Guidelines

Ursula Le Guin on the difficulties of being critiqued:

The rule of silence seems arbitrary. It isn’t. It’s an essential element of the process. It’s almost impossible for an author whose work is being criticized not to be on the defensive, eager to explain, answer, point out — “Oh, but see, what I meant was…” “Oh, I was going to do that in the next draft… ” If you can’t do this, you won’t waste time (yours and theirs) trying to do it. Instead, you will listen. You won’t be busy mentally preparing what you’re going to say in answer, because you can’t answer. All you can do is hear. You can hear what people got from your piece, what they think needs some work, what they misunderstood and understood, disliked and liked about it. And that’s what you’re there for.

These are the Guidelines (a la Ursula Le Guin) for the monthly ECWG meetings:

Meeting framework:

• First 15 minutes for general discussion
• Remainder of time divided up by the number of people who have something to read + 1 (if possible, to allow for at least one late arrival with something to read)
• A timer will be used to manage the time for reading AND critiquing
• Options if the number of readers is large:
  • All read in allotted time, no discussion following each reading, listeners take notes and hand to reader at the end of the meeting
  • Priority given to regular attendees who have not read before (or recently), regular attendees/readers, new attendees
  • Choice of readers made by consensus (may be based on continuing previous heard material, new readers first, other)
  • Divide into two groups, using small meeting room
• If possible, have another member of the group read your work aloud; a “cold reading” lets you see how well your voice comes through in the writing and how an actual reader responds to what has been written
• If absolutely necessary, preface the reading of your work with an explanation, but please refrain from comment or explanation during the reading (make notes to yourself for later correction)
• If all reading and comments complete, or not enough people with something to read, remaining time for additional general discussion or specific discussion of material that has been read
• If no readers (or only 1 or 2) then revert to writing exercises

During reading:

• Mark nitpicks, spelling, grammar, and small queries directly on copy (if provided)
• Make notes for the verbal critique; focus on larger issues, not nitpicks; those are already noted on the copy (if provided)

During critiquing:

• Try not to say anything before or during the critique
• Offer no preliminary explanations or excuses: You want the readers to respond to the work, not to you
• Make notes about what people say: Even if the comments seem stupid now, they may make sense later
• When all discussion is over, speak if you want to: Do not explain or defend anything; if you have questions about the work that were not addressed in the comments, ask them; in general, the best response is, “Thank you.”

(Condensed and quoted from Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew, by Ursula K. Le Guin pp. 151-6)