Hang Out & Critique

We're here to level up your writing skills by critiquing your manuscript and teaching you how to critique other people's manuscripts.

How do I join?
Just RSVP to an event. Then, a week before the event, you'll get an email from MeetUp containing links to the manuscript we're critiquing. Even if you're unsure about attending, please RSVP so you get the email.

Is it free?
We meet at Tavern of Tales, and they have a $10 food/drink minimum. In exchange, we get a private room (when available) and stay until 2pm to write and chat. In terms of critiques, it is free to submit a piece for critique once you've completed a mandatory critique of someone else's writing.

What genres do you critique?
About half of us are fantasy/sci-fi writers and the other half come from other genres of fiction. We can do short stories and book chapters. We have less experience in nonfiction, but we are open to it. The word limit is 6k.

How does a critique work?
If you've never critiqued before, please read up on the general process here and here. You'll want to read the story a few days beforehand so you can properly formulate your thoughts about it. To guide your critique, you can mentally answer some of the questions included at the end of the manuscript.

If you'd like to dip your toe into critiquing without much commitment, you can show up on the day of critique and speed-read the first few pages of the story.

The general critiquing process is outlined below.

The Agenda:

1. The author is identified and asked to remain silent until after the discussion.
2. Compliments. Everyone says one thing they liked about the manuscript.
3. Discussion. We'll have a free-flowing discussion about our thoughts on the manuscript. You are free to be as reasonably complimentary or critical as you want.
4. Q & A. The author is allowed to talk for a Q & A, where the author can clarify anything they heard during the discussion and ask for ideas.
5. Hang Out. There is an optional two-hour writing and chatting session after the critique.

How do I submit a story for critique?
Because you are asking us to donate hours of our time to your manuscript, you will need to follow these steps to ensure you are ready:

• Fully participate in one critique. This means reading the entire story before the meeting and considering the questions at the end. With permission, regular attendees of our general writing group may skip this step.
• Once you've participated, you can sign up to be critiqued. To sign up:
• Get the url for our Discord from the name placard on the table.
• Join our Discord and open the sign-up sheet on the critique group channel. It is pinned at the top.
• Fill in the info for your manuscript.
• If you are not tech-savvy enough to do this or are confused, that is fine. Just ask someone at your table to help you. Please do this at an in-person meeting. Do not send us online messages.

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Rules

1. No broad statements about the quality of a piece. Instead, figure out the exact thing(s) you are reacting to and make a comment about that. In other words, point out the precise instances of bad/good writing within the story on the sentence and paragraph level.
2. No comments directed at the author, their writing ability, their personality, or their worldview. Keep all comments focused on the story in front of you.
3. No dictating how you want others critiquing your story. It's fine to request we focus on a particular aspect. It crosses the line when you act defensive, prescribe how you want to be critiqued, ban certain kinds of critiques, or critique others on their critiquing ability, method, or style.

*I can and will ban people for violating these rules, for violating rules I didn't think I needed to say, or for making people feel uncomfortable.