Author Nancy Kelly Allen believes in critique groups...

As one of the four members of Nancy's critique group, I echo her praise for this valuable tool. Read on to learn the importance of finding the RIGHT critique group for you:

Critique Groups Provide First-Aid for Writers
By Nancy K. Allen
Since many students will soon be on a holiday break, I’m going to write about tips for writers in a series of three blogs that focus on critique groups.

You’ve pounded the keyboard day after day, week after week, creating your story. You’ve spit-shined the revisions, rearranged the sentences, and typed the last word. Now you’re ready to kiss your manuscript good-bye and ship it off to strangers, AKA editors.Not so fast! Mailing you’re manuscript at this time may be a little premature. Consider joining a critique group. Not only will group members view your work with new perspectives, they will also provide feedback, positive and negative. The critique group will hone in on areas of quality writing, praising your efforts, and will offer examples for improvement in areas that need revision.

I’ve been writing for publication for twenty years and have had thirteen picture books and one chapter book published. During that time, I completed revision after revision, relying on my skills, alone.

A couple of years ago I joined, via the Internet, a critique group composed of four children’s writers. In that short period, my critique group has provided professional input into picture and chapter book manuscripts, making each work stronger. This group completes line-by-line, in-depth critiques, rather than general overview critiques. For me, the more specific the evaluation, the better.

Next week, Nancy provides specific detail as to how our group functions.

R-E-J-E-C-T-I-O-N

R is for the relief of getting my query letter and first three chapters submitted.
E is for the expectation of making it out of the ‘slush’ pile.
J is for jealous-my first reaction to someone else signing a book deal.
E is for the effort it takes to be happy for someone else signing a book deal.
C is for caffeine and chocolate--a writer’s two best friends.
T is for time – seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, but a year before I hear?
I is for inbox-“maybe today is the day I’ll get an email saying my story is accepted!”
O is for the ONE right submission reaching the ONE right publisher.
N is for ‘NO’.

Put them all together and what do you get? The reason I have a day job.

Rejection --a different perspective

REJECTION: I've learned something about rejection letters. Somebody is, at least, giving acknowledgement to my writing. At least they are saying, "I received a manuscript from this writer. I can't use it, but at least I DID receive it." I know this is a tiny step up from no answer at all, but it is a step-up. In some cases, an EDITOR is actually reading my writing--they might not accept it, might even hate it--but sometimes it's being read by an actual, by-gosh EDITOR, (junior, though it may be.) That means, I'm a writer. I'm different from people who do not write. I'm in a class of fellow writers whose brains are overflowing with words that demand to have a voice. I'm special.
And in some cases, I really believe my rejections are due to bad-timing, wrong 'house', duplicate story, or some other mundane reason that had nothing at all to do with my writing ability. I almost never feel 'rejected' anymore--just 're-directed'.

In summary, create a workspace, work on your craft every day, set goals and focus a part of every week to reaching that pinnacle of being a published author. Even the smallest acknowledgement on your part will do wonders for your self-esteem. Example: I recently created a web-site, and I've been struggling trying to get the word out. Recently, an old friend contacted me for the first time in 15 years. I gave him my web address and suggested he 'check it out'. He responded to the 'contact me' section by saying, "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A WRITER!"
My head swelled. My shoulders squared. Yes, by gosh...I AM A WRITER!

More writing tips to beat the slump...

This week, I pick up where I left off on some more helpful hints that might jump-start your writing slump. By incorporating these hints, I was able to set a goal and keep my BIC.
1. Get serious about documenting and tracking: I'd be lost without my Exel spreadsheet for submissions and tracking. I keep a simple file with the following headers:
Title/ Sent to/ Date/ Method/ Follow Up/ Response
This has served me well as I've been able to stop myself from 'double dipping' on any one agent/editor. I know at a glance exactly when I sent something out and exactly when I should either give up or follow up. Which brings me to # 2:

2. SUBMIT, SUBMIT, SUBMIT!: I'm a fan of goals. Lord knows, I set long-term goals, short-term goals, weekly goals, daily goals, and hourly goals.
If you don't believe that, you should see my daytimer. Sometimes, I can't get anything done for checking up on my goals.
I read somewhere one should keep at least 12 things submitted at all times! Sometimes I go a little over, but most often, I fall way short.
What, you don't submit on a regular basis? Shame on you! I know Lana Turner got discovered when she least expected it, but I doubt if an editor will ever ring my phone and ask me if I'd like to write them a story. I gave up on that happening long ago. Now I CONTACT THEM!
I prefer email queries and we're seeing more and more of that type, but I try to submit something every week, either by email or snail mail. Believe it or not, once you set that goal and follow up for a couple of weeks, submitting is not the difficult job it's cracked up to be. Words I have taped on my home office wall:
IF I DON'T SUBMIT ANYTHING THIS WEEK, I'M GUARANTEED TO FAIL.

Next time: REJECTIONS--you gotta love 'em.