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How to Start, Join & Make the Most of a Writing Group

By Charity Singleton Craig 16 Comments

 No Jew who followed this command would have been mistaken as someone who supported the Roman cause.

The first time I joined a writing group, I didn’t know any of the members, and since they didn’t know me, I decided to write in a genre I don’t normally work in. Not that I was “working” in any genre at the time. I had long since quit my job as a newspaper reporter, and not one of my query letters for nonfiction magazine articles had produced any assignments. What would it hurt to try my hand at fiction? I carefully crafted stories every two weeks before the group met, making enough copies for each person to read.

I joined a second writing group about the same time and continued with my fiction for this group, too, though one evening I read a short nonfiction essay about an eye-opening experience I had with a homeless woman in downtown Chicago. As with the other group, I handed out copies to each group member, and during the comment section, one man told me to be careful because I was clearly naive. I felt insulted, and tucked the essay away. I didn’t change it, but I also never submitted the work for publication.

I moved away shortly after I joined those groups and didn’t find my way into another writing group until about ten years later. By that time, I was working as a writer, and the input and feedback I was looking for was much different than my “naive” younger self.

Why You Should Be in a Writing Group

The writing life can be a lonely life if we don’t find some way to connect with others pursuing the same passion. Perhaps you’ve heard friends talk about their wonderful experiences being part of a writers group. Or maybe, like me, you were in a writing group once but circumstances changed and you stopped going. On the other hand, you might have heard horror stories of writers groups gone bad and are fearful of making the leap. It’s possible you are even in a writing group already, and it just isn’t working out.

Writing groups aren’t for everyone, but writing groups aren’t all alike either. They come in different sizes, they have a variety of purposes, they meet according to various schedules. The first step toward having a good experience in a writing group is to determine why you want to be in one. Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do I crave professional connection?
  2. Do I need encouragement?
  3. Do I want to encourage other writers?
  4. Am I looking for ways to grow as a writer?
  5. Would I like feedback on my work?

Writing groups can provide these benefits and more. Once you recognize what you are looking for in a writing group, the next step is finding one that can meet your expectations.

Joining an Existing Writing Group

The writing group I currently belong to meets at a cafe one evening a month. The women in my group (mine happens to be all women, but of course other groups have men and women or just men, too) have all become friends, and we share many things in common in addition to our love of writing. There’s only one problem. The group meets about an hour from my home. Right now, I’m committed to making the two-hour roundtrip drive each month. But sometimes, I wonder if a writing group closer to home would be better. However, I don’t know if there is an organized writing group I could join in my city. Maybe your circumstances are similar.

If you are considering being part of a writing group, step one is to determine if one already exists in your city or area. How do you find existing writing groups? There are several places to start. First, contact your local library. That’s how I found my first writing group. You also can look on the community information boards at local coffee shops and bookstores. (You know how much writers like to drink coffee and read!) If you don’t find a group using those resources, take your efforts online. Do a Google search for “writing groups in YOUR CITY” or check Meetup,  whose tagline is “Find Your People.” A few writing groups in cities near mine post their meetings there.

If you do find a group, the next step is to determine whether this group is even an option for you. Practically speaking, does the group meet at a time and place you can attend? Also, does the group allow new members?

If yes, then beyond just the when and where, here are a few other things to ask when you are considering joining a writing group:

  1. Who comprises the group—writers of a specific genre, geography, age, etc.?
  2. Why does the group exist? What is its purpose?
  3. How are the meetings conducted? How are new members introduced to the group?
  4. What does the group do during meetings—critique each other’s work, write to prompts, listen to speakers, read a book and respond? Does the group do other activities in addition to their regular meetings (attend conferences, host workshops, create collaborative books or magazines)?
  5. Are there dues or other requirements for joining?

Once you find a group that fits your schedule and your goals, contact them to schedule a visit. Attend the group once or twice (if allowed) before you commit to joining. This will give you and the group a trial run together.

But what if you’ve searched and searched and can’t find a writing group to join?

