You've found CaRWA's Matchmakers. We're here to help our members join suitable review groups or partners.
As writers who seek commercial publication, feedback on our writing is an important part of developing our craft. When we are required to provide feedback on another's work, we also become more aware of problems in our own writing.
Matchmakers groups and partnerships help provide stable, accountable, and long-term writing relationships.
How it works
If you are a CaRWA member seeking a partnership or group, go to the Members Only section and fill out a Matchmaker questionnaire and return it along with a signed Matchmakers Agreement to CaRWA.
The Matchmaker Coordinator will match you with a suitable group (of no more than four members) or partner and initiate introductions. This process may take some time, depending on the number of other members presently available for a group or partner.
The Matchmaker Coordinator will encourage you through the initial stages of your new writing relationship.
The primary forum for CaRWA groups or partnerships is email.
Matchmaker Group Guidelines
Program Guidelines
1. Matchmakers participants will mail or hand deliver one signed and witnessed Matchmaker Agreement and a sample first manuscript scene before participating in the program.
2. The Matchmaker Coordinator will seek a suitable group for your participation. You are free to decline membership in a particular group, just as the group is free to decline your membership.
3. Groups will consist of four or fewer members. Group members may not add their own members without the Matchmaker Coordinator's permission.
4. Matchmaker participants will complete and return to the Matchmaker Coordinator the Follow-Up Feedback form twice per year.
Participation Guidelines
1. The most important element of a Critique Group is trust. Trust takes time to build. Upon joining a group get to know other group members on a personal level. Exchange personal details about time constraints such as jobs and families. Discuss favourite authors and genres. Discuss your writing goals and work together to figure out how you can help each other attain personal goals. Learn whether other members expect detailed reviews or general feedback. Discuss how you will deal with misunderstandings and hurt feelings--they will occur. Do not share work with one another until you have established trust. If that doesn't happen within a few months, you are free to withdraw. Remember, you will only receive what you are willing to contribute.
2. Members may go and new members may join. The process of establishing trust must begin again when the group changes. Make time for this adjustment.
3. Another factor of trust is how information about the group and its members is shared outside the group. Take the time to come to agreement on your level of confidentiality. If, in a situation, you are in doubt, err on the side of caution.
4. The goal of the group is to share work over an extended period of time. That means you may work through an entire manuscript with your group. It is up to your group to decide what you will be sharing, but it is recommended you do not use the group to continually polish one contest submission over and over again, or to expect group members to review your work while you contribute little in return. Agree as a group how often you will reread already reviewed work.
5. If you are sharing manuscripts, start at the beginning, with the synopsis. When reviewing a synopsis, the focus should be on character motivation and goals.
6. Reading and reviewing writing is a subjective experience. While receiving critiques allows us to strengthen our writing, as a reviewer be sensitive to the feelings of your fellow writers. Phrase feedback in "I think." or "In my experience." terms, not in blanket statements such as, "A hero would never do that." or, "Editors don't like that.."
7. Be cautious of becoming the group professor. The purpose of critique groups is reciprocity. If you think a fellow member has holes in her education, suggest a good craft book to help and let her learn on her own. The CaRWA library contains a good many of these manuals and they are available to Calgary and Connection members.
8. The New Testament adage, to be aware of the plank in your own eye before pointing to the speck in your neighbour's, applies. Your own writing need not be perfect before providing feedback to your group members, but you must be willing to accept feedback as well as provide it.
9. Story ideas cannot be copywrited, but prose can. Plagiarism has no place in CaRWA. Respect the integrity of each writer's work. CaRWA and Matchmaker volunteers cannot be held responsible for disputes that may arise.
10. The Matchmaker Coordinator can step in to aid a group in trouble, but each member of the group should work to prevent problems and misunderstandings before going to the Matchmaker Coordinator. If one member is destructive or consistently difficult, bring this to the Matchmaker Coordinators attention as soon as possible.
11. The purpose of the group is for sharing work. Be careful to keep a balance between sharing life issues that build trust and critiquing each other work. The group is there to provide support, but do not let its focus on writing be subverted into a psychological support group.
12. The group needs you to keep your writing commitments. If you have agreed to exchange a chapter every month, work hard to make that deadline. A major aspect of succeeding as a published author is meeting commitments. This is your chance to practice writing under pressure. If your life situation does not allow you to keep your commitment to your group, let them know, and set new writing goals with them.
13. Your writing is deeply personal and having others review it can be an emotional experience. Sometimes the comments of others hurt. If you are upset or angry, take 24 hours before sending a reply.
14. You are allowed to disagree with feedback offered. You are not obligated to make suggested changes. The story, and the way it is told, is yours alone. Take time to reflect on feedback offered to see if it is valid. Even excellent suggestions might not belong in your manuscript.
15. Other members of the group are free to disagree with you. Differing opinions are a healthy part of group interaction. If other writers don't incorporate your suggestions, it doesn't mean you have nothing to offer, just that they are writing their own story.
16. Your group will not magically transform your writing. Only you can do that with hard work and perseverance.
17. Have fun. Enjoy each other and the vibrancy that comes with working with others.
