I belong to a writing group that meets monthly and covers 15 or 30 pages. Contrary to what has been said here, I find the class does remember the previous mss. If someone doesn't, the teacher or someone else recalls it. Also, I don't find much contradiction overall. In fact, I'm amazed that so often everyone likes the same part, and several people often dislike the same things. That is not to say that their written remarks don't vary. But when they do, we talk it through and usually come to a consensus or agree to disagree. After the class, I read and re=read comments and decide what to change and what to leave in. These critiques really buoy me up--whether negative or positive. It shows they have read my ms. carefully. To me, that is affirmation.Marion Cuba

Thanks for sharing, Victoria. Critique prepares us for publication in more than one way--we'll need that thick skin it creates once reviews of our work are published!

Thanks again! Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.

Thank for sharing your experience, Densie. It's a conundrum. Early on in our writing journeys, there is so much to learn from the monthly approach, from writing more effective prose to how to externalize inner conflict to how to create a relatable character and more—but at some point, I do believe it can hold you back, for the reasons you state. At that point, full ms critique is the way to go. Yet many long-standing groups exist, so they must still get something out of it! Best to go in with eyes wide open.

A succinct way to put it, Amorina.

crbwriter: Comment slotted in the wrong place. Please check above--my comment to you is the second after "vanderso" above!

I know how awful that must have felt to hear that, but I get it. This is valuable feedback--even if you were writing a mentally ill character, she needs to be one your readers want to stick with for ten hours of reading. This issue is at the heart of why we seek feedback. We need to learn how our characters are coming across to others. Of course as critiquers, it helps if we can keep our own inner psychotics in check while delivering that news!