Interested in dropping in on one of our roundtable meetings? Send us a note!
FAQs
When are the roundtable meetings?
The group meets the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
How are the critiques structured?
- We begin with an ice breaker. Attendees answer a question about writing, such as, “What is your current work in progress?” Or, “How do you personally incorporate critiques into your writing?” We encourage guests to participate, and it’s a great way to introduce yourself.
- Then it’s on to business This very brief agenda item allows time to assign slots for future critique sessions, and provides members with the opportunity to mention any significant events in their writing lives that have occurred since the last meeting.
- The roundtable begins. Each member will give a verbal critique of the current work under review. This is not a discussion, but an individual commentary, and the author does not answer questions or respond during this part of the meeting. The amount of exclusive time allotted to each member varies depending on the number of members in attendance. Critiques are usually limited to about five to six minutes.
- We take a short break at 2:30 p.m.
- We reserve the last 15 minutes or so for an open “free-for-all” discussion in which the author can participate.
What are the expectations for a participant’s feedback?
Before every roundtable meeting, each participant reads the submission and prepares verbal comments for the writer. Critiquers also typically prepare written feedback to email to the writer shortly after the roundtable. This written feedback runs the gamut from developmental thoughts about plot and character development to line edits. The specific craft elements discussed will vary depending on the critiquer’s taste and the writer’s requested feedback.
This is great! How long until I can get on the submission calendar?
When it comes to submitting material, we ask that new members attend at least five roundtable sessions before getting on the schedule. This gives new members a chance to see if the group is the right fit for them. Once you’ve attended five meetings, you’ll also have the option to skip the line on the submission calendar if it’s full. That said, new members are welcome to submit a short “probe” right away—up to five pages in our standard format.
But…I’m not writing a novel. I’m writing something else. Can I still join?
For now, our group is limited to writers tackling large fiction projects.