Reading and Critiquing Session

Except for the last Monday in the month, we meet weekly, online via Zoom. Pls RSVP to get the Zoom link. On the last Mondays of the month, we meet in the Vancouver Community College cafeteria at 250 W. Pender St., Vancouver.

If you want to share your piece so people can edit as you read, put it into a google doc (https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Google-Doc),

Set the SHARE link to "anyone with link" "can comment." You can share your doc in meeting via Zoom chat and/or add it to the amalgamation doc which is added both here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ajp6iOomEgB8scS0KkUh-w-qjn-VJwR4_HbfTmMplhM/edit?usp=sharing and below, in the comments, a few days before each meeting. Using the amalgamation doc allows regular attendees to follow your work's progress & read & comment even if they're in a different breakout room or miss a meeting.

WHO:

Writers & lovers of the craft, looking to get & give critiques & feedback on original work. Writers who want to hone their presentation skills.

WHEN: every Monday, 7 pm to 9-9:30 pm. TIME ZONE CONVERTER: https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com.

We are in Vancouver, Canada, using Pacific Standard Time.

WHAT:

Writers & lovers of the craft are invited to read & hear original work, give & get feedback.

Presenters have 15-20 minutes to introduce their work, read & receive feedback. In word count, this is 1300-1500 words. If there's time, we can go beyond that, but please prepare with this limit in mind.

Record for our Youtube channel if you like: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLMEZKTMlqi-jF17RU0doWr0WPamYoQ2

Pre-April 2020, we podcasted at http://vancouver-writers.podomatic.com

/ itunes: Vancouver Writers' Podcast.

WHY:

1. Duh! Getting feedback makes your writing better. You don't have to listen to the feedback, but if 3 or 4 people say the same thing, it might be worth paying attention to.
2. Develop courage. It's not easy to read your work to an audience. Here, you can practice.
3. Elocution & projection. As a writer, you will have to read your work to audiences. Start rehearsing now!
4. Even planning to present your work will make you read it with new eyes and improve.
5. Even without feedback, reading your work to an audience will highlight rough spots.
6. Meet other writers, make friends and perhaps meet your own tighter critique group: the ones you'll bounce ideas off without finessing them; the ones who'll read your novel, story or play as you write it, chapter by chapter or scene by scene, giving you guidance, structure & support to make your work your very best.
7. Productivity & accountability: plan to come regularly so you have to write in order to have something to present.

PRESENTERS, you can ask for open-ended feedback, bring up specific concerns you have at the end, or lead & focus feedback with questions before you read. Whatever you choose.

When you're getting feedback, JUST LISTEN! You'll get more out of it if you let comments sit with you, whether you agree or not. DO NOT ARGUE, JUSTIFY OR EXPLAIN.

CRITICS, keep it focused & constructive. What can you tell the writer that will improve their work? This is not about personal opinion or anecdote.

For in person meets, you do not have to bring PRINT OUTS, though many people do. If you're going to bring them, 9 to 10 is a good number.

FEES: We operate via donations. We suggest etransferring $5 CA/mo to malcolm (at) malcolmvandelst.com to cover meetup (~$20/mo) & Zoom ($20/mo) fees. Overages go to society set up & an upcoming anthology. You will be informed as to how much money is collected in a weekly email.

Thank you for being beyond open & generous with your talent & selves. Much love! Respect!