Writing groups are a mixed bag for most writers. Some people swear by them, and others passionately hate them. Me? I’m a huge believer. In fact, writing groups have contributed to some of my best habits that I still enjoy today. They’re also one of the most reliable ways to improve your writing skills fast.
So here’s something not everyone knows about me: I’ve been a regular participant in a grand total of five different writing groups. The earliest was a young writers group that met at a local library when I was thirteen. And my best writing group ever met every week for five years running. Not too shabby.
Because I’ve been in so many writing groups, I’ve developed a lot of strong opinions about them. To give you a taste of this world of writing collaboration, here are nine surprising things I’ve learned about forming a successful writing group:
1. Writing Group Members Need to Share a Common Goal
There are many different types of writing groups. Some writers just want to socialize and shoot the breeze with fellow word-lovers. Others are working to get published and need precise feedback immediately. Still other writers are looking for a group to hold them accountable as they strive to finish their very first project.
When starting a writing group, be up front about YOUR writing goals. Writing groups can be a huge source of frustration if their members aren’t on the same page, so building a group with a common goal in mind can do wonders to alleviate this. No matter what that common goal is—having fun, staying accountable, producing word count, or receiving feedback—make sure everybody is on board.
2. It Only Takes One Person to Kill a Group
I really wish this pointer wasn’t true, but I’ve seen wonderful writing groups filled with supportive friends get poisoned by one bad attitude. My college writing group for Brandon Sanderson’s class was fantastic until a displaced student got added to our group. Then he promptly dragged everybody down with his ruthless comments and huge ego. Not a pleasant experience.
While writing group drama is fairly unavoidable, if someone is genuinely a bad fit for the group, do not be afraid to address this person immediately and call out bad behavior the first time it happens. Everyone in a writing group deserves to be treated with respect, so it’s especially important to handle problem members quickly—or even fire them—before other members start dropping out.
3. Collaboration—NOT Competition—Is Key
Okay, I admit it: I despise competitive writers. Some people really enjoy firing shots at their friends and seeing who can write more words, whose story is more popular in the group, and who can win a battle of wits. But frankly, this dynamic is exhausting. The vulnerability of sharing your writing is stressful enough without putting stakes on it and being cavalier with people’s feelings.
My advice? Seek out writing group members who are genuinely warm and willing to be honest but tactful. This is not a contest to see who’s going to get published first or who will win the favor of the group. There’s room for every writer to shine. And frankly the more balanced writing groups are, the more chances everyone will get to support others and receive the support they need too.
4. Seek Out Writing Groups that Match Your Level of Obsessiveness
Let’s be honest, some writers are crazy. Not crazy in a bad way! Crazy like we write thousands of words every week, complete new books every few months, and need extremely avid readers to keep up with our output. In contrast, other writers are just casually dipping a toe into the pool. Maybe they still see their writing as a hobby that helps them unwind rather than a future career. Whatever kind of writer you are, seek out writing groups with like-minded writers.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t mix different writers into one group. Writing group diversity is a splendid thing when people with different backgrounds and even different genres come together. But I do recommend you seek out similar obsessiveness levels. If you’ve written five books and are looking to publish, find other writers at that stage. A super obsessed writer surrounded by casual writers will quickly lose interest in their group. A just-getting-started writer surrounded by intense sharks might get discouraged and drop out. Finding a writing group where you feel at home with the intensity level is a big plus.
5. All Feedback Must Be Constructive
No matter what kind of group you’re looking for, only stick with writing groups that prioritize respect. I’ve written before about giving feedback and how every writer needs a mix of celebration and needs-to-improve comments. Both are important, and depending on the personalities of your group members, you might receive more feedback on things to change rather than cheerleading.
One of my writing groups was pretty blunt about making changes while a different group I was in was sunshine and rainbows 90% of the time. Both groups helped me grow in different ways. You can encourage the type of critique you need when it’s your turn for feedback, but if you’re in a group that’s committed to being kind and explains their opinions well, you really can’t go wrong.
6. Wild Predictions Can Be the Best Part
Writing groups don’t have to be austere and focused all the time. The best writing groups are the ones where everyone can let their hair down and have some fun even while digging into your manuscript. One of the biggest things I enjoyed about my five-year writing group was everyone’s enthusiasm for each other’s projects. We went wild with predictions of who would end up with whom, what the big reveal could be, and how characters would get themselves out of dangerous and awkward dilemmas.
Even though most of these predictions were wrong, it was still invigorating to watch everyone lose their minds and engage in humorous banter that sometimes made its way into the final manuscript. Readers’ reactions are the best feedback you’ll ever get, and writing groups are a great way to find out how people feel about your book and if you’re dropping enough breadcrumbs for your big reveal.
7. Beware of Writing Groups That Will Hijack Your Book
This can be a tricky one. On one hand, you want to work with writers who have strong opinions. On the other hand, you don’t want your writing group to turn your book into something they would write but you wouldn’t. Keep a weathered eye open for people who will push you to cut storylines, change characters, or rewrite scenes solely because they dislike them. If they can explain why a change will serve the book, this is great. If they just don’t like something and can’t explain why, maybe pass over that feedback. In your efforts to help fellow writers improve, it can be tempting to turn others’ work into something you would prefer to read, but resist the urge!
Writing group hijacking can really discourage and confuse a writer, so strive to respect others’ work and make sure you have a group with a friendly dynamic and similar tastes. You don’t all have to write the same. Just know that if you don’t like the direction of someone’s book, this doesn’t mean that their target audience will feel the same.
8. Be Friends First and Writers Second
This is purely my opinion, but I’ve found that the very best writing groups are built on more than just shared interests and consistency. It’s great to have a fun club of writers to lean on when you’re going through tough times. I remember my writing group being a ray of sunshine during the darkest year of my life, and to this day I’m still in contact with those writers and send them my books.
My point is that feedback on your writing is just one reason to have a writing group. Building lifelong friendships with people who share your greatest passion is even more precious. And the truth is that most writing groups—even really fantastic ones—don’t last forever. It’s good to keep that in mind as you’re building friendships that will last even longer than the writing group might. Which brings me to my final thought . . .
9. Know When You’ve Outgrown a Writing Group
This pointer was a particularly hard lesson for me. I HATE change with a fiery hot passion, but 99% of writing groups aren’t permanent. Groups disband when writers move or have babies or suddenly have less free time than they used to. Sometimes drama strikes and kills a longstanding group, and sometimes you outgrow a group altogether. I’ve had that happen a couple times, and although it’s sad, it’s also something to be celebrated. Outgrowing a group means that your skills are expanding, which is never a bad thing.
Let me put it this way: if you go to your writing group one day and realize that you’re the most experienced writer in the room, it’s probably time to start looking for a new group. You always want to seek out writers who will challenge you and teach you something new, and moving on from a group certainly doesn’t mean losing the connections you formed there (see point #8). If you’re determined to stay in touch, I have all the faith in the world that you will. ❧
