I am a part of a mystery/thriller critique group that meets once a month in Central Virginia. I enjoy attending our sessions. I have learned so much from the reviews of others' work, as well as from the feedback on my manuscript.

Here's what I learned today...

1. Writing takes a lot of work and rework. (And rework, rework, rework...)

2. A critique group is valuable. You get honest feedback from other writers and readers. (It's not all unicorns and glitter. Put on your big girl pants and listen. It may feel harsh at times, but the feedback is valuable.)

3. If you want to be a published author, you need to take it seriously. It's work, and you need to treat it like a business. (And in most cases, you're going to have to work after it's published to market yourself and your book.)

4. If you are unpublished, and you want to get published, you need to follow the rules and standards.

5. The publishing industry is subjective. Agents and editors are looking for what's hot now and for the next couple of years. "Whether it will sell" controls a lot of what gets published.

6. Not everyone is at the same level with her writing, but we can learn from each other.

I have made more progress on my current manuscript since I've joined this group. I enjoy our sessions. It's nice to be around people who love to read and write. If you're serious about writing, I would recommend that you find a critique group that fits your style and genre.