Writing critique group for Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul?

RG Spaulding

Will this group be only for going through Ann Whitford Paul's book or for critique group for author/illustrator where we can exchange MS/dummies for critique?

Coley

I'm interested in this. Whatever form it takes. The SVS course and/or crit group. @Braden-Hallett would discord work for this if we wanted it sort of private?

TessaW

That would be a "maybe" for me. It's something I'm definitely interested in. I don't currently have any dummies in the works- though I do have some ideas on the edge of my mind. Not sure if I could dive in on one yet, but I would be up for offering feedback.

ArtofAleksey

This sounds fun I have an idea for a kids book of an old russian fairy tale i loved. But im drawn to doing it as a comic. Although this might be interesting to try.. oof decisions

MOO

@RG-Spaulding I have a similar fb group and we run it the same way. It works well.

theprairiefox

@TessaW that would be perfect for going through Ann Whitford Paul's class. It really helps you go from scratch (or just an idea) to an edited manuscript.

@RG-Spaulding I would prefer to walk through the class instead of an open critique group. That way we can hold each other accountable to something specific. This will provide some structure initially.

It is an 8-week class, I would suggest we follow that structure (the 9th week was critiques). And we do the homework assigned for each week, it is reviewed the next week.

I am not sure how other groups have done reviews, we could assign 2 reviewers for each of us each week. Then we can get and provide meaningful feedback with feeling too overwhelmed. We can rotate this as well so throughout the course we are all reviewing each other's work. I am willing to set a schedule once we have members and a start date.

Thoughts?

RG Spaulding

@theprairiefox , Do we have to join a class to go through the lessons? Or is it in her book? I have her book "Writing picture books by Ann Whitford Paul" but I have only read it sporadically. I am open to it, but in order to get uninterrupted 8 weeks, I can only do it after the new year since we are in and out of town for the holidays.

MOO

@RG-Spaulding The lessons are in the book.

MOO

I think, if I do it, I would need to draw it out a little more, not a lesson a week because I have a lot of other projects going on. Also, I do have a writing critique group I'm involved with since I posted the query 2 years ago. We are not always really active on it. We kind of post things when we feel like it and have time and then respond. Everyone is very busy. It seems hard to keep a group like this going consistently strong. I got involved with another critique group and we do absolutley nothng on that one. I tried an in person group and it quickly fizzled to nothing. I would like to watch the class again too. I have several unfinished classes I need to work on also. I might want to participate but I might not be able to keep up...we could try though!

xin li

Yes. I am interested in joining in a critc group online as well. I have a hard time finding one, or starting one physically in my town. I am willing to set aside time for this once we have a date.
My wish is to form a long term online critic group where we can figure out some ways to make it constructive, and useful for all kinds of personal children's book projects. But starting with Ann's class as a structure sounds very wise. @theprairiefox.

MichaelaH

I have to say, I was suprised I missed this class, didn't know there is "Writing Picture Books" class on svs. No that I know, I am also interessted in joining the critic group.
@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen How is the book different to the class? I am thinking if I should buy it, maybe I should at forst look at the class.

MOO

This post is deleted!

Coley

@RG-Spaulding and @MichaelaH I started this class and got maybe 4 or 5 lessons in a few months ago before summer hit and I got busy with my kids, but just in terms of her book..........you don't HAVE to have it for the class though she does assign readings from it each lesson. It is a supplement to the work, there is other work besides that. I don;t have the book and was still learning a lot.

RG Spaulding

@Coley , Thank you. I have this book. I will try to read it again. Would everyone who is interested in say when they want to start? I can start after the new year.

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen, Yes, I belong to some groups also that fizzled after a few months. It is a trial and error. My inperson group is pretty good for writers and we are starting another in-person for illo soon, fingers crossed for it to work.

braden H

@theprairiefox said in Writing critique group for Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul?:

@Braden-Hallett can we make private threads on the forums? I would like my work to be only viewable by those participating (mostly for protection). It is pretty easy to lift text...

Otherwise, we could use google docs and only allow access to those docs to members of the crit group.

Any thoughts?

I don't think we can make private threads on the forum, no. But Google docs works pretty well

@Coley said in Writing critique group for Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul?:

I'm interested in this. Whatever form it takes. The SVS course and/or crit group. @Braden-Hallett would discord work for this if we wanted it sort of private?

Discord would work great! A private facebook group would also work. Facebook might work better, honestly

Judy Elizabeth Wilson

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen Hi Marsha. I will do my best to critique your text. My email is judyelizabethw@gmail.com

Judy Elizabeth Wilson

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen I like the idea of a SVS group on facebook too. I have 3 picture book manuscripts with my agent at the moment and have some experience I would love to share.

NicolaSchofield

I don't currently have any idea I like enough to spend a big chunk of time working on. I was thinking I could do
the November synopsis challenge being set up by @Braden-Hallett then pick my favourite one of those to work through these writing exercises. Anyone else in a similar position? We could maybe split in two - those who already have a fairly finished manuscript they just want to tweak and those who are starting from scratch?

xin li

@neschof I am up for a critic group after the November challenge. Ideally, I would like to join the critic group in mid Jan, due to a current project with a tight deadline that will end in mid Jan.

@Braden-Hallett @theprairiefox I guess facebook private group is the most convinient option we have right now. But I really wish SVS forums have a private threads feature. I have more or less replaced my facebook time with SVS forums for the last 6 months or so. I love that when I came to SVS forums, everything is about art and illustration. Facebook has too much distruction. Anyone knows if the software behind SVS forums support private threads? Can we request for it?

MOO

@Judy-Elizabeth-Wilson thanks, Just, I don't really have anything right now. I made this post a couple of years ago. U might want to watch the class and go through the lessons again but, right now I don't really have any ideas for writing. Just projects to finish