Writers groups?

[Christa M. Miller]

Are you in one?

If so, how did it get its start? When did you join? How many did you go through to land in the one that works for you?

If not, why not? Do you wish you were? Do you have any readers at all?

[I. J. Parker]

I've been with a small group of local writers (all but one published) for about 12 years now. To some extent it is due to them that I finally did get published. A writer needs feedback to understand how the material is seen by others, but I am the final judge. We meet every 2 weeks to turn in new work and critique the previous submission. All comments are intended to make the book (or story) better and are received in that frame of mind. I would not dream of laying a whole novel on any one person, but I am grateful for input on 15 to 30 pages from a number of very different readers and look forward to doing revisions. There again, it is important to me to have the book in good shape before moving on. I spend the two weeks between meetings writing, then interrupt for a day to make revisions, then continue with the plot. Occasionally something goes to the group a second time. And I appreciate even the line-by-line editing.
My readers have all become friends by now.

[Karen Dionne]

When I started writing seriously with a goal of publication about eight years ago, I lived in a remote rural area. Meeting writers face-to-face was something I never considered because it wasn't an option.

As for online groups, I've been a part of several. I find I like large groups far better than small ones - they carry less of an individual obligation. If someone asks a question, maybe wants another pair of eyes to look over their query and I don't have time for it, I don't have to feel guilty because I know someone else will.

As for critiques - after a lot of trial and error, I finally found a couple of great critique partners - online, naturally - who write in my same genre and who are at about the same place as I am in their careers. I think the similarities are very important, since my critique partners understand the genre, their comments are more valuable, I believe, than someone who doesn't write thrillers.

I think as our writerly needs evolve, the kind of association we need from fellow writers changes as well. I think it's great that thanks to the Internet, we have so many options

[Patricia Abbott]

I've been in five. The first was horrible, the other ones okay.
Two at the present. One is all fiction and a playright. The other is fiction and a lot of poetry. Both are about five years for me but date much further back than my entry. The first we read the stuff ahead and come in ready to discuss it. The second, we read it aloud. The second is not very helpful except sometimes reading it aloud points up passages that are too long or too dull.
The first group is much better and everyone takes it seriously. The only thing is, no crime fiction writers. I always have the feeling they think I should return to the lit stories but don't say so. One of the six members is too critical, but the rest are pretty evenhanded. I think it works great for short stories but I haven't given them the novel. Once I held back, it grew too long.

[Jena Snyder]

I've been in one in-person group, and it was definitely energizing - there's nothing so satisfying as knowing that a reader is waiting to read and talk about your work! We met once a month, bringing in short stories or chapters and reading on the spot. It was tough, especially when you had to say to someone's face, "It's not working, and here's why..." but hey - wouldn't you rather hear the bad news from a friend than an editor, and have a chance to fix a problem?

The group began when a handful of SF writers/fans bemoaned the fact that none of the U.S. magazines were buying their work: Canadian SF was "too dark," and "too different." I was writing more crime than SF, but the others in the group didn't mind - the writing was always more important than the genre.

Somewhere along the line we got this crazy idea to start our own magazine - On Spec - and although it took off and kept growing over the next 18 years, it was at the expense of the writers group. People moved or moved on, and between the magazine and our lives and our own writing, we never seemed to have time to meet and crit anymore.

I live in a rural area now, and rely on emailed crits from 2-3 beta readers, all of them writers, all of them past or present editors with the magazine. Sometimes I hate them for their brutal honesty, but then I come to my senses and appreciate the fact that they're trying to help me make the book the best it can be.

For me, that's the thing to look for in a writer's group (and to contribute to it) - honesty and a willingness to help a fellow writer improve.

[Dana King]

I'm in two. One I heard about when my (now ex-) wife overheard two people talking about it. The other is the aftermath of a class I took. They're the only two I've been involved with, and I like them both, so I guess I was very lucky. I've heard stories.

I encourage people to find writers groups, for encouragement, if nothing else. I understand not all groups are as supportive as the two I lucked into.

[Louisa Christy]

I have started several groups, whether for critiquing, RWA, SinC, etc. What I have done is placed an ad in the local paper and set up a place and time, and what the meeting is for. From there, people show up and we get to know each other. When you discover the ones you feel you can trust, you ask them to read your work and vice versa. We set a two week period and then exchange back the work with comments, marks, and much more. Or, we have a yahoo site from which we can download each other's works, make track changes with comments and a quick phone conversation and go from there.
Sometimes the group gets too large, or someone is too critical. Guidelines need to be set up before exchanging works, And you can set how often you want to meet.
I have a particular group who have become good friends. We read each others' works and meet up 3 times per month. We also do 2 retreats a year just to focus on the writing craft needed in each project. Not all groups will work for all people.
The total group has expanded to more than 20 people and there are so many different genres and personalities, that working groups have been teamed from each genre. Also, the craft of writing has several different categories beginners, experts, part-timers, real writers and dabblers too. So, each group tends to help out the other. And it can get long if everyone decides to contribute at the same time.
As Jordan has said, it also depends on your needs. As your skill develops, your needs change. So does your "group." They can be a source of great inspiriation. Five members have been published or offered a contract in the last year from within my group.. That's a motivator for everyone in the group.
Stephen has raised great questions for you to investigate. They should help you find what you need and what will work.

[Tony Berry]

My wriuters' group is in the form of classes at the Council of Adult Education. Our Popular Fiction group began the year with 18 and we have only lost two who couldn't hack the pace and demands of regular writing. We are set class exercise each week to warm us up and then there are intense workshopping sessions in which we critique and advise. Many useful observations come from these sessions, especially as they are done in a co-operative, supportive fashion, intended to encourage rather than deter. And strangers are much better and more honest observers of your work than relatives and close friends.

[Johnny Ostentatious]

I agree with Dean Koontz and believe that writers group do more harm than good because you're writing for that group, not a larger audience -- and writer groups can be very clique-ish. Right now, I have three readers. Two of them I work with at my day job, and the other is an old college roommate. In the future, I'd like to get two more readers, but I thought the three of them did a good job with the latest novel I'm working on.

[GWPickle]

Yes I'm in one now and have been in one or another for over 4 years. I found my first through Writer's digest Magazine (hard copy). Every year they list the top sites. Unfortunatly m,y first group I joined is now closed. Members of this group started their own group and arre doing rather well. If you're looking to join one be sure to check them out. Look at the replies the members post especially the critiques. Do they rip the posts apart along with the author or do they offer constructive helpful comments. Also be ready to comment enough time to the group. Most want you to do atleast 2 or 3 critiques before you can post a chapter or section of a chapter of yours for other members to critique. IMHO this is only fair.
I hope this helps
G W pickle