Writing groups can provide constructive criticism and empathetic support for writers at all levels. Whether your interests steer you to poetry, magazine articles, nonfiction subjects, or the Great American Novel, the experience of setting words on the page can be daunting, humbling, challenging, and rewarding all at the same time. Non-writers may not understand your agonies over seemingly miniscule word choices, and if they read your work they may not have the literary tools to analyze the piece beyond the superficial “I liked it,” or “It was good.”

Enter the writers group.

What Writers Groups Do

At their core, writers groups are simply coteries of people who share their work to receive feedback, constructive criticism, and encouragement from one another. Authors in a group receive working manuscripts from the other members and submit their own pieces. Each member then reads the other texts and critiques them on their literary merits. The entire group meets at regular intervals and discusses each submission, offering reactions to the piece and suggestions on how to make the work even better.

Some groups are narrowly focused, such as a group of science fiction novelists. Others are more general, accepting writing submissions of all genres and styles. Most will try to limit the size of a submission: a chapter or two of a book is a digestible length. Presenting a group with a 700-page epic novel is far too much!

Members must trust one another to keep their work private. After all, authors are submitting pieces in this forum precisely because they feel the work is not yet ready for public release.

Belonging to a group will remind you to keep writing. It’s easy to rest on past successes or become frustrated in the face of rejection slips. A group that expects regular contributions may be the catalyst you need to keep working.

Writers groups can also be great places to network and get tips on the business of writing. Another author may know just the publication your article is perfect for, or may have a great relationship with a literary agent that might be interested in your work. Since all the other members are writers as well, they will likely identify strongly with the emotional ups and downs you will experience during your writing career.

Getting a Group Started

There is no formal process to start a writers group. Many begin in impromptu fashion, when an author asks a trusted friend to critique a working manuscript. The friend then mentions a third writing acquaintance interested in sharing work, and a group is formed. Most writers know at least one other peer within their craft; networking with these contacts can usually produce a number of people interested in forming a group. If you are not acquainted with any other authors, an Internet search of your area with keywords like “writing” or “writers group” may turn up some results.

Try to find writers with roughly equal skill levels, or at similar stages in their careers. Joining a group that includes Stephen King and Michael Crichton would be amazing, but unless your work is on that par, your comments may not be useful to them. A writers group is about mutual support and criticism. It is not a workshop or classroom for new writers.

Group size varies, but usually ranges between three and eight. If the group is too large, authors may become inundated with all the submissions from the other writers. A warning sign of Manuscript Overload appears when members regularly show up to the group meeting without having read the other pieces. This does not help the submitting authors, and places undue stress on the overloaded member.

Virtual Groups

When writers cannot find other like-minded individuals in their area or do not have the time for regularly scheduled meetings, virtual writers groups can be formed. In this format, writers are linked through email, chat rooms, blogs, or other electronic forums. Manuscripts are transmitted via email or posted as files to a central access point, and members return criticisms online. While this may not be as aesthetically rewarding as sharing your comments over a cappuccino in a cozy bistro, it is much more adaptable to busy schedules and negates the need to haggle over mutually acceptable meeting times.

Keep in mind, however, that electronic communication lacks the nuance of body language, tone, and gesture that face-to-face communication affords. Be careful that your criticisms are conveying the message you are intending to send. Comments made in an electronic critique may be overly harsh or misunderstood by the author in a way that personal dialogues rarely are. Let the poster beware!

Guidelines on Giving Criticism

Once a group is established, manuscripts are distributed and members are expected to critique one another’s work. This can be a nerve-wracking time, especially for new writers who may be hesitant to share their opinions. Here are a few tips on how to give helpful and useful feedback:

• Focus on the work, not the author. Make sure your comments are directed at the manuscript, not at the authors themselves. Don’t try to second-guess the author’s intentions or figure out “what they were trying to do.” Simply present your reactions to the piece itself as if the author was unknown.
• Be honest, but be polite. Holding back your honest opinions for fear of causing offense does not help the other writer. Problems with the work need to be brought to the author’s attention, but phrase your remarks objectively and politely. Overly harsh or ad hominem attacks may discourage or anger the other writer. Remember, your work will soon be critiqued as well!
• Be specific whenever possible. Vague, wandering comments help no one. When you read another’s work, take notes about plot, structure, characterization, tone, pacing, dialogue, description, and other details. Relaying your overall impression of the piece may be useful, but follow it up with specific points of praise or analysis.
• Balance your critique. Rare is the piece that has no redeeming qualities or has no room for improvement. Even a piece with major flaws may have a noteworthy turn of phrase or an engaging characterization. Balance negative comments with positive ones, and always try to end on an upbeat note.
• Recognize your own prejudices. None of us are completely objective. If a piece touches on an issue that is sensitive or volatile to you, let the author know. Your opinion on the issue is still important, but recognize that it will likely color your critique.
• State it, don’t ask it. Authors don’t get the luxury of explaining the piece to everyone who reads it. In your critique, state your opinion rather than asking the author questions about the work. If the piece provoked a question in your mind (e.g., “Why did Jack throw the car keys into the ditch?”), turn it into a statement (“It wasn’t clear to me why Jack threw the keys into the ditch.”).

Guidelines on Receiving Criticism

Being on the receiving end of a critique can be difficult, but it’s the reason you joined the group in the first place. Here are a few suggestions to help you through it:

• Don’t defend your work. Arguing with the critique is pointless. Your work must stand on it own, because you can’t defend it to every reader or editor who might read it. Remember that the critique is simply one opinion. Even if you think the reviewer is completely off base, thank them for their opinion and move on.
• Take notes. Chances are, you won’t remember every comment about your piece the next time you sit down to edit it. Take notes about others’ critiques, even if you disagree with them. You may see them in a different light when you come back to the piece again.
• Clarify if necessary. Don’t argue with the reviewer, but ask them to clarify vague or unintelligible comments. Sometimes, this will help you glean the underlying cause of their problems with the work.
• Listen to the group. Remember that you are in a writers group because you value your peers’ opinions. Don’t reject criticisms out of hand, even if you disagree with them. If the entire group comments on the same problem, there’s a strong chance that the piece needs work in that area.
• You have the final say. Ultimately, the work is yours, not the group’s. You are under no obligation to follow their suggestions. This is especially true if the group is divided or ambivalent in their criticism of a particular point. Every piece will not appeal to every audience.

Conclusion

Whether you are a first-time writer or a nationally published author, a writers group can be a sounding board, a source for contacts, and an emotional safety net. Writing can be a lonely art. Connecting with others who share your passion might be the catalyst you need to keep going and get published. Happy writing!