THE WRITING AND CRITIQUE GROUP SURVIVAL GUIDE, by Becky Levine

Becky Levine is a writer, who, like many of us, is in a critique group. Her group has been together for ten years. In my own experience, a critique is a little like a marriage. You get to know one another very well. You know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, some of us are better at dialogue, some of us at constructing plot. Becky’s book, THE WRITING AND CRITIQUE GROUP SURVIVAL GUIDE is a wonderful book that outlines the subtle etiquette of manners and how-to for being in a group, as well as how to give and receive feedback constructively, and how to revise and self-edit. I loved the book so much; we’re giving one away. To win it, just leave a comment at the bottom and we’ll use random.org to pick the winner.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: Tell us about your book.

Becky Levine: The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide is a how-to book for writers who are either just starting to critique or who have been part of a group but still want some tips for strengthening the critique process. The book has sections about finding or starting a group, critiquing different fiction and nonfiction genres, and sustaining a group for the long haul.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: How long did it take to write?

Becky Levine: Once Writer’s Digest approved a detailed Table of Contents and a sample chapter, I took about six months to write the book, including—of course—a big revision of that sample chapter. And, yes, I did leave time to send the book through my critique group!

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: Did you sell your book with the help of an agent? Do you think writers today need an agent?

Becky Levine: I did not have an agent when I pitched the idea. When I knew that Writer’s Digest was going to publish the book, I asked Jessica Faust of Bookends Literary Agency to represent me during contract negotiations. She did a great job. Do I think writers today need an agent? That’s a tough question. I know that I want one. Jessica gave me invaluable help and dealt with things I didn’t even know I should be thinking about. I’m still working on my fiction and, when that fiction is ready, I know I want an agent. Obviously, with self-publishing and e-books, a writer can publish a book today without an agent. Maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I think the knowledge an agent has is invaluable—knowledge about when and if a book is ready, about what publishers and readers are looking for, about the whole writing and publishing process. Personally, I want that experience on my side.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: What was the ONE book you read that made you want to become a writer? How old were you when you read that book?

Becky Levine: It was a series of books, teen mysteries written by Phyllis A. Whitney. My favorites were The Vanishing Scarecrow and Mystery on the Isle of Skye. (And I’ve been to Scotland twice and still haven’t made it to Skye!) I was about twelve when I read the books, and I fell in love with her characters and the places they and she took me. I knew that I wanted to be a person who did what Ms. Whitney did: write stories readers could disappear into. I still have these books, as well as Ms. Whitney’s books on writing—birthday and Christmas presents when I was a teen.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: How do you write? Do you have a routine?

Becky Levine: I wish. For years, I wrote sporadically, which—as you can guess--didn’t get a lot done. These days, since I’m juggling writing with other work and life-stuff, what often happens is that I spend a couple of days getting that work stuff out of the way so I have a clear head, then take the next day or so to immerse myself in my current WIP. I don’t really like this system, because it takes time and effort to bring myself back to the story, to dig myself back into the characters. What works best is when I schedule the first available hour or so of the morning for my fiction. It’s more fresh in my mind, and somehow that limited time increases my focus, and I make more solid progress. I think. :)

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: If you could give your book to just one person to read, who would that person be?

Becky Levine: Terry Gross from NPR’s Fresh Air radio show. That is, I’d want to give it to her, if I knew that she’d read it, love it, and invite me for an interview! Other than that, I would be happy if Oakley Hall, the writing teacher who got me started with critiquing, could read it, but he passed away a few years ago. So...I guess I’d give it to that person standing on the edge of joining a group, the one who’s hesitating at the door of the coffeehouse and seriously thinking about just not going in. Because I think the book would get them inside.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: What is your most favorite line in your book?

Becky Levine: Wow! Great question. I had to go back and take a look through the book, but I found one I like a lot and that, honestly, I think I needed to hear right now. So, thanks! “The strongest weapon against self-doubt is the confidence that comes from strengthening skills.”

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: What is your most favorite Newbery or National Book Award book?

Becky Levine: Can I pick my favorite Cybils award winner instead, since those are the awards I really use to build my to-read list these days? That choice would be Adam Rex’s The True Meaning of Smekday.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: What are you working on now?

Becky Levine: I’ve got a few projects going. I’m revising (for the umpteenth time) my first picture book, and am brainstorming another one. I’m working on a young-adult historical novel, about a young woman in early-twentieth century Chicago, the daughter of immigrants, who has to break out of the circle of fear in which her mother lives, to find her own place in the world. I’m also starting to write nonfiction educational books for children.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: List three things you can’t live without.

Becky Levine: After my family, I’d say books, tea, and a computer.

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: Tell us about your critique group. How long have you been together? How often do you meet? How do you go about giving critiques to each other?

Becky Levine: We’ve been together around ten years now. I started the group with a writer I met through the California Writers Club and another writer I was already in a group with, when I was working on a mystery novel. They also both wrote mysteries, and I wanted to be in a genre-specific group. I wrote a MG mystery with them, then I switched gears to historical YA and picture books. We added a couple more writers, also old friends, who are writing fantasy and historical. We meet every couple of weeks, and we deliver scenes or chapters to each other the week before the meeting. We deliver overall feedback about things like plot, character, voice, dialogue, etc; and we also give comments about the specific text on the pages. Sometimes we brainstorm plots and characters and, if we don’t have anything to critique, we try to meet and get some writing time in.

Thank you very much for letting me interview you. Here is a link so anyone who wants to may purchase your book: [http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/the-writing-critique-group-survival-guide-p]

and here is a link to Becky Levine’s website [http://beckylevine.com/] in case anyone would like to get in touch with you.