1 Topic by Memphis Trace (edited by Memphis Trace 2015-03-02 20:55:19)

Topic: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…
who would like to form a group composed of 12-15 writers that would review each other’s work and review the reviews of each other’s work. The idea for this group springs from a workshop group of aspiring writers I hosted in my office for 10 years.

Within the 1st 18 months of formation, that group of 15 evolved into a group that met for 3½ hours biweekly on a Saturday starting at 9:00AM to review a writer’s work submitted at least 2 weeks prior. The writer being reviewed brought breakfast. I made coffee bought by the group.

In the 1st hour, we went around the table with each attendee except the author reviewing the piece for no more than 4 minutes, preferably from notes written during the previous two weeks. A member of the group volunteered to enforce the time limit and to keep other members from interrupting. If the group was below full capacity, the moderator was lax on the 4-minute limit. Folks were free to get up to go to the bathroom, get coffee, eat some of the laid out breakfast, etc.

At the end of the hour, we broke for 10 minutes to talk about my grandchildren.

In the 2nd hour, we went around the table with the attendees reviewing the reviews. This was pretty much a free-for-all, but the moderator had a rubber hose filled with lead sinkers to break up fights. Folks were free to get up to go to the bathroom, get coffee, eat some of the laid out breakfast, etc.
At the end of the hour reviewers handed their notes to the author and, we broke for 10 minutes to talk about my grandchildren.

In the 3rd hour, the author opened the hour by telling the group how he was helped by the reviews. Then the author asked questions of the group members and answered questions from the group members.

I would like to be part of a group of from 12 to 15 members that adapted the basic structure of the in-person group to fit TNBW’s capabilities.

I see the reviewing to be conducted as follows:
1.    During week 1: 14 members receive a work with 5 of the members assigned to review it.
2.    During week 2: 5 different members review the work and review the reviews submitted by the first 5 members.
3.    During week 3: 4 remaining members and the author review all the reviews and all the reviews of the reviews. And the author thanks the reviewers by telling them what waves the stones they had cast into his pond caused.

The groups of 5 would revolve each week and a new piece would enter the spotlight each week. The spotlight would shine on the pieces in the order they were received.

I would like for the group’s wit and wisdom to be open to all the members of TNBW. I would like for the group to be composed of the 1st 15 TNBW members who survive a spirited discussion to help set the rules under which we’ll operate to wear togas when they write and refer to themselves as Charter Members when complaining about having to stand in line at the grocery store behind men talking about their grandchildren.

I would like for anyone in TNBW who becomes interested enough in what we are doing in our group to queue up in a waiting list to join the group. I would like for our group to be TNBW’s best review group and the waiting list to join it to be the longest.

After we’ve set the rules, but before we start work, I would like for us to agree on a name for the group. I would like to suggest Dante’s Inferno with a sign over the door that reads: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

I would also like to talk frequently about my grandchildren during the weeks between reviews, reviews of reviews, and reviews of reviews and the author’s genuflections to the group.

I would like for all my likes to be subject to sharp and eloquent disagreements during the period in which we set up the group.

Memphis Trace

Quote Post 1

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

I can not imagine why you have not received replies on this topic.  I am more than interested in your prospective group.  I would love to have something like this in my area.  Since I can not find such a place locally I shall stick myself to your group.  I am sticky since I have two young children and I'm always finding things stuck on my clothing from them.

If you'd have me I would love to be apart of what you are trying to create.  I shall await the stamp of approval or the boot and rejection.

Quote Post 2

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

HueytheHuey wrote:

I can not imagine why you have not received replies on this topic.  I am more than interested in your prospective group.  I would love to have something like this in my area.  Since I can not find such a place locally I shall stick myself to your group.  I am sticky since I have two young children and I'm always finding things stuck on my clothing from them.

If you'd have me I would love to be apart of what you are trying to create.  I shall await the stamp of approval or the boot and rejection.

They are gathering in another forum in the Premium Group. Click the link below and it should take you there. Take care. Vern  http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/forums/ … ewers.html

Quote Post 3

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

HueytheHuey wrote:

I can not imagine why you have not received replies on this topic.  I am more than interested in your prospective group.  I would love to have something like this in my area.  Since I can not find such a place locally I shall stick myself to your group.  I am sticky since I have two young children and I'm always finding things stuck on my clothing from them.

If you'd have me I would love to be apart of what you are trying to create.  I shall await the stamp of approval or the boot and rejection.

HueytheHuey,

Here's a link http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/forums/ … html#p6314 to the forum where we are discussing ground rules for the group.

I'm still learning my way around this whole group starting thing so I'm not sure whether you'll be able to get into the forum without joining the group. Let me know, and I'll find out how to give you a chance to join the discussion until you see if you really do want to be a member.

Memphis Trace

Quote Post 4

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

Thank you so much for the links to the group.  I've applied.  If you need to see more of my work I've submitted the beginning of a story I've chosen to write.  I'm brand new to the writing workshop experience but I have a fire in my that hasn't been quenched yet.

