How to Find a Writing Group That’s Right for You
How often have you heard “writing is a lonely business”? Every writer arrives at a moment when they need to connect with community, or get feedback on their work or a pep talk to stop them from throwing their laptop out the window. Writing groups can help, but how do you find one that’s right for you? For starters, determine what you want to get out of the experience. You may belong to two or more groups that satisfy different needs. There are three main types of writing groups, which address time to write, accountability, and critique.
Time to Write
Do you start the day with the best intention of carving out an hour or more to just write? Then work, kids, grocery shopping, or laundry pull you away—either by necessity or subconscious procrastination? Maybe a group that meets with the sole purpose of sitting down and writing solves this problem.
Groups dedicated to writing time meet either virtually or in person for one to two hours. All skill levels and genres are welcome because there is no critique component. Many of these groups are free to attend and use the drop-in model, making it easy to fit into a freelancer or parent’s schedule. Here are examples of what to expect and resources:
Some groups begin with introductions and then get right to an hour or more of blissful quiet time to “just do it.” Check out Shut Up and Write! which has 329 chapters in 51 countries to find a group near you or to start one.
Some intersperse silent writing (20 minutes) and time to chat with your peers about the biz (10 minutes). Rinse and repeat over one to two hours.
Others begin with a prompt, followed by writing time and an option to share your work at the end. Gotham Writers hosts 75-minute Write-Ins on Zoom and will soon return to also offering in-person Write-Ins in NYC, which include social time. Registration required.
Accountability
If you thrive within structure and also crave support, an accountability group might be good for you. These groups do not involve critiques. Writers establish goals, e.g., write 1,000 words a day, and meet regularly to check in on their progress and discuss process. Members offer each other encouragement and resources for things like overcoming writer’s block, publishing opportunities, and how to find an agent. Many groups are online, so you can join one outside your region.
An accountability group for novel writers led me to Write or Die Tribe and I am eternally grateful to this international community of writers for their encouragement, advice, and friendship.
Critique
Critique groups are the most well-known and intimidating type of writing group. Members meet regularly to read and give feedback on each other’s work. The key to a positive and successful experience is to find a group that is a good match for you. This may involve some trial and error. Here are some things to consider as you investigate or start your own group:
Focus. What genres does the group include? Is the focus on short pieces or books? How large is the group? If you want your novel critiqued at 5,000 words per session in a rotation of 20 people, you’ll be retired by the time you get through the book. My novel writing group focuses on one person’s complete manuscript each month. I find this preferable to the installment style, since I would forget other writer’s plot details over the intervening months.
Ethos. What is the vibe or culture of the group? Is there clear communication between organizer and participants? Do the members read the genre you write? If you write romance novels, you may not get the feedback you crave from people who never read romance. Is there diversity in the group—in age, gender, gender/sexual identity, economic status, race, ability, etc.? A wide range of participants offers a broader perspective.
Schedule. How often does the group meet? Be realistic in assessing your availability. Maybe you can only meet bi-monthly instead of weekly to have time to read the submission and formulate your critique. You want to be prepared and show the same courtesy to other writers that you expect in return.
Expectations and commitment. A successful group will establish basic rules and stick to them. For example:
Establish how far in advance work should be submitted to the group to allow time to read and critique it
Determine depth of feedback. Is it at the craft level alone or also at the line level, to include grammar, punctuation, etc.
Do writers need to attend a set number of meetings before submitting work and if so, how many
Comments should be constructive, actionable, and avoid telling the submitting writer how you would write the piece.
A strong facilitator. While several people may share this responsibility, someone needs to keep the meetings on track. This includes monitoring the time, keeping the discussion on topic, and reining in participants who are monopolizing the discussion or being disrespectful of the writer or the material.
Respect. This is a part of the group culture and merits special attention. Sharing your work is a vulnerable, often nerve-racking experience. Are members respectful, honest, polite, and supportive? If not, find another group.
The first writing group I joined was predominantly white men over 50 who wrote science fiction. I shared a piece about sexual assault. I hoped the article would foster understanding, so I wanted feedback from the male audience. One man excused himself from offering feedback since he wasn’t a woman and “couldn’t relate.” That is crap for a number of reasons, especially since the purpose was to critique the writing craft, not the subject matter. The rest of the men rapidly devolved into a conversation disputing whether the #MeToo movement was legitimate. One man even reported that his business stopped hiring women because the male staff feared they might be accused of harassment! The facilitator did nothing to bring the meeting back to an actual writing critique. Obviously, I left that group.
There is no shame in leaving a group if it’s not right for you. As a courtesy, you should let the organizer know your decision. While my first experience was shocking and painful, I kept searching. It may take a few tries, but finding a good match is worth the effort.
Here are more places to find or start writing groups: Facebook,Meetup,NaNoWriMo,Inked Voices,Writer’s Relief.
