A few days ago, an email went out to WAG members asking those in critique pods to write a paragraph or so about what their critique pods means to them. Below are responses that were submitted.
From Susie Baxter:
I will be forever grateful to Wendy Thornton and the late Kal Rosenberg, who organized the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) in 2009. They had the foresight not only to create an organization that would bring programs of interest to writers but also to establish critique pods in which writers could obtain feedback from other writers.
At the very first WAG meeting, I was lucky enough to get into a pod led by Stephanie Seguin, now a Bacopa editor. Wendy and Kal also joined Steph’s pod. As a newbie, I was a bit intimidated at first since all members of this pod seemed to be seasoned writers (Kal had even published a book, Sold as Is, and he was working on another.
On my first submission, Kal wrote, “Good writing but not a story.” To borrow phrasing from one of my sisters, Kal’s comment “hurt one of my feelings” at first. But then I recognized that he was right about the story part. I’d stopped short of telling the whole story because the pod had set a word limit.
Over the years, the pod has evolved. One member will drop out, and another will join, but I have learned something from each and every person who has passed through. For example, Wendy Thornton helped me eliminate unnecessary words such as that, would, and could; Frances Ogle suggested catchy titles; Kaye Linden made me abhor passive voice; Ann~Marie Mangé had an eye for repeated words; and now Michelle Dunlap asks the important questions, just as Joan Carter always did. Each pod member seems to spot something different, and I love that. I continue to learn from every one of them.
From Ronnie Lovler:
I think critique pods are a wonderful thing. That, at least, has been my experience. It’s a two-way street where you give and you get and derive the benefit of a solid critique of what you have written and can offer the same to the members of your pod.
I joined the Writers Alliance of Gainesville because of the critique pods. I wanted to write a memoir, and I sensed that becoming a member of a critique pod would offer me a way to make that happen.
It has helped. My memoir is nearly finished now, and it would not have happened without my participation in the pod of which I have now become the de facto leader, the POW pod. When I joined the POW poe, our membership included Richard Gartee, Ann~Marie Magné, Susie Baxter, and Joan Carter. Joan sadly passed away last year, and Richard and Ann-Marie have moved on to other things. Susie and I are the only ones left of that original grouping, although we have two new members now, Christina Gilman and Gay Marie Logsdon.
My Pod makes me accountable, and I, at least, need a push from beyond myself at times. My pod members make suggestions that often make my work better. And if I don’t agree, I am under no obligation to make the change. But we have good conversations, and I think all of us have benefitted from our participation in the pod.
Our pod meets twice a month; other pods meet more often or less often. But I think participation in a pod is one of the great things that WAG has to offer, and I urge you to take advantage of this unique benefit of WAG membership.
From Betsey Pepine:
Writing my first book started out as a solitary journey, but being part of a critique pod transformed my process in ways I never expected. I joined the memoir pod and submitted 3000 words before each meeting. Having both seasoned and new writers review my work was incredibly valuable. Getting fresh eyes on words I had written provided me with insights I never would have seen for myself. Such insights included the phrasing of sentences to make things clearer, the awareness that I was taking for granted things a reader would not know and, hence, would need more backstory on, overused patterns I had in my sentence structure, etc. The pod provided a trusted group of writers who provided fresh perspectives, constructive feedback, and unwavering accountability. Their insights push me to refine my work, helping me see blind spots I might have missed. More importantly, the exchange of ideas and encouragement kept me motivated, and made writing feel less like a chore and more like a shared creative adventure.
Beyond just improving my craft, my critique pod has also strengthened my confidence as a writer. Knowing I had a space to test new ideas and receive honest, yet supportive feedback helped me take bigger creative risks. The camaraderie within the group was just as valuable as the critiques—there’s something powerful about being surrounded by people who truly understand the highs and lows of the writing process. If you’re looking for a way to stay inspired, grow as a writer, and finally finish that project you’ve been working on, joining a critique pod might be the game-changer you need.
From Debbie Miller
I didn’t decide to write an entire manuscript until I joined the Writers Alliance of Gainesville, and a critique pod helped keep me accountable and focused on writing weekly. And by the end of the year, my manuscript was completed. The pod was invaluable for receiving constructive feedback, positive validation, an encouragement. The writers in my group were strangers at first but have become my dear friends as we shared stories that hadn’t been divulged to our family or long-term friends.
Based on these member experiences, WAG members who are not in a pod are missing out.
More testimonials will likely be posted at a future date, so if you have one to add, please email it to Debbie Miller, blogeditor@writersalliance.org.
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