Writer's groups

[dreamflower]

I just got home from the first ever meeting of a local writer's group. As organizational meetings go, this one got quite a lot accomplished. We've set meeting times for regular meetings and critique meetings, and we decided we did not want to be a paying chapter of a writing organization. I am not too certain of just how we will do in the long run-- we are pretty diverse in one sense, and not very in others. And I am not too sure how well I will fit, as I am not interested in conventional publishing of fiction for myself (though perhaps my non-fic will profit).

We shall see what we shall see. Have any of you been part of writer's groups? What sorts of experiences (good and bad) did you have with them? Any advice for me on interacting with my fellow writers in person? (I am much more comfortable with online communities, LOL!)

Comments

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

How you interact depends upon the purpose of the group. I've been in three writing groups. One was for dilettantes (more social than anything), one was for people seriously trying to break in by marketing their short fiction, and one was for well-established professionals marketing novels.

Are you hobby writers? In other words, are you writing fiction simply for your own enjoyment? Less ambitious, more casual, probably less fraught. Less chance of getting riven by professional jealousies.

Are you trying to write to sell? In that case, having people who are actively marketing their works can be critical help. They can exchange information re: markets, info about editors, etc.

Are you writing roughly the same type of stuff? You write fantasy and someone else writes hard science fiction. If you're not interested in what they're writing, critiquing can be a chore. Are you vastly different in your professionalism and critical ability? Sometime that can be good: the newbies can learn the ropes from the pros and add fresh blood and excitement. Sometimes it can be a disaster, if you're bored by useless critiques from people who really don't have their writing chops and just say, "Well, I thought it was good, and I have no other comment." Or, conversely, if you're too intimidated by a pro who has lots of sales.

If you're trying to sell, can the group cope with the pressures if one sells and another doesn't? Or if one sells work the rest of the group doesn't respect?

If you give a person a critique, do they get angry and argue? Do they listen? Do they say yes, yes, you're right...and then go and make exactly the same mistake in the next story they write? Over and over and OVER again? Do they understand that the work is being critiqued and not the person. Conversely, are they too vicious, so much that discouragement sets in?

Do they respect each other equally? Is everyone given the chance to speak up? How are disagreements handled? Are they going to do the work? Nothing is more infuriating than coming to a meeting and discovering that someone has done a half-assed job of critiquing. Or worse, hasn't even read the work at all.

How are new member candidates dealt with? Sometimes you add a new member and then realize that to do so was a mistake. I've seen groups break up because of a mistake like that. What we did was to have a candidate submit a work, have them attend three meetings, exchanging critiques, and then have them stay away for one meeting, and the members in the group vote: in or out. This was important: it has to be unanimous. It can get EXTREMELY uncomfortable if you let someone into the group because you feel pressured by other members to accept them, even though you hate their stuff or find them to be a temperamental prima donna.

Lots to think about there. I've been with groups that worked well, and groups that cracked up.

I wouldn't have published my stories or novels without them.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I've been in groups with Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy award winners. I've helped critique hundreds of stories and dozens of novels that went on to publication.

[dreamflower]

Thanks for the questions! Those are good things to think about.

For myself, I am mostly a hobby writer-- with my fiction. However, I would not mind getting more of my non-fiction published.

The group's very diverse. At least half are hobby writers who want to go professional, another half have had a few things published. Two of us write fanfic. One wants to write historical fiction about Native Americans, another wants to write stories about her ancestors. Some are poets. A few are wanting to write Christian fiction.

The lady who is starting the group spent 25 years writing and editing for a denominational publishing house-- mostly working on Sunday School Curriculum.

I really am not at all sure what to think.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I refer you to one of the best collection of links I've ever found re: writing, marketing, critiquing, etc, provided by the Midwest Book Review:

Advice for writers

Writer resources.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

The two lasting write groups I've been a part of have started as write groups, gotten quite small and intimate, and became more deep friendships. But not always was writing accomplished. The one I had ages ago was very nice. We had a system. Eat dinner, chat about life a bit, then share a chapter of whatever we were working on, discuss. It was awesome. My present writing group doesn't really critique each other. We more talk about the creative process and brainstorm and talk about other things! But it's a lot of fun just to hang around other writers!

I went to one bad group that I felt VERY uncomfortable at. The problem there was that the others already knew each other and they weren't open to others.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

The last writer's group I was in was in grade school and it was more of a class than a group. : )

There isn't anything like that here in the Village of the Damned where I live. You could join a group of hunters or ATV riders or a group of people who like to smoke but no writing groups.

Be yourself. You're a lovely person and you'll fit in just fine.