My take on critique groups.
Critique groups are fantastic places for new writers, and even a few who have been around a bit. I started out in a group run by Orson Scott Card, and another Critters.org. Every writer needs a good beta reader or two that are not living under the same roof with them, their buddy, or related to them. No matter what a family member says, I don’t think they can be objective. A crit group can give you that objectivity.