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Kathy, Sylvia, Carol, and Shelley have been critique partners for more than fourteen years and are still going strong. They still meet twice a month for plotting, critiquing, and brainstorming new ideas. Fourteen years! Considering how many friendships, even family relationships, don’t last that long, their longevity is quite an achievement. But while interviewing these ladies, the reason for their staying power became abundantly clear. They are all “J’s on the Meyers-Briggs personality test, so no one is ever late!
Although that’s a joke, there is some truth to the statement. All four are big believers in the Meyers-Briggs test. The Meyers-Briggs tests four different aspects of one’s personality: Introvert/Extrovert; Sensing/Intuitive; Feeler/Thinker; and Judging/Perceiving. Judging is the personality type that likes to make lists and be on time. Each critique group member placed slightly differently on the test and brings a special strength to the group.
Kathy Shaw has only been with the group nine years. She was invited
because she had one thing the rest of the group was missing. She’s a
“T”. A thinker. She’s also an “S” or Sensing type, which makes her great
at plotting external conflict. The combination of “T” and “S” makes her
a continuity specialist. If there’s a hole in your plot or a common thread weaving
through it, she’ll find it. Kathy was raised in
The
other “External” plotter, Sylvia McDaniel, is also an “S”, but she is a
“Feeler”. Her strengths are relationships and emotions. Sylvia is a
native of
The
other two group members, Carol and Shelley are “Feelers” also. And both
are “N” or Intuitive types. Their strengths are Internal conflict and
characterization. Shelley
Bradley is an “E” or Extrovert. She is the only non-native Texan and grew
up in
Carol
Doss, w/a Carol Rose, is the only “I” or Introvert of the group. With a
PhD. in counseling, she brings special insight into character motivations
and internal conflict. Carol’s husband is also a counselor and they have
two teenage girls. Her most recent project is a contemporary for Penguin
Putnam called, DOUBLE CROSS MY HEART. All four ladies had interesting stories to tell, but my favorite is how they were all first published within two months of each other. Carol got her “call” in February of ’98. Two weeks later, Kathy received her first sale call. By May, both Shelley and Sylvia had both sold their historicals. Was this some kind of weird Karma? No. Just a dynamic, supportive, foursome who play to each other’s strengths and always strive for the next level in their writing. I heard they’re going wardrobe shopping for National Conference after our meeting. Mind if we join you?
Visit
Shelley’s website. Visit
Sylvia’s website.
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