I can also provide a background of myself if needed.  I can do so publically or privately.  I look forward to hearing from you Memphis.

Quote Post 5

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

Memphis Trace:

You may think I'm stupid, but there are a couple of issues that are not clear to me about this group (which otherwise sounds very interesting). You're talking about a virtual group, aren't you? The question raises because what you explained is a group which gathered three hours once a week, but TNBW group would be a virtual group, am I right?

Second: is the virtual group gathering 3 hours once a week. There are many ways to gather virtually, from a Skype conference (either video or only voice) to be sitting in front of your computer during the appointed 3 hours interacting via forum posts, emails, etc. Is there any plan to gather virtually at a given weekly hour/day?

I am not a full time writer. I work and travel quite a lot because of my job. I know that some of you folks are retired or are full time writers, which means full time dedicated to writing, but it's not my case. Some of you, who besides writing and working are mothers, fathers, caregivers, etc., will laugh in my face because I'm overbooked at 25. Call me a freak, but I don't want to ask to participate only to fail.

Based on your experience with that other group you hosted, How much workload does it represents doing all the reviews you're proposing, ballpark figure? One hour per day, two hours per day, one hour per week, two hours per week, etc?

Again, I wouldn't like to apply to participate in the group only to retire before it even starts. It would be rude. That's why I'm asking these many questions.

Kiss,

Gacela

Quote Post 6

7 Reply by Memphis Trace (edited by Memphis Trace 2015-03-11 02:53:35)

Re: Call for aspiring writers, wreaders, wreviewers…

Mariana Reuter wrote:

Memphis Trace:

Gacela:

You may think I'm stupid, but there are a couple of issues that are not clear to me about this group (which otherwise sounds very interesting). You're talking about a virtual group, aren't you? The question raises because what you explained is a group which gathered three hours once a week, but TNBW group would be a virtual group, am I right?

It is a virtual group that meets on the TNBW stage.

Second: is the virtual group gathering 3 hours once a week. There are many ways to gather virtually, from a Skype conference (either video or only voice) to be sitting in front of your computer during the appointed 3 hours interacting via forum posts, emails, etc. Is there any plan to gather virtually at a given weekly hour/day?

I have not considered doing this on Skype. I see this as a more reflective group. However, I can be convinced. One of the negatives of the in-person group was the spontaneous discussions that required moderation. I see our group reaching a stage of being courteous enough to learn and come back week after week to do it. 

I am not naturally a courteous person, but neither do I join groups of thinkers without wanting to impress them with my critical thinking. I hope our group becomes comfortable enough in its skin that we can air all our divergent ideas in the sunshine.

I see the group interacting by reviewing and responding with self-moderated opinions. I hope those opinions will be considered, vigorous, and courteous without condescension. I spent a lot of my young life winning and losing arguments. It can become intoxicating. One thing I learned for sure, though, was that you cannot convert a person by silencing them.

I am not a full time writer. I work and travel quite a lot because of my job. I know that some of you folks are retired or are full time writers, which means full time dedicated to writing, but it's not my case. Some of you, who besides writing and working are mothers, fathers, caregivers, etc., will laugh in my face because I'm overbooked at 25. Call me a freak, but I don't want to ask to participate only to fail.

My experience is that if you want something done well ask a busy person to do it. Still, you know yourself and your time restraints. I am semi-retired, which means there are periods in my day job in which I get stretched tighter than a gnat's ass over a barrel. My day job rewards my efforts with money; my writing job rewards my efforts with knowledge.

I consider my first job to be my writing. And I will find time to do that as well as my talent permits. When I can no longer find the energy or time to give my best effort to the group, I will resign

Based on your experience with that other group you hosted, How much workload does it represents doing all the reviews you're proposing, ballpark figure? One hour per day, two hours per day, one hour per week, two hours per week, etc?

I can only speak for myself. We met every two weeks in the in-person group. We had evolved to the point that we were reviewing entire novels. I was working full-time, plus. I'd say I spent an average of 10 hours per week reading the stories and writing my reviews. Each of the biweekly sessions required 20 hours of work in my chambers.

I recall giving up most of my reading time for published work during the 10 years.

If this online group works as well as the in-person group, I believe those writers who get the most out of it will be the ones who make it central in their writing workshop lives. The group members in the in-person group who stayed from the first words of setting the rules of engagement until I left the group, were all hard working through the 10 years and all much-improved critical thinkers for having done it. 

Again, I wouldn't like to apply to participate in the group only to retire before it even starts. It would be rude. That's why I'm asking these many questions.

I hope I've given you some inkling of the commitment I think is required to make this group serve you well. My experience was that those members who were unwilling to work like rented mules couldn't withstand their own guilt feelings for long and were quickly replaced by members who were stimulated by the dividends their time investment was paying.

Kiss,

Gacela

Best,

Memphis Trace

Quote Post 7