Writing Group- A bit bored

[User3463643]

I attend a writing group (only few members currently - hoping some more people will attend).
We critique each others work and talk about a lot of different things - non-writing related and I really enjoy their company.
Problem is I am bored with the work that I am critiquing if I am brutally honest (and they may well be bored with mine) and because there are so few of us the expectation is that you do critique and so I feel pressure to do so.
The problem is pace for me I think - one writer has reached chapter 6 and as of yet nothing dramatic has happened - I have gently expressed my thoughts about this but I'm not sure its been taken on board and another has reached chapter 4 and likewise and also seems to elaborate a lot about detail - information overload. Some people might like the slow build up writing but for me something dramatic had to happen in my second chapter (and well in my first actually). I showed my older dc one of the more suitable pieces of work and they also commented that they were bored with what they were reading. Usually I make a list of things I like about the writing (and obviously not so sure of) but now I feel as if I'm running out of positive things to say (without repeating myself) and have guiltily skim read some of the work. I am a sahm and enjoy the social dynamics of the group so wouldn't want it to fold and look forward to new members joining, I just feel so bad that my enthusiasm as waned when they are such lovely people. Anyone found themselves in a similar situation?

It's hard to get past that 'it's lovely' stage, isn't it? Perhaps you could all do an anonymous edit exercise, where everyone puts their ms in identical brown padded envelopes with a sticky label with their own name inside with their ms. Then each person goes to town with the red pencil and you all turn them back into the centre of the table upside down...shuffle them up a bit, for good measure, before flipping them back over.

If you all look at them at home that next time, then you could discuss how helpful it was and see if you think you should be harder on each other in the regular workshop...

Or you can write elements of good stories out on slips and pull out 'plot', 'characterisation', 'pace', 'word choice' etc out of a hat and then use that to look at the stories that week, so that everyone's, say, word choices, are being examined.

Doing something different can really rejuvenate a group...good luck!

Hi Doctorwhosit Thank you for your response and your suggestion, I am going to give it some thought. The people in my writing group are lovely, lovely people and I have got to know them fairly well so I do feel like I am able to give some constructive feedback and one person in particular receives it well and makes changes if they think they need to. But there is another person who just seems to disregard everything that is said about her work and it does get a bit frustrating. I'm not saying I or the other couple of group members are correct in our critiques but literally everything seems to be ignored though she does occasionally have some useful points to make.

The group is useful because it motivates me to complete the next chapter etc. in time for the next meet up whereas I could possibly let things drift.

I think we could just do with one or two new members but I do find it enjoyable enough to stick with it and it motivates me knowing others are working on their own novels too - so great from this point of view as well. Just wish some of the feedback about my work was a bit more substantial - I am writing either a fantastic novel or else people are not really commenting because it's terrible - I'll go with the former option for the time being. And who knows; as we get to know each other better more critique might flow.