you can still meet once a month to discuss the writing process, contests, and markets. Incorporating an online connection will give your members more options and a quicker response. For example, let's say an editor asks you to make some changes in your picture book manuscript and invites you to re-submit. You wouldn't want to wait a month to run the suggestions by your members and get their advice. You would want to have their input as soon as possible. If you establish an online critique group, you can get almost instant feedback to help you through the revision process.

At the Short Story Group web site you will find some good general guidelines for making the most of your critiquing sessions. It's a good idea for the members of your group to read the guidelines so that you will all be starting from the same page, as it were. The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Group web site also publishes Critique Guidelines that cover the variety of issues you will need to address such as how many manuscripts you can expect to cover in one session and how to submit manuscripts for critique. In addition, do a Google search for "writers critique group guidelines" for even more helpful suggestions.

Where Can I Find Children's Writers Conferences?

Writing for children has long been a dream of mine. But I don't really know where to begin or what it's all about. A friend suggested going to a writers conference. Do you think that's a good idea? Can I learn what children's writing is all about at a conference? And where can I find out about upcoming writers conferences in my area? Thank you for your help!

If you want to find out what children's writing is all about read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books by Harold Underdown. For raw beginners like yourself, attending a writers conference is an excellent way to get a "feel" for children's writing. You will have the opportunity to hear speakers who are editors, agents, or writers, and learn about the trends in children's publishing today. You will meet other writers and form friendships, which will help you as you grow and develop your writing skills. When you connect with other children's writers in your area you can join critique groups or meet-ups.

Through the Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) you can find children's writers conferences all over the world. Go to the web site and click on "Events". You will find information about their national conferences in New York and Los Angeles. Then click on "Regional Events" to find out about regional chapter conferences. The conferences are listed according to date, so you will need to search through the months listed to find the next conference in your area. Non-members are welcome at SCBWI conferences.

At Smart Writers.com, you can also find a list of upcoming conferences and locations. Shaw Guides is another good resource for writers conferences in general. Go to the web site and click on "Writers Conferences & Workshops". You can search by date or location, but since this is a listing of all conferences and workshops you will need to sift through the results to find conferences specifically for children's writers. When all else fails, do a Google search for "children's writers conference" and you will find additional listings.

Where Can I Find Publishers That Publish Bible Stories?

I teach Sunday school and wrote a Bible story for my class. The children really like it. Now I would like to see if I can get it published but don't know how to do that. Do mainstream publishers publish Bible stories? Or do you know where to find publishers that publish Bible stories?

Pay a visit to your local Christian bookstore. Spend some time looking through the children's book section and find stories that are similar to yours. Make a note of the publishers and look them up in the Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market or Christian Writers' Market to find their guidelines for submission. Be sure to read the guidelines for the many Christian children's magazines. Your story may be perfect for one of them. I sold my first children's story to a Christian children's magazine. The Christian Writers Information Network publishes links to Christian publishers' web sites. In my article, "The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript" you will find some general advice for marketing your Bible story. You might also consider entering your story in a contest. The Utmost Christian Writers web site is another good resource for markets and contests.

For more information:

Yahoo! Groups

http://groups.yahoo.com

Short Story Group - Critiquing

http://www.shortstorygroup.com/critique.htm

RMFW Critique Guidelines

http://www.rmfw.org/rmfw_critique_guidelines.htm

SCBWI Events

http://www.scbwi.org/events.htm

Smart Writers Conferences and Events

http://www.smartwriters.com/index.2ts?page=calendar

Shaw Guides

http://www.shawguides.com

Christian Writers Information Network

http://www.christianwritersinfo.net /publishers.htm

The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript

http://www.writing-world.com/children/elephant.shtml

Utmost Christian Writers

http://www.utmostchristianwriters.com/utmost.htm

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