One of the most difficult things writers can experience is receiving feedback on their work. Reading your reviews after you’ve published a book or an article can be both exhilarating and cutting. I know, I’ve gotten both. I’ve been giving and receiving critiques for a lot of years now on my fiction writing, and I can tell you first hand, at times it can be uncomfortable. But one thing I know, if I’m not getting constructive criticism, I’m not growing as a writer. For some writers their work is good enough for the market they’ve chosen to publish in. But for others seeking a wider audience in either the general or inspirational market, the writing must be superb in order to be competitive. I really don’t know of any way a writer can grow and succeed except for getting constructive feedback from someone who’s on the same path, or very knowledgeable about the writing path. So that brings me to the subject of critiques at the OC Christian Writers Conference coming up in May. Last year we added a tough-skinned critique on Friday night. It gave writers a view of how an acquisitions editor would react to a cold reading of a first page of a manuscript. It was  a real hit, and we’re going to be doing it again this year with Andy Meisenheimer of The Editorial Department. More on Andy and The Editorial Department later.  But we’ve also added rogue critiques starting Friday night with one during each breakout session on Saturday.

A rogue critique is a feedback session that is organized and effective. Each session allows writers to bring five double-spaced pages into the group. The leader will send around a sign up sheet and that will be the order of reading. Each writer can read or ask another person to read their five pages. Then the feedback begins, going around the room until only the instructor is left and then he or she gives her closing comments. This format is an alternative to the read-in-advance critique groups and allows the writer to hear their work read. I’ve found these to be very effective sessions for both fiction and non-fiction. Writers can bring pages of their novel, memoir, personal story, short story, article, etc. You will not only get feedback, but I’d encourage you to listen for the best readers. The ones that are honest and helpful with their comments. The ones that you know if you listened to more often, you’d improve your work. I suggest you make them your friends and feedback partners. Writing is a lonely game. Finding good help and companions on the way can be worth the price of any conference fee.  For more information consult the schedule on the Web site and faculty bios of those running the rogue critique groups.