I don't need a critique group - I went without one for years, and even when I did have one the members only ever saw and commented on a fraction of my writing (it was a specialized group for fantasy/science fiction writing only).
Critique groups, at least the kind I was talking about, don't do my editing for me. I, as the writer, do that. The value in a critique group comes exactly from what you said: a bunch of other people thinking outside my own head. When writing, it's easy to become "blind" to your own writing, to not recognize your own weaknesses or not realize that something that seems perfectly clear to you doesn't come across nearly as well to another reader.
This is where a critique group comes in. A group of people who can read over your work and give you their opinions on what works and what doesn't. The key word is "opinions." I, as the writer, have the freedom to listen to or disregard their advice as I see fit. I have the freedom to take their suggestions into account when I edit or not. The point is to have fresh eyes look over the work and maybe spot problems that you didn't, or just give you feedback.
Critique groups don't make final edits on your work, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with that assertion.
Critique groups, at least the kind I was talking about, don't do my editing for me. I, as the writer, do that. The value in a critique group comes exactly from what you said: a bunch of other people thinking outside my own head. When writing, it's easy to become "blind" to your own writing, to not recognize your own weaknesses or not realize that something that seems perfectly clear to you doesn't come across nearly as well to another reader.
This is where a critique group comes in. A group of people who can read over your work and give you their opinions on what works and what doesn't. The key word is "opinions." I, as the writer, have the freedom to listen to or disregard their advice as I see fit. I have the freedom to take their suggestions into account when I edit or not. The point is to have fresh eyes look over the work and maybe spot problems that you didn't, or just give you feedback.
Critique groups don't make final edits on your work, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with that assertion.
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