Critique Group

Without a doubt, I look forward to critique group as the highlight of my week. Why? Is it because we’ve known each other for so long that I can’t remember when we started out? Is it the group therapy we offer each other, a bunch of friends eager to listen and offer support? Or is it for the valuable comments on our stories we receive that help us to progress as a writer? All of the above! But really, it’s all about the food.  :)

Decorated for Autumn

Isn't it lovely?

Bean Dip with Rosemary

Frosted Pumpkin Bars

Last week, it was my turn to host. Our group consists of six published authors. We meet every two weeks during the day and rotate houses. The hostess provides the mid-morning snacks. We’ll chat and nosh for up to an hour before settling down to business. I like hosting because it gives me a chance to use my elegant serving bowls and cook new items. I experimented with three new dishes this time, but I’d only add one of them to my repertoire. Here is the recipe for my crustless zucchini pie.

Zucchini Pie

1 large onion, chopped
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
3 cups zucchini, grated
1 cup biscuit baking mix
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup Eggbeaters

Mix together the first five ingredients in a large bowl. Add in the zucchini, baking mix, cheese, and Eggbeaters. Stir to blend.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray two 9 inch pie dishes with cooking spray. Pour mixture into pie plates, dividing evenly. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Zucchini Pie

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Not everyone can make each critique session, and we miss those absent. But as long as four of us are able to come, we’ll meet. We bring our printed story pages beginning with Chapter One. Setting the timer for fifteen to twenty minutes, we read each person’s work silently for the allotted time. Marking down the page numbers, we write our comments on a separate sheet of paper. After each round is over, we pass the pages to the left.

Once we’re done reading everyone’s work, we discuss our comments aloud, focusing on one person at a time. We each have our say, going to the left around the table, until we finish. Then we hand that person our notes to take home. And so on. Often we discuss industry news, publishing markets, promotion and more. We gripe about the industry and we rejoice in our successes. And we offer each other valuable advice on how to improve our work. We are a lifeline for each other and an inspiration for our careers. I couldn’t do it without my critique partners being there for me. Thanks, my friends.

Check out their work:

Allison Chase
Sharon Hartley
Karen Kendall
Cynthia Thomason
Zelda Benjamin

Do you work with a critique partner or group? If so, what’s your process?

RWA CONFERENCE REPORT: Day 1

Wednesday, July 28 

I arrived at the Dolphin Resort with my roomies for the weekend, authors ALLISON CHASE and SHARON HARTLEY.  We went early in the morning to register at the RWA Annual Conference and to drop off our promo items in the goody room. Not too many people were around but we figured it would get crowded later. We said hello to JOYCE HENDERSON and LYNETTE HALLBERG from SWFRW and to DARA EDMONSON and MICHELLE YOUNG from CFRW.  MONA RISK was there from FRW looking for the booksigning room to drop off her stuff for later.

Allison Chase, Nancy Cohen, Sharon Hartley

 At 2:30, we attended the Librarian Networking Event where we met librarians from Florida and around the country. Many authors were there too and offered book giveaways and other promo items for the librarians. The mass Literacy Booksigning followed with over 500 authors in alphabetical rows sitting with their books in front of them and cashiers at the far end. NY Times Bestselling authors like HEATHER GRAHAM and SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS had their own spots. I roamed the aisles greeting fellow authors and introducing myself to people I hadn’t met.  I greeted JUDI MCCOY who writes the dog walker mystery series, and other authors whose names were familiar from the various listserves where I hang out online. A bevy of our own FRW authors were present: KATHY PICKERING, BONNIE VANAK, DEBBIE ANDREWS, MICHAEL MEESKE, ONA BUSTOS, and many more. The two hours went fast, and over $55,000 was raised for adult literacy.

Allison Chase at Booksigning

Joan Schulhafer, Kristen Wallace, Kathleen Pickering, Ona Bustos

Kathleen Pickering, Nancy Cohen, Sharon Hartley

Sharon Hartley and Traci Hall

Sharon Hartley and Nancy Cohen

 Coming Next: Day 2 with keynote luncheon and workshops.

Prize Drawing from all my blog commenters in August for signed book from my personal backlist collection.

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