My Writing Group

It's Wednesday, so I thought I would tell you a bit about my writing group, since I have mentioned them so many times.

I have been skeptical about joining a writing group for a long time. I'd heard so many mixed messages about whether I would be inspired or defeated by sharing my work with complete strangers there for the explicit purpose of critiquing it. Well, I finally took the plunge in September 2023 and attended the inaugural meeting of a brand new writing group at my public library. I haven't missed a meeting since. Today I want to share what I love about the group, what I think we could do better, and how you could run a writing group of your own.

What I Love

Writing group has greatly improved my confidence AND my actual writing. It is so affirming to hear other writers say, "I really liked X!" My writing group is also very good at giving constructive feedback as well on areas that could be improved. The goal is to give helpful, actionable suggestions that can help the writer grow, and for the most part, this is the sort of feedback I receive. My opening pages of Earthquake House have benefited greatly from review, as have the short stories I have taken to the group. I have found the other writers' discussion of my pieces eye opening as I hear how each of them perceived the intent and content of my writing and gently 'argue' with each other about what works and what doesn't.

How We Could Improve

We're a new group. A lot of the writers in the group are new to the entire concept of giving and receiving feedback, so sometimes we hit the wrong note with a suggestion. Occasionally we get trapped in a cycle of non-specific generalizations about a piece that the writer cannot action, and once or twice critique has veered into judgement. But we're aware of these shortcomings and working on them as a team, and I am optimistic that writing group will continue to be a positive experience.

How to Run a Writing Group

I am not the leader of this writing group, and I am sure there are many different models out there, but here's how we do it, and I think it works pretty darn well:

  • Everyone brings 3 to 6 pages to read during the session. The pages can be part of a longer piece, and you can read your complete piece in short sections over a series of weeks. Each writer brings enough copies of their piece for others to follow along while they are reading.
  • Everyone (ideally) gets a chance to read some or all of what they brought. The other writers listen and make notes on their copies of the piece (if they choose). There are no interruptions or questions while the writer is reading.
  • After the writer has finished reading their piece, others get a chance to comment. We are a smaller group at this point, so usually everyone gets a chance to give their feedback, but in larger groups this would be more tightly controlled. The writer cannot speak or respond during this phase. This is extremely important. The idea is that the writer listens patiently, making notes on their own copy as the other group members share their thoughts, and saying nothing more than 'Thanks for your feedback.' Our group allows the writer to answer one or two specific questions during this phase, but this might not be ideal for larger or stricter groups.
  • The next writer reads their piece, and the cycle begins anew.
  • If anyone has any follow up notes or questions, they can connect with each other after the session is over to talk further.
  • Our session runs for 1 hour 45 minutes, but only because the librarians like to get home at a reasonable hour. 2 hours, or even slightly longer or shorter, could work well too, depending on group size.
  • This is an in-person group, but I see no reason at all why the above couldn't work just as well over Zoom.

If you have any questions about writing groups in general and my writing group in particular, comment here and I will get back to you.