As a Christian ministry, LCW
is primarily oriented to training and critiquing writers interested in the
booming Christian inspirational market. Meetings begin with prayer. All
manuscripts for critique must subscribe to general CBA guidelines, avoiding foul
language or explicit sexual material.
We ask that writers come to at
least one meeting before submitting a piece for critique. This allows you to
observe and understand the process of critiquing as well as decide whether our
group is right for you before submitting your own material for critiquing.
Manuscript Submission
Critiquing is done
through a process of peer review. Submissions may be fiction or non-fiction,
articles or chapters of a book. Bring submission printed out along with at
least ten copies for peer review and feedback at the meeting, submitting no
more than ten pages in a given month (1500 word count). The person sitting to
your left will read the submission, or first three pages if longer, aloud while
the group looks over the piece. Critiquing will begin with the person seated to
the reader’s left and continue around circle, finishing with the reader. The
manuscript submitter may not respond to peer critique, but may answer direct
questions if clarification is needed. If there are more than ten people at
the meeting or more than 2-3 submissions, it is suggested that the group break
up into smaller critique circles, dividing the material submitted for critique.
Giving and Receiving Critique
We are here to help each other
grow as writers and learn from others’ suggestions and our own mistakes. You
may not always agree with your critiquer’s opinion. Listen graciously and
without defensiveness. Develop a thick skin. Editors will concern themselves
about your self-esteem far less than your fellow writers so consider your
critique group a training ground.
At the same time, critique as
you would be critiqued, with graciousness and kindness. We suggest the
‘sandwich’ method of peer review: find something positive to say (bottom
slice); follow with your suggestions (filling); finish with another positive
statement (top slice). The bottom line is that even the most experienced writer
benefits from a fresh viewpoint, and successful authors are those who have
learned to listen to suggestion.
