Expectations for BCR Writers’ Nights

This long posting is meant to explain our expectations/ideals for BCR Writers' Night thoroughly. By following these guidelines, we manage to get through a large amount of material productively in just one hour per month.

The Boston Comics Roundtable Writers' Night meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 for one hour before the regular BCR meeting. Any change to this schedule will be discussed and announced in this Google Group and the regular BCR Google Group.

At each monthly meeting, we'll discuss up to three comics scripts. These can be standalone stories or segments of a longer story, no more than 30 pages in a standard script format and preferably closer to 20. The group will discuss the scripts in the order in which they were uploaded. However, if more than three scripts have been uploaded in a month, a writer who had a script discussed in the last meeting may be asked to wait. If a script has an upcoming deadline, especially for a BCR-related project, it can be moved up the queue.

Members proffering scripts for feedback will share their best work in a professional format. They'll upload scripts to the Writer's Night Google Group at least five days before the meeting (i.e., on or before the preceding Saturday) so that other members will have time to read them thoroughly. If a script is not a standalone story, the writer will include in the file all the information that new readers must know to understand it.

All participants in the meeting will read all the scripts as thoughtfully as possible. (This is especially important for others sharing scripts at that meeting, both because it's polite and because analyzing other scripts is an excellent way to learn the craft.) Participants will make notes on a copy of each script or come prepared with written comments. All attendees will make their best effort to be in the meeting room at 6:30 to maximize the time available for discussion. (We realize that work schedules and rush-hour traffic mean that's not always possible for everyone.)

At each meeting one attendee, preferably not someone who has a script up for discussion that month, will be the moderator, with the power and responsibility to keep the discussion flowing. This includes keeping track of time, asking people to abridge their comments so that everyone has a chance to speak, and cutting off tangential discussions.

The moderator will allot equal time to each script and each commenter. With an hour for discussion and three scripts to consider, this means slightly less than twenty minutes per script, and the moderator will use a timer to ensure that all get the allotted time. The group will discuss scripts in the order in which they were uploaded unless a writer has not yet arrived at the meeting.

For each script, participating attendees will provide feedback in the areas of storytelling (plot, characters, setting, themes); comics form (visual storytelling, action, dialogue, scenes); and script mechanics (panel breakdowns, descriptions, typos). Comments from artists on how they interpret scripts are especially welcome. Given the limited amount of time in the meeting, commenters are encouraged also to give writers feedback on a printed copy or in an email, particularly on smaller points.

People unable to attend the meeting are also welcome to send writers feedback on their scripts by email—especially if they're receiving feedback by email for their own scripts. A critique group like Writers' Night can work only through mutual participation and support.

J. L. Bell

BCR Writers' Night

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