Novel Ideas by SAE-Author Services
Lowcountry
Writers Workshop and South Carolina Writers Workshop
Lowcountry Writers Workshop [LWW] circa 2002 & South Carolina
Writers Workshop – [SCWW] Meeting Guidelines
To be a member and to help make the meeting go smoothly for
everyone,
please read and agree to the following:
General Guidelines:
1. Reading: when its your turn, please plan to read no
more than 8 minutes – that’s about 1200 words (use word count
function in Microsoft WORD under Tools to find # words.)
Occasionally you can read something longer if time permits-if group
is small.
• Please know how long your piece is before coming. Practice at home
first with a timer. Be prepared to read less is group is large.
• Guests and new members will not be scheduled to read until a space
is open in the group and have joined SCWW. [but always come prepared
to read incase the turnout is small]
2. Time Allotted: We try to watch our reading time per
person so that the meeting doesn’t go on too long. Anything you say
about your work before you read is part of your 10 minutes. If you
are late, please come in quietly and take a sea t. Don’t interrupt
the reading or critiquing that is going on. (Members, please don’t
stop and talk to late member during reading or critiquing).
3. RSVP – You will get a meeting reminder several days
before each meeting. **Always let me know by email if you can or
can’t make a meeting at least a day before the meeting.
4. Notes: Bring something to write on so you can take
notes while listening to others read.
5. Continuity: Coming in to the group in the middle of longer
pieces is difficult. Do not expect to follow what’s going on. You
will catch up eventually. The format for later chapters in a
manuscript is not like a concise short story or the beginning of a
novel.
6. Not Group Therapy: Although writing can be very
therapeutic, this meeting is not Group Therapy - note your own
feelings about what you hear and use them in your writing. Stick to
the elements of writing.
7. What to stay away from:
• Please don’t discuss or write about specific political or
religious POV. Too divisive.
• Genres not allowed: no heavy ongoing violence, brutality, rape,
pornography, etc. as main themes.
Critiquing Guidelines:
1. Everyone must participate in critiquing: Keep it
brief –2 or less minutes total-be positive and constructive.
2. Reader please state your genre first: (fiction,
memoir, essay, poem, script, etc.) and title. Can give brief, brief
one or two lines if it is part of larger work for clarity.
3. Please offer no excuses: let work stand on its own
– can say it’s a 1st draft if you want. But don’t apologize!!!
4. It doesn’t have to be perfect: this is where we
find out how we are going edit it next and what is missing,
confusing etc.
5. Reader should not talk after reading: unless you
need to clarify something important-let listeners say their piece
and observe their comments. Use only what resonates for you.
a) Try not to ask the reader any direct questions -
can say that something is confusing...reader can use that to look at
own work.
6. Start with what ‘works’ followed with what ‘might
need improvement’ if any.
7. Listen to the writing and develop your ear for what
works.
8. Always use the “I” statement. This is how you feel
about something-don’t assume you are right or that everyone else
feels the same way.
9. Don’t make it personal – there is a difference
between comments about the writing and personal preferences of the
reader/listener.
10. Ideally, group members can offer assistance by critiquing on
three levels:
a. Specific – Characterization, Consistency, Sense of
Place etc.
b. General – Plot, Themes, Style, Presentation etc.
c. Technical – Spelling, Tense, Grammar, POV etc.
(these are all drafts
so spend less time here)
*** The 4th Thursday meeting is a SCWW Chapter meeting. SCWW
membership is required after attending 2 meetings. Go to
www.myscww.org to join.
***New members should observe [not read] for the first two meetings
they attend to be sure it is right for them.
*** Meeting dates will change in November and December to 1st & 3rd
Thursdays
