Meetings | Flint Area Writers

Our Meetings

TAKE YOUR WRITING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

EVERY 2nd and 4th Friday

We meet every 2nd and 4th Friday, from 7pm to 10pm for Oral Critique. Writing meetings are to be determined.

Currently, we are meeting in person. Bring your laptop and a pen & paper. You must be 17 + years old to participate.

We have two types of meetings at this time. Critique meetings and writing meetings. We also schedule writing retreats typically once a year.

Short Stories

Novels

Poetry

Oral Critique

Writing Meetings

What is oral critique and how does it work?

We read aloud for approximately ten minutes, which is typically eight to ten pages double spaced. Listeners take notes. When the author is finished reading, each group member provides improvised "cold" critique based on what they heard.

We praise original writing so you know what you're doing right.

Any sections that need clarity, we provide feedback so the author can revise to make the piece stronger and more publishable.

Advantages

Reading aloud is good practice for public readings.
Reading aloud helps the author catch their own mistakes.
Cold critique requires no prep time (reading manuscripts, writing comments) because there is no advance distribution of work. No prep time is key for busy writers. And we're all busy, right?
We leave the copy editing to the pros (and we have several).
A 2 week deadline keeps you writing.

What is a writing meeting and how does it work?

Members get together and work in the same room on their own current WIP. They can use this time to write, edit, plot or any other things they need to do for their current piece. Members start the meetings with role call and then determine how long they want to write before a break and a check in. The number of "sessions" will be determined by the members present.

Advantages

Sometimes life is busy and we don't always get a chance to just write. This time has been blocked off for meetings anyway and it's a good chance to focus on our work.
Other authors are working and we find that if you are around people who are working, you tend to get into a work mindset and thus work better.
There are authors there who can help with plot questions or word choices during breaks and mini talks between writing sessions.

We don't critique hate speech or illegal material such as bestiality, pedophilia, etc.