Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The League of Ordinarily Surly Men

That's the name of my critique group. Actually it's not. We don't have an official name, or a group blog or anything like that. We're pretty informal about the whole thing actually. Plus, we're not even very surly. Most of us are really nice. Simon is probably the only one who is so mean it's scary sometimes.

Just kidding. Anyway, I've got a lot of reading that I owe my crit group, and I'm really behind on it. So I won't be doing a real post or reading many blogs today. Instead you should visit the blogs of the other members of my crit group.


Ted Cross is the original member. Ted and I met, where else, on Nathan's forums and have been friends and writing buddies ever since. We connected as soon as I found out that not only does Ted love Fantasy as much as I do, but unlike me, has the courage to write it.

Simon C. Larter was a silent partner for a long time, then he got more involved, and now he's back to less again. We're not mad at him at all though, because even when he doesn't have pages to share with us he still critiques our work. Can you imagine a nicer thing to do? Plus he's hilarious, even if a little surly when he's out of vodka.

Ryan Z. Nock is the newest member, and the youngest, but he's a damn fine writer and came highly recommended by my mentor, Bryan Russell. Ryan actually lives in Atlanta, well just outside, but a lot closer than me, and we still haven't actually met yet. We need to get on that.

Anyway, please go visit their blogs and follow them, you won't regret it!

37 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

OMGosh...Simon is one of your crit partners?? I love Simon. I don't seem to get to his blog too often, though. He writes his posts either real early in the morn or late at night--for me, anyway.

Good for you, Matt.

Unknown said...

Sharing the love? I visit each of these. It is great to work with a group of other writers - mutually supportive :)

Jessica Bell said...

Off to follow those who I don't already :o)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds like you have an awesome critique group. That's so important. Mine has helped me so much.

Ted Cross said...

Simon has so much more 'voice' than the rest of us (not knocking us; he's just that good) that it puts me to shame. I'm reading away on Ryan's book, making headway at least. And, I can't believe you have never read The Name of the Wind! You have got to rectify that!

Renae said...

Sounds like a great group! Now I'm off to check out their blogs.

Candyland said...

Make. Me. :P

JE said...

I already follow all of their blogs! Man, you've got an awesome crit group!

~JD

Creepy Query Girl said...

Awe. It's a literary bromance. How sweet! We'll be sure to check out your buds!

Stina said...

Awww. What a sweet post. :D

Emily White said...

What an awesome group you have! Off to check out their blogs!

Christina Lee said...

good luck--I get behind too! What a great group you are though!

DEZMOND said...

this is an off-topic, but I've never asked you this Matt: why do you have a cigarette in your mouth in your profile pic?

Kelly Polark said...

Ha! I think you should keep that name for your group! It's awesome to have writer buddies to keep your writing in line!

Anonymous said...

I know Ted and Simon, but haven;t visited in a while. Ryan is new to me. I'm off to say hello.

vic caswell said...

ohman! how lucky are you! ted is WAY classy, and i've seen that simon guy everywhere- hilarious! i've seen the znock guy at the bransforums but didn't realize he had a blog... now to investigate...
have fun critting! :)

Old Kitty said...

Awwww you all sound adorable!
:-) Take care
x

Cameron said...

Hey Matthew - thanks for the comment back and follow (though I might value your feedback and you might value the content more on my writing blog). Always interested in finding new material to digest in writing and publishing.

Cheers!

K. M. Walton said...

Nothing beats good crit partners!!!!

Sarah Ahiers said...

don't think i've checked out Ryan or Russel's before so i'm off to do so!

Sarah Ahiers said...

and by "Russel's" (sic) i meant Bryan, but that's what i get for typing and reading at the same time

Chris Phillips said...

some good blogs. thanks for pointing them out.

Melissa Gill said...

I love the name for your group. From what I've seen of your blogs it's a good name (although you're not really surly). It's interesting that you're all men. Was that intentional?

I have a mixed group that meets in person, and I blush everytime I think about reading some of the love scenes in my new WIP in front of Joe.

Shannon said...

Hurrah for crit groups! I posted about this today. ;)

Clara said...

I had a critique group, but I think we all got what we wanted from it and now we drifted apart.
Still, it would be nice to create a "League of Extraordinary Literature Men...and women." =)

dolorah said...

Wow, cool crit partners. They're lucky to have you also.

........dhole

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I already know Ted and Simon well (and he's not really surly, more like snarky) but I'll have to visit the others!

Elana Johnson said...

All men? I think I just died a little. Ha! Great group!

Lindsay said...

Hurrah for your awesome crit group. :)

adam.purple said...

An excellent name. And I will check them out.

Lydia Kang said...

Glad you have such a great group, surly or not.
:)
Hey I checked my LOTR reference and Bilbo does say that! It's in the chapter entitled "A Long Expected Party."

I should have checked before I posted, though!

Susan R. Mills said...

Yeah, and how the heck I was I not following yours????? Go figure. Well, at least we figured it out. I look forward to getting to know you.

Matthew MacNish said...

Damn Lydia, and that's my FAV book, EVER! I should know better, but I did do a Google search before I commented on your blog. Maybe I should have used Bing. LOL.

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Sounds like you have a pretty great crit group! And it's good of you to send people their way, you big hearted guy, you!

Anonymous said...

Oh, you know you weren't kidding when you said I'm the mean one. I'm fine with that. :D

I should go to charm school or something. Do they have one of those? Charm school for critique partners? Would we be taught to make the bread in our praise sandwiches thicker? Cuz the bread I use is a bit more like motza than hand-sliced artisan loaf....

*cough*

Thanks for the shout-out, good sir!

:)

Unknown said...

Ted and Simon are buds of mine from Twitter and Authonomy, so glad to meet the rest of the crew!

Cyndi

Anonymous said...

very interesting, thanks