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How to create a successful writing group that will improve your writing skills
Now that I am a member of a writing
group, it is hard for me to imagine the lot of writers who do not have this
support. A writing group, a good
writing group that is, can help you learn the craft of writing at a much faster
pace than you would pounding away on your own. They also provide the emotional
support for a lonely and frustrating trade. They give you honest yet supportive
feedback on your work and discuss your story in a way that sheds new light on the
characters, plot and theme.
So how do you find just such a
group? I put an ad up on Craigslist.com, a free online service, but you can
also hang notices at libraries, universities, and bookstores. In the near
future I am hoping that this site will act as a conduit for writers who wish to
meet with other writers. For now, you are on your own to gather a group of
like-minded literati. I recommend saying up front what your expectations are
for the group. If you want serious writers, who meet every week, then say so.
This will hopefully scare away the “Oh, this might be kind of fun,” people. Or
if you want those people than make that clear.
In the interest of a successfully
functioning group I also suggest that you require each interested member to
submit a piece of his or her writing before becoming a member. When I made this request I got to see
the level of each writer and more importantly, if the person had any existing
writing (many did not). This gives you an idea of the person’s commitment
level.
Once you have identified several
people who seem eager and committed, you should meet before agreeing to form a
group. If you are going to be meeting these people regularly and letting them
read your work, it is important that you feel comfortable interacting. Trust
plays a big role in a writing group.
When my current writing group lost
a member, we posted an ad. When people responded, I explained that we were
looking for one more member and that we were going to meet with several people
to see who would fit best with our current group. After meeting with a person,
the group would discuss whether or not we felt that he or she would be a good
addition. If they were not, then I emailed the person and said that we had
found a member who’s schedule and style worked best for us.
Once you have a sufficient number
of members, you will need to decide how to organize the writing group.
Different methods, of course, work best for different people. In my group of
six, two people submit a piece each week. We then have around about five days
to read the two submissions. We print out and read each story two times,
marking comments on the manuscript itself. We have also created a checklist of
things to look for, such as complex characterization, dialogue tags, telling
instead of showing etc. At the meeting, each person takes a turn making
comments about one of the submissions. At the end, the author gets to ask
questions and he or she takes home all the edited copies of his or her work.
There is also a de facto leader that is responsible for emailing the group
about any modifications to the schedule, reminding people when it is their turn
to submit and organizing any changes in meeting times.
Of course there are times when group members submit late,
only read other’s submissions once, or sometimes don’t show up at all. But on the whole this process works
well for us. You will have to figure out a system that fits for your group.
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