How to Establish a Writing Group

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By Beckybugg
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Establish a Writing Group

Not all writers are anti-social. Many of us crave the company of fellow writers as well as their feedback on our novels, books, plays, poems and screen plays. Every new draft needs a little insight, and a writers group can help you find helpful critics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Decide exactly what you want from a writers group. Are you looking for friendship? For people to gripe to when the writing isn't going well? Are you looking for fellow writers to read and critique each others work? This is a key step. You'll have to know what you're looking for before you can advertise for it.
Step 2

Meetup.com may be a great place to look to find fellow writers. Many towns have their own writing groups for all different genres. Even if you want to start your own, you may want to attend a few writers groups to see what it's all about.
Step 3

Haunt your local book clubs. Book clubs are filled with writers just waiting to be asked about their writing. Book clubs may be a good place to find good critics as well. Sometimes writers need readers more than they need fellow writers.
Step 4

Advertise for your writers group. Put out free ads on craigslist, meetup.com if you're a member and hang post it messages in local coffee houses. Nothing encourages the writing muse like a large latté. Be bold and honest in your advertisement. Say when you expect to meet, where, how to contact you (I suggest using email), what the object of the meetings will be and how often you plan to meet.
Step 5

You may take your writing very seriously. You may feel that you are at the cusp of getting published or produced and you may want to surround yourself with writers who are at the same level. If this is so, ask for a writing sample before admitting members. Once you have a core group established, have new members submit and decide by committee who can join. This may sound elitist, but it will keep you surrounded with serious writers committed to their craft.
Step 6

Run the meetings well. If it's a critique group, commit to reading one person's writing per week/month (depending on how often your group meets). Expect the commitment to held by all the writers. Encourage honest and open feedback but discourage harsh criticism. Sometimes writers can be vindictive.
Step 7

Enjoy the group. Remember to have some fun meetings too. Use the group to find new resources. Ask what books people are reading, where they've had success getting published. Writing is like any other profession in that every writer wants to talk about their work.

Comments

00Analana said

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on 3/23/2009 Thanks for sharing this. A writing group can be a fantastic way to get feedback on your work.

ScarlettOHairy said

on 2/8/2009 Good info on starting a writing group. I prefer to work alone but have belonged to a few writing groups. A "good fit" is really important.