Consider Starting a New Writing Group

Maybe it’s time for you to start a new writing group in your area. Where do you start? Use the same process you did above for finding a group, only this time, you are free to answer the questions however you like. Or, find one or two other writers in your area (go back to the library, coffee shops, and bookstores, or start your own Meetup group if you don’t already know other writers) and together work through the questions above.

Planning from the start how to adapt your group to growth and change will help ensure a long life for your new group. Depending on your goals, you may want to organize the group more officially by establishing membership documents, setting up your group legally as a non-profit organization, or electing leaders.

Now What?

Whether you’ve joined an existing group or established a new one of your own, your writing group is counting on you for its success—well, you and all the other members. But still, here are a few things that you can do to make the most out of your writing group experience.

Step Up. Whether you are the founding member or are joining an established group, offer your suggestions for making the group a meaningful experience for all. Suggest activities for group meetings, offer ideas for group outings, invite potential new members if your group is open. Does your group need a Facebook or Meetup page to help everyone stay in touch? Could you be the one to create it? If things aren’t going well, maybe you need to be the one to suggest changes, wade through misunderstandings, or offer a new plan for structuring your meetings. Sure, you could wait around for someone else to recognize and solve the problem, or you could be the one to offer a solution.

Step Out. Trust is built over time as members of the group get to know each other. Be the person who sets the tone for honesty and authenticity. Share successes and failures with the group. Be willing to speak up when you have a different opinion than others—kindly, of course. And if appropriate, let others in the group know when you are struggling personally, especially if it affects your attendance or your writing.

Step Aside. Although you may be an instrument for change or direction, a writing group can’t be about one person. That is called a fan club. Lead the way, then let others take ownership. Encourage everyone in the group to participate in conversations as well as group projects or outings. When appropriate, delegate.

Step Away. Groups take time to operate successfully. Yours won’t meet every one of your expectations at the first meeting. But f the members of your writing group aren’t gelling or if your expectations are never met—despite your own best effort over time—or if other members seem to lack commitment, there may come a time to leave the group. Don’t leave at the first sign of trouble. Every group will have its ups and downs. But if you’ve given it time and effort, don’t feel you have to stay in a group that’s going nowhere. Maybe it’s just time for something new.

Writing groups aren’t for everyone, but the finding the right group for you will go a long way in helping you live a satisfying and productive writing life.

Have you ever been part of a writing group? What tips can you share?

Photo by Alexander Park,  Creative Commons license via Flickr. Post by Charity Singleton Craig, co-author of On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life that Lasts.

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Comments

  1. Maureen Doallas says

    June 5, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Excellent, informative post, Charity.

    For those poets who might not know: “poetry near you” can link you up with others or to find writing programs, lit organizations, events such as conferences, etc. You can find it at http://www.poets.org It has more than 1,400 listings all over the country.

    Also, there are writing centers all over, often connected to colleges or universities, that can provide resources that connect writers to others sharing their interests.

    Reply
    • Charity Singleton Craig says

      June 5, 2015 at 3:04 pm

      Thanks for these resources, Maureen. I’m always surprised when I find a group of writers that I didn’t know existed! It’s wonderful when we find each other.

      Reply
      • LW Lindquist says

        June 5, 2015 at 8:40 pm

        I’ve been trying to connect more with the writers in my area (and of course, by area, I mean within a couple of hours since we are so remote here) and have been really pleased to find the networks of writers and events that are already in place.

        Thanks for this great piece, Charity. I think people will find it a really helpful resource.

        Reply
        • Charity Singleton Craig says

          June 6, 2015 at 8:03 pm

          LW – That is wonderful! I just stumbled on a whole network of writers just 40 minutes from me. I attended a networking lunch on Thursday, and it was a really great place to meet people.

          Thanks for your help with this piece. I like the way it came together.

