For what you may ask? Well is it necessary for members of your critique group to write the same genre as you? If you write category should you just belong to a category critique group. If you write paranormal should your critique group be only paranormal writers. And it can go on and on and on.
My question is, why would you belong to a group that is basically your competition. You want to take one of those very rare holes in a publishers schedule for your genre. As much as you want it for your fellow member of your critique group, you want it before them. That’s not being mean it’s just being human 🙂 You celebrate with your fellow members when they achieve their goals. You want to achieve yours too.
A critique group is to help you with your plot holes, character flaws and flow of your writing. If you have been together as a group for a few years you should be used to the various genres the other members of your group write.
All novels basically have the same time line, boy meets girl, girl and boy commence a relationship. Things are thrown at the couple to make them work through differences and fight for their love. In the end – happy ever after. It doesn’t matter if it is a historical novel, paranormal, suspense or category. The outcome is the same and each persons work should be looked at separately and not defined by whether it’s single title or category.
Perhaps what should be considered is understanding the various genres etc and maybe occasionally taking the time to look at the different lines, have a read and understand what the person is trying to achieve. I know in my TBR pile I have paranormal, historical and I even have an Inspirational Novel. I’ve just completed a Young Adult novel. I think over the last year I’ve tried to expand my reading habits and I’ve discovered some great new authors. That’s the best part of experimenting and trying new things. You find some great keepers!
What are your thoughts?
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