BACCA 101

Ground Rules

Monthly face-to-face meetings, or on-line, if necessary.
Meetings are scheduled to last two hours on a Friday or Saturday afternoon.
Exchange work (3,000 words max) via email one week prior to meeting (firm deadline). If a writer’s work exceeds that limit, the others have the option to read and critique only up to the word limit.
Keep in touch via email if there is any need to reschedule. On the day of the meeting, communicate by phone and text as well if any last-minute changes or emergencies.
Prepare critique notes on all work, prior to the monthly meeting, using two categories: “What’s working” and “What needs work.” (We follow our guidelines.) Email the critiques at the end of the meeting.
If a writer needs to skip a month, submitting no work for critique, she is still welcome to critique the other manuscripts and participate in the meeting.
It’s OK to make an “extra mile” request – for writing support beyond the monthly 3K words, or for attending an open mic reading, or reviewing a published work – but it is not expected that the others will be able to oblige – some may, and some may not.

At the meeting

Each writer gets 20 minutes for critique. The first 15 minutes are for the others to comment freely. During this time, the writer remains silent. The last five minutes or so are for the writer to respond, ask questions, and follow up on specific points.
Schedule the next meeting at the monthly meeting. Once the next meeting is scheduled, the deadline for emailing work-in-progress is also set, for 11pm one week prior to the meeting. For example, if the next meeting is set for Saturday the 30^th, w-i-p’s are due by 11pm Friday the 22^nd.
Sometimes we schedule additional time at the monthly meeting for ‘business’ discussion. This has included talk about marketing, progress finding a literary agent, methods for sending out submissions to journals and contests, planning for BACCA’s participation in panel discussions, etc.
Keep the work − and all other topics discussed − confidential. Do not share outside the group.

* These guidelines have been revised collaboratively. A.M. Carley initially authored the guidelines, and Carolyn O’Neal has contributed to their revision. The final version reflects the collective efforts of both authors.