novel-writing critique group
We were thrilled that Rebel Melissa’s first column on the writer’s life appeared this month. Melissa’s well-crafted piece speaks from experience and nails one of the aspects of writing that most drives novelists on –– and that keeps us hooked on our “habit.”
Check it out in the Montclair Local, the local paper for the highly creative, artistic, NYC-vicinity community of Montclair, New Jersey.
http://www.montclairlocal.news/wp/index.php/2018/03/10/montclair-writing-goal/
At our February 2018 meeting, we reviewed the revised start to John’s novel, which currently has the working title Uncertain Friends. The critique engendered classic lively, rebels exchange that brought out the critical fiction ingredients of:
• sympathetic characters
• story stakes
• and intro. hook vs. inciting incident.
We discussed the relative merits of John’s primary male and female characters, possible steps to grab the reader’s attention faster, and ways to further convince the reader of his protagonist’s commitment to the story’s problem.
Beauty of the Rebels is that no one has to agree. 😌 But the author always has contrasting (or even sometimes consensus) reaction and points of view to take home and sift his or her own artistic truths from.
Keep keeping it real, Rebs!
We look eagerly forward to receiving the first draft of Melissa’s novel in April, for our reading pleasure and critique.
At our January 2018 meeting, we welcomed a another new Rebel to the group. Like Melissa, Martha Holland came to our attention through the Bucks County Writer Workshop, which two of our Rebel members (Chris and John) participate in. Martha is working on her first novel, an environmental thriller-mystery set on Florida’s gulf coast.
Martha has a master’s degree in English from UVa, so we now have two Wahoos in the Rebels group –– Russ and Martha. Go ‘Hoos.
We reviewed everyone’s writing area of focus with Martha, and we look forward to reviewing the first draft of her novel this spring.
Rebel Writers 