In my experience building dynamic teams at work, I’ve found that creating a working agreement is critical to team success. A working agreement helps prevent misunderstandings, build trusts, and creates a structure for success. These principles of collaboration apply equally well to critique groups. Here’s my recommended flow for creating your group’s working agreement:
Step 1: Define Group Purpose and Individual Goals
Start by having each member silently reflect on what they want the group to accomplish together. Afterward, everyone writes down their answers and shares them. This discussion will help you craft a statement of purpose for the group. Here’s an example:
“Each of us seeks to be published by a traditional publisher. We will encourage, challenge, and support each other in pursuit of that goal.”
Next, move to individual goals. Ask each person to reflect and write a brief statement about what they want to get out of the group. For example, “I want to improve my pacing” or “I want to be more confident in my writing.” Sharing these personal goals helps the group commit to supporting each other’s development.
Step 2: Build a Group Identity
Creating a fun group name fosters a sense of belonging. Spend 2-3 minutes brainstorming names. Call out names as they come to mind, and then use dot voting to narrow down the favorites. This not only helps establish a group identity but also encourages collaboration.
Step 3: Create the Working Agreement
Now that the group has started to think and act like a team, it’s time to create the working agreement. Ask everyone to brainstorm answers to the question, “How will we operate?” Group similar ideas together, then discuss which are most important and relevant. Common items include:
- Meeting cadence: How often will you meet, and how long will meetings last? About twenty minutes per person is a good guideline. This ensures each member gets ample time for feedback without overwhelming the group. Add ten to fifteen minutes for general conversation at the start and end of the session.
- Managing time: Will you set timers or use techniques like the “ELMO” method (“Enough, Let’s Move On”) to keep conversations from going too long?
- Speaking structure: Will you use structured turns, a “talking object,” or a “cone of silence” to ensure everyone is heard? The latter is particularly effective when people are new to critique groups: while a work is being discussed, the author may not speak or respond. It keeps a critique from turning into a debate.
Step 4: Document Format and Page Submission
Critique groups have some unique needs that don’t typically appear in these kinds of agreements in a work setting.
- Document format: Word, Google Docs, PDF—whatever works best for everyone.
- How to exchange pages: Do you want to use a shared folder (e.g., Dropbox), or is email easier? If using a shared service, should everyone comment on the same document or on individual copies?
- When pages should be submitted: Two to three days before the meeting is a good balance.
- How much time to spend: For newcomers to critique groups, recommend spending no more than 30 minutes on ten pages to avoid over-critiquing.
Step 5: Revisiting the Agreement
No working agreement is ever perfect, so make sure to set a date, usually after 3-4 sessions, to review and revise the agreement. You don’t have to wait until the target date if the group agrees that something needs changing sooner.
It’s also helpful to read the agreement aloud for the first few sessions to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind.
By setting clear expectations through a working agreement, your critique group will have a solid foundation for success. Keep communication open, and don’t be afraid to adapt the agreement as your group grows. And remember, always refer back to the Critique Group Prime Directive: the goal is to offer thoughtful feedback that helps everyone grow, while respecting each writer’s voice and intentions.
Semantics & So On 