I belong to four critique groups. Yesterday I went to the newest group I joined. I love going to this group and one of the reasons it’s such an exciting place to be is because it’s a place to network.
As we’re sitting in a small circle evaluating each other’s manuscripts, little conversations are going on.
“What does your agent think of this manuscript?”
“Does the format and structure of your story fit into today’s market?”
“How long did it take for that editor to offer you a book contract after she first saw your manuscript?”
None of this information was a formal announcement. It all just happened as we took turns sharing what we brought. And I left that meeting with a better understanding of the publishing world.
Critique groups are a great way to network. If I only attended writers conferences and not small writing groups, I wouldn’t have discovered the riches I gleaned at my meeting yesterday. Networking is one of the reasons I encourage every writer to join a critique group.
