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Have you ever read a book by an established writer, and the story seems like a good idea, but the execution is poor or the length is excessive? Although an editor is ultimately to blame (for not brandishing the editorial whip no matter how famous and influential the writer), so is the writer who probably failed to get adequate feedback during or after the writing process.
If you join or create your own writing group, chances are your fellow members will not let you get away with such sins. A writing group is a gathering of committed writers — typically composed of at least two members, but often many more — who get together on a regular basis to critique one another's work and make it the best it can be.
What better way to get feedback during the writing process than by joining a weekly, biweekly, or monthly writing group? A good writing group can shave years off the time required to refine your writing skills. A bad writing group can really set you back or derail your writing career altogether.
Find the right writing group
Before you can hop into the ideal writing group, you need to find it, which leads to the $64,000 question: How in the heck do you go about doing that?
An acceptable avenue for finding a writing group is to visit local community colleges or universities that offer writing programs. These programs often have bulletin boards that list writers who are looking for other writers interested in forming a group. Bookstores and coffee shops now have these boards, and you can even visit online message boards. Message boards, however, can be a bit too random and impersonal for many writers and may or may not help you find the group you're looking for.
Other resources that can help you find a writing group that's right for you include the following:
- Writing classes: Take a class in writing, and join up with some of the people you meet in the class.
- Word of mouth: If you personally know writers in your area and are friendly with them, ask if they know of any writing groups or are interested in starting one.
 | - Online writing discussion groups: Functioning like a group chat, online discussion groups consist of writers who get together online to share ideas and offer feedback. Manuscripts are sent as e-mail attachments or posted on a Web site. The manuscripts are read by a certain deadline, and members get together online to discuss the chosen manuscript. Be aware of the public nature of this option — and that anyone could potentially steal your manuscript, but if the only time you have to yourself is during the middle of the night, participating in an online writing discussion group is better than nothing.
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 | Tons of online resources can help in your search for a writing group or online writing class. But again, be cautious: Make sure the Web site is a reputable one before committing yourself and your precious creative energies. |
Sift through your feedback
The major benefit of writing groups is that you get free feedback from the many different writers who participate. The biggest potential drawback inherent in writing groups is that the feedback you receive comes primarily from other new writers who may not know any more than you do and may not steer you in the right direction. So how do you get the right feedback from the right people?
If you're in a writing class where everyone takes turns reading aloud, and everyone else is allowed to comment, your best bet is to listen carefully to the teacher's critiques and to take into consideration the participants in the class who consistently make solid observations. Who you decide to listen to is a strictly subjective choice on your part, so consider everything, but choose only what seems to make sense to you. This may sound like common sense, but sometimes new writers are so eager to learn or so unsure of their abilities that they listen to everyone and try to incorporate all helpful comments — and end up with a manuscript mess. Focus on the positive aspects of the creative atmosphere and the exchange of ideas back and forth.
Every member may not be prepared for the writing group discussion nor listen and offer constructive critiques, but a writing group that bonds well often produces lifelong friendships and successful books that sell well.
| The difference between critiquing and criticizing is very important — and you don't find this difference in any dictionary. When you give a critique, you offer well-reasoned, pointed, clear criticism with an eye to possible solutions. When you criticize, on the other hand, you offer a judgment about why something is bad. Writers tend to be a sensitive lot, and a critical evaluation that is mean-spirited isn't helpful to the writer's creative process. So watch your tongue. You could be the one at the other end some day. |
 | A great way to insure that you get clear feedback is to ask pointed questions when you finish reading your piece aloud to the members of your writing group. Here are some good questions to consider for making sure you get the feedback you need: |
- Is my main character believable? Why or why not?
- How can I improve the secondary character(s)?
- Is my story exciting or interesting to you? Do you want to learn more or find out what happens next? If not, why?
- Is the action consistently paced, or did you feel the story lag anywhere?
- Is my point of view consistent?
- What do you think about what the characters said to one another? Does the dialogue ring true?
- Does anything in particular bother you about my story/chapter/scene? Something you'd like to see improved? (Only the brave of heart need apply here.)
- Do you think the humor worked?
| Usually, the audience's response while you're reading lets you know if your humor is effective, but asking is a nice way to find out how you can make something funnier if the response fell flat. As you read, pay attention if you get grimaces from the audience in unintended places. |
| Questions like these and others tailored specifically to your work elicit answers that you can use as opposed to criticisms that you can't. And although you aren't usually allotted the time to ask all your questions at one reading, asking the right one or two can make all the difference to your rewriting process. Also, ask people to be specific in response to your questions. This way, when your time is limited in a group meeting, you can quickly get to the heart of what someone thinks about your work. |
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