“Rules” for the Write Stuff at
updated Sept 2006
General
- The Write Stuff is an open group.
- All are welcome to join. However, only those who have attended at least two previous meetings will be eligible to read their work.
- The group may be divided if it becomes too large; having about a dozen regular members is ideal.
- The meeting shall be chaired by a facilitator, who shall keep track of time, encourage open and sympathetic comments and record who will read at the subsequent meeting.
- Members unable to attend the meeting should notify the facilitator.
Presenting Work
- Those who will present at each meeting shall sign up at the previous meeting.
- A copy of the work (maximum about 1000 words, or 4 pages double-spaced) should be sent by the author to each person in the group by e-mail at least 24 hours before the meeting.
- It is recommended that the work be sent as an attachment and pasted into the body of the email.
- The words Write Stuff should appear in the title of all emails relating to the activities of the group to aid filtering and recognition
- Names, email address and telephone number of members are made available to others in the group for the sole purpose of distribution of material and comments.
- If a reader is unable to send their work out in advance, then sufficient hard copies should be made available by the reader for distribution at the meeting.
- If a reader is unable to attend the meeting at which they are to read, they should notify the facilitator as far in advance as possible to permit substitution.
Providing comments and input
- Members will read the work, make comments and be prepared to discuss them at the group.
- Comments should include two positive aspects that the reviewer found in the work and two aspects that may be improved.
- Comments should be as specific as possible, give examples and be limited to the craft of writing as it pertains to the piece under review. (see appendix 1 for critique guidelines)
- All work should be considered confidential within the group, copyright of the author and should not be distributed outside of the Write Stuff group without the written permission of the copyright owner.
- All work should be considered fiction and not taken as a commentary or the express views of the author, unless clearly stated as such, for example as an editorial piece, memoir or non-fiction.
Appendix 1 (with acknowledgment to lessons learned at The Gotham Writers' Workshop)
• Are the characters interesting? Sympathetic?
• Are the characters dimensional, or one-note?
• Are the characters well drawn? Are you able to “see” them?
• Is there enough character: action, dialogue, appearance, thought?
• Are the characters distinctive, different from each other?
• Does the protagonist have a strong desire?
• Does the protagonist grow or change?
Plot – the sequence of events
• Is the plot interesting? Dramatic? Is a good story being told?
• Is there enough conflict?
• Does enough “happen”?
• Is there a logical flow to the plot?
• Does the story move forward? Does the tension increase?
• Is there a strong enough climax?
• Are any parts of the plot unnecessary? Are any necessary parts missing?
• Is exposition provided effectively?
Point of View – the viewpoint from which the story is told
• Is the right POV used (first person, third person, etc.)?
• Is the POV too “close” or “distant”?
• Is the POV consistent throughout the story?
Description– the way things are described
• Are the descriptions effective?
• Is there too much or too little description?
• Do the descriptions utilize the senses? Are they specific?
• Are adjectives and adverbs overused? Are the nouns and verbs strong enough?
• How is the use of figurative language (metaphor, simile, etc.)?
• Are cliches being used?
Dialogue– what the characters say
• Is there too much dialogue or not enough?
• Is there enough use of “scene”?
• Does the dialogue sound natural?
• Is the dialogue rambling?
• How is the use of “stage directions” – the staging of the dialogue scenes?
• Does the dialogue reflect the characters?
• Is the dialogue too “on the nose” – where characters always say what they mean?
• Are the tags (he said, she scolded, etc.) unobtrusive?
Setting – the place and time
• Is the story grounded enough in place? In time?
• Is there too much or too little setting description?
• Does the setting enhance the emotion or mood of the story?
Pacing – the manipulation of time
• Are there sections that should be cut, or moved through more quickly?
• Are there sections that should be slowed down?
• Are there too many flashbacks?
Voice – the “sound” of the narrator
• Do you find the narrator’s voice appealing or off-putting?
• Does the voice sound natural or affected?
• Is the voice consistent throughout the story?
Style – the stylistic choices
• Are the words consistent with the narrator’s voice?
• Are the sentences and paragraphs too long or too short?
• Is the writing too wordy, or too spare?
• Are there any style choices that distract you from the story?
Theme – the underlying meaning
• Does there seem to be a point to the story?
• Is the theme too heavy-handed?
• Is the theme dramatized by the plot?
Grammar