          Reply
  2. Lakin says

    June 5, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    As a Tweetspeak workshop graduate, every one of these ideas is true and beautiful. Writers are such a whimsical brand of creators, and harnessing them all into one space for any given amount of time is an art itself. I recently participated in the last go-round of Charity’s and Ann’s On Being a Writer workshop, and it was truly liberating. The online platform was beautiful for my introverted nature, but also challenging. Watching how other writers move through their process was inspiring — and being encouraged in my own process was invaluable.

    I still think about our little writing group often. The contacts made are saved and savored. My skepticism at being welcomed into a community of writers quickly evaporated, and gave me the ability to call myself a writer with just as much authority as I call myself a mother.

    And being involved in a writing group is so much simpler than I was expecting. It’s an intuitive process, and can be as big or as intimate as you want it to be. I’ve started a writing group with three friends of mine. To paraphrase The Bard: though we be but little in number, we are fierce! (:

    Lots of love to Charity and her vibrant way with words.

    Lakin

    Reply
    • Ann Kroeker says

      June 6, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      We are a whimsical brand of creators, aren’t we? You say it well, with your own touch of whimsy.

      And Lakin, I’m glad the online workshop format worked so well for you and our connections can continue here and elsewhere. You were as much a gift to the workshop as the workshop was a gift to you.

      Reply
    • Charity Singleton Craig says

      June 6, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      Lakin – I’m so glad the workshop allowed you to connect with other writers so naturally and to give you a good experience interacting with other writers. I think you are on to something that writers groups can be all shapes and sizes and have all kinds of purposes. Your little group of three writers sounds wonderful! I’m so glad you three are meeting together.

      Reply
  3. Sandra Heska King says

    June 6, 2015 at 8:01 am

    When I first started writing I knew nobody who wrote… except my correspondence instructor through the Christian Writers Institute. She lived in Kansas, and we got to visit her once. That was back in the days of Selectric typewriters and carbon paper.

    My writing groups have all been online–or workshops as part of retreats or conferences.. I’ve never belonged to a regular face-to-face one. It kind of scares me. Either they might not push me or they might be way over my head or they might be plain weird. 😉

    Not that I’m not.

    My life is so interrupted most of the time that I love being able to check in and out at will, 24/7. I “should” push myself, I suppose…

    Reply
    • Ann Kroeker says

      June 6, 2015 at 2:26 pm

      Sandy, I was just talking with someone else about the flexibility of the online connections, so that I can log on at midnight if that’s the only time I have available that day. Like you, my life gets disrupted. However, I do love looking across the table at writers–looking them in the eye–and having them share their work with the group. I hope one day you find a local group that fits, so you can experience proximity and compare. You might come to the conclusion that the online writing groups are as real or even more so than in person, or that each serves a different purpose in different seasons.

      I didn’t want to come in and hog the comments section, but when I saw you and Lakin in the thread, I wanted to jump in and say hello!

      Reply
    • Charity Singleton Craig says

      June 6, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      Sandy – I love online writing connections, too. And I really love them when they transcend the web and also become in person relationships. I think there are merits to both kinds of interactions. And I think that groups that start out in person often have an online component, too. I’m just glad you are finding your people. That’s the main thing!

      Reply
  4. Dawn Paoletta (@breathoffaith) says

    June 6, 2015 at 8:27 am

    I have grown so much being active once more in my local writer’s group! The core of the groups has been around for more than 25 years. We have great diversity which is great to have in a group. The pros and cons of being in a focused group could be a whole other post, I believe. I enjoy sharing, promoting and encouraging the writer’s in my group although the majority of them have much more experience than I. But we all benefit from getting together at the big table. I have a featured tab on my Blog dedicated to the group. I have been stretched to read my work regularly for the group and publically, which has been a huge accomplishment for me, as I HATE (ed) to read my work aloud, and stand in front of a group to read! With the support of this weekly group I have overcome the fears of reading my work, and speaking to groups. Pretty cool, right?

    Reply
    • Charity Singleton Craig says

      June 6, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      Dawn – Your group sounds like a wonderful, vibrant place to connect, learn, and grow. I’m so glad you have your people there.

      Reply

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