Participants in Columbia Fiction Foundry workshops critique submitted manuscripts, usually short stories or chapters from novels. The works includes a variety of genres, from historical to fantastical and commercial to literary. Each genre presents different nuances of imaginative reality.
The appeal of the genre and subject matter varies by personal preference, but within our workshops, we expect participants to read inclusively and not to limit their critiques to writing within their own genre. A participant encountering an unfamiliar genre or subject can almost always find ways to provide helpful comments and insights, since every manuscript teaches us about the craft of writing.
On the rare occasion, when a participant is unable to read every manuscript prior to the workshop, we encourage that person to send authors written comments after the workshop.
Key principles:
- Follow the Golden Rule. Devote to someone else’s work the time and attention you’d like others to devote to yours.
- Read manuscripts closely, noting observations and comments to help the writer.
When reviewing a manuscript, consider questions of plot, characters, and setting. For example:
- Plot: Does the pacing move the story forward and engage your interest? Why? Stakes can
be internal or external, and the requirements vary by genre, but a scene should progress
the plot, develop relationships or reveal character. - Characters: Are the characters believable? Is the voice authentic, and is the POV clear?
Do you care about the characters? - Setting: Has the author built a believable world with vivid details that engage the senses?
Is there too much description? Not enough?
Because we accept manuscripts of 5,000 words maximum, we read novels a chapter or chapters at a time. We critique these excerpts based on their individual merits and how well they fit into the novel’s context as described by the author.
During the workshop, when participants share their comments, it’s best to focus on big-picture questions, or issue that come up within a scene or concerning an element of craft. It’s helpful to tell authors what works, or where you have questions. Line edit level comments, including obvious spelling or grammatical errors, can be shared after the workshop, when participants send
their written comments to authors.
Ultimately, the best way to learn about CFF critiquing is to attend a CFF workshop as an observer. You’ll receive all the manuscripts in advance of the workshop. It’s fine to simply observe the process. It’s also fine to participate, commenting on manuscripts during the workshop and following up with written comments, as authors benefit from multiple perspectives.
We welcome newcomers as well as all genres of fiction. We encourage you to sign-up and hope to see you at a workshop soon!