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The North County Writers Bloc – It’s More Than a Critique Group

Successful writers agree: participating in a critique group improves their writing skills; provides support and encouragement; and motivates them to reach their goals. When I moved to a new community, I made finding a critique group my top priority. My work needed, and I craved, the honest, interested and in depth analysis such a group would provide. Little did I know that weekly group meetings would bring excursions into the unknown.

First I had to define what I wanted from a writers’ group. I knew I needed one whose members were successful writers. I expected the members to understand and teach writing techniques and to honestly, but kindly, critique my work. At least one member who had taught creative writing would be ideal. A range of ages would give a multi-generational perspective. They would be working on a variety of projects so their review of my work would have differing expectations. I also wanted to meet during the day, at a location not too far away.

I knew, from experience, that I did not want a group in which the members read the others’ work before the meeting and discussed it when they met. I felt this took too much time from my own writing and editing. I preferred to hear each author read his own work. I decided weekly meetings would give me enough time to create a new scene or chapter to read each time. A longer space between meetings would slow down feedback on my work.

After moving, I attended each writing venue listed in the local papers; there, I inquired about critique groups. Finally, I was referred to a group meeting at my local library. I called the library and was told the group met each Friday morning for three hours. My heart pumping wildly, I entered the meeting room. The meeting hadn’t started, but the fifteen chattering people all seemed to be friends. Would I fit in? Were they a clique?

I was introduced to the members of the North County Writers Bloc and given a list of their names to follow as each person read his work. The leader, a retired English professor, told me I was welcome if I was an active writer. I had taken my book of short stories to show them (and to impress them, of course). They asked me to read from it. I read my favorite story and was heartened to hear their laughter at just the right moments. When I finished, their critique started. I heard about my problems with points of view, how I could improve, and what they liked in the story. This was not a group dedicated only to telling the writer he was wonderful! I had found a home.

I have belonged to the Writers Bloc for two years now. To my delight, it has proven to be more than a critique group. Before each meeting we discuss news about the writing business, self publishing, and query letters. Our successes and rejections are cheered and booed. Recently we branched out to arrange book signings and panel discussions promoting our published writers’ work. We work with Read Local San Diego to encourage libraries and book stores to feature local authors. Several of us attended a writers’ conference together and brought our experience back to the group. We’ve also started a blog to promote the group and to help other writers with our “words of wisdom.”

On Friday mornings, I travel back in time: with a young girl who wants to be a pony express rider; with a young woman who spied for the North in the Civil War; and I participate in the guild wars of the 1500s in Italy. I ponder with a playwright the rumor that Queen Elizabeth was a man; and come of age with a young South African girl as her country sheds apartheid.

In modern times, I visit the new US embassy in Bagdad, travel to Central America on a budget, seeing all the sights and sampling the local cuisine. I meet the residents of an Oklahoma residential hotel, experiencing with humor their small town quirks. The other writers help me give men who abuse their wives a final send off in my suspense novel.

I travel to the future with an exotic blind woman who has ESP and visit an aerospace facility where many of the employees are aliens working alongside their human counterparts.

But travel is not my only adventure in the Writers Bloc. I also hear the memoirs of two adventuresome women, follow the life of a football star, and giggle at the antics of a puppet while its creator reads the children’s play she wrote featuring him.

The Writers Bloc has spawned several poets who thrill and entertain us. One of them paints watercolors to accompany his work. Another spells out for us the humorous aspects of growing up and getting older.

I look forward to Friday mornings. I know I’ll immerse myself in others’ work, rejoice with my friends’ successes and receive invaluable feedback. The North County Writers Bloc is more than a critique group. I come away from their meetings with a feeling of accomplishment, a goal for the next session and the knowledge that I’ve put in a meaningful morning’s work.