Kerry Alan Denney's writer's critique group The Atlanta Writers' Collective - Top 10 Finalist in Writer's Digest 2014 "What Makes Writing Groups Work?" Competition
The Atlanta Writers' Collective December 2013
Back row L to R: Lorraine Norwood, Lynda Fitzgerald, Glenn Emery, Richard Bowman, Mike K. Brown
Front row L to R: Kristine Ward, Natalie Watts, Kerry Alan Denney, Ken Schmanski
Front row L to R: Kristine Ward, Natalie Watts, Kerry Alan Denney, Ken Schmanski
(article excerpt)
The Atlanta Writers' Collective
We’re intensely focused, motivated writers who understand the importance of constructive criticism and honesty, and consider the knowledge we gain from hearing critiques of other members’ work just as educational as hearing critiques of our own work. With the help of four large frisky dogs, delicious food and a bottomless coffee pot, we keep our small but mighty pack enthusiastically circling back month after month as we nip at each other’s paws, propelling our members forward. The writing skills we learn from each other due to the eclectic cross-genre perspectives and diverse styles of the members is invaluable, an experience that can’t be taught by any conventional research or study methods.
WRITING FROM: Snellville, Ga.
SIZE: We have nine carefully-chosen members, many of whom have been members for years. (Front row, left to right: Kristine Ward, Natalie Watts, Kerry Denney, Ken Schmanski; back row, left to right: Lorraine Norwood, Lynda Fitzgerald, Glenn Emery, Richard Bowman, Mike Brown)
FORMAT: We critique two writers’ entries each month, 20 to 25 pages apiece, submitted one to two weeks in advance. At the meetings, each member has five to seven minutes to give a verbal critique, and each supplies a written critique. Writers being critiqued remain silent during the critiques, then spend 10 to 15 minutes responding by discussing their material with the group after all critiques are finished. Our group consistently tries to be supportive and encouraging while providing honest, discerning feedback, complimenting the writer on parts that work and sharing ideas about how to fix the parts that do not. Each writer is encouraged to critique using their own unique perspective and skills, with an optional standard critique form supplied.
MEET UP: We meet on the first Saturday of each month for two to three hours in a comfortable setting at a member’s home. We spend a casual 20 to 30 minutes prior to the meeting having coffee and snacks, and freely discussing whatever we choose, then we spend 15 minutes sharing any helpful writing tips, links or books we’ve encountered the past month before beginning. This social time has brought us closer together as a group.
BETWEEN MEETINGS: We write, write, write! All members are encouraged to discuss and share works further at their leisure, and we stay in contact through a Yahoo Groups site, sharing articles, ideas, successes, goals, dreams, anecdotes and books (informative books on writing and/or entertaining stories and novels), along with a liberal dose of good humor, which plays a vital role in our correspondence.
LESSONS LEARNED: To be successful writers, we must work to improve our knowledge and skills in both the craft and business of writing. By meeting regularly with people we trust who attend every meeting with enthusiasm, positive energy and a supportive attitude, we all learn how to improve our writing craft, how to accept constructive criticism as a helpful tool instead of a creativity barrier, and how to incorporate all facets of the standard policies and procedures in the literary industry into our endeavors. We’ve all learned to check our egos at the door. If one person says something doesn’t work, we listen, but if three or more make the same observation, we seriously consider making the suggested revision.
TIPS: Invite prospective new members to attend a critique meeting before they’re accepted into the group. Request a writing sample to determine their level of expertise. This doesn’t determine whether they’re invited to join the group, but rather helps the group establish if and how we can help them.
WRITING FROM: Snellville, Ga.
SIZE: We have nine carefully-chosen members, many of whom have been members for years. (Front row, left to right: Kristine Ward, Natalie Watts, Kerry Denney, Ken Schmanski; back row, left to right: Lorraine Norwood, Lynda Fitzgerald, Glenn Emery, Richard Bowman, Mike Brown)
FORMAT: We critique two writers’ entries each month, 20 to 25 pages apiece, submitted one to two weeks in advance. At the meetings, each member has five to seven minutes to give a verbal critique, and each supplies a written critique. Writers being critiqued remain silent during the critiques, then spend 10 to 15 minutes responding by discussing their material with the group after all critiques are finished. Our group consistently tries to be supportive and encouraging while providing honest, discerning feedback, complimenting the writer on parts that work and sharing ideas about how to fix the parts that do not. Each writer is encouraged to critique using their own unique perspective and skills, with an optional standard critique form supplied.
MEET UP: We meet on the first Saturday of each month for two to three hours in a comfortable setting at a member’s home. We spend a casual 20 to 30 minutes prior to the meeting having coffee and snacks, and freely discussing whatever we choose, then we spend 15 minutes sharing any helpful writing tips, links or books we’ve encountered the past month before beginning. This social time has brought us closer together as a group.
BETWEEN MEETINGS: We write, write, write! All members are encouraged to discuss and share works further at their leisure, and we stay in contact through a Yahoo Groups site, sharing articles, ideas, successes, goals, dreams, anecdotes and books (informative books on writing and/or entertaining stories and novels), along with a liberal dose of good humor, which plays a vital role in our correspondence.
LESSONS LEARNED: To be successful writers, we must work to improve our knowledge and skills in both the craft and business of writing. By meeting regularly with people we trust who attend every meeting with enthusiasm, positive energy and a supportive attitude, we all learn how to improve our writing craft, how to accept constructive criticism as a helpful tool instead of a creativity barrier, and how to incorporate all facets of the standard policies and procedures in the literary industry into our endeavors. We’ve all learned to check our egos at the door. If one person says something doesn’t work, we listen, but if three or more make the same observation, we seriously consider making the suggested revision.
TIPS: Invite prospective new members to attend a critique meeting before they’re accepted into the group. Request a writing sample to determine their level of expertise. This doesn’t determine whether they’re invited to join the group, but rather helps the group establish if and how we can help them.
