Conference Countdown: Small Group Critique Sessions

This year WV Writers will be offering two small peer group critique sessions of fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Each group critique session will be limited to 6 participants who must register in advance. There is no fee associated with these sessions provided the pre-conference manuscript critiquing process is done via email. For printed and snail mailed submissions there will be a $6.50 fee for postage.

George Lies is the moderator for the sessions. His style is a blend of hard-knocks experience and collaborations with many writers. He’s been at this sort of thing with the Morgantown Writers Group for over 10 years and has had tremendous success in peer-based critique groups.

Here are the details.

Manuscript Critiques (Special Sessions Friday and Sunday)

Manuscript Submission Format – Submit fiction or non-fiction from 1,000 words to 4,000 words in a Word file. Use 1.5 line spacing and 12-point font size. Number pages. Write your name and email address on the first page. If submitting an “excerpt”, send a 1-paragraph summary of longer work. Email the document as an attachment to: George.Lies@mail.wvu.edu.

Hardcopy (paper) submissions will also be accepted. Attendees wishing to submit via “snail” mail should send 7 copies of their manuscript, plus $6.50 for postage to George Lies, 219 Kingwood Street, Morgantown, WV 26505.

The first 12 entrants to submit manuscripts for the sessions will be accepted. Deadline for submitting email manuscripts is Sunday, June 8th (June 1st for hardcopies).

How the Critique Session Works – West Virginia Writers has scheduled 2 peer-group critique session on Friday, June 13 at 3:30p; a second on Sunday, June 15 at 10a. Writers who submit early will have first choice of either date. Each session is limited to about 6 writers. The moderator will distribute manuscripts via email attachments. Each registrant will print, read submissions; and, critique works in advance, by writing notes on the hardcopy. The group will then discuss each manuscript at the conference session, by focusing on what the story is about; what are its strengths; and, what are suggested improvements. The moderator will email a useful Manuscript Critique Guide in advance to all participants. If you have questions, send an email to the moderator at George.Lies@mail.wvu.edu.