writers group or writers' group

Should you join a writing group? Understanding the pros and cons

Posted on September 21, 2021 at 1:10 PM by Guest Author

If you’re looking to develop your writing skills, you may want to join a writing group. Learn what to expect from meeting up with fellow authors regularly.

Table of Contents

What Is a Writing Group?

Reasons to Join a Writing Group

Pros of Joining a Writing Group

Cons of Joining a Writing Group  

What is a writing group  .

Are you struggling to decide whether you should join a writing group? In that case, you’re probably already familiar with the concept. But to avoid any potential confusion, it’s still worth outlining what a writing group is. 

Simply put, a writing group is a gathering of people who are passionate about the craft of writing and meet up regularly — either in person or online — to hone their skills. 

You should note that no two writing groups are the same. They often differ in purpose, format, and overall approach.

For example, one group may be more informal and focused on simply giving members a place to discuss writing; another might have a strict schedule and exist to critique members’ work. 

Although authors debate the value of writing groups, many consider these communities essential, especially at specific points in the writing journey. 

Let’s look at why...

Reasons to Join a Writing Group  

Writing groups offer various benefits, which we’ll touch on in the next section. However, there are usually three main reasons to join a writing group:

1. You’re in search of support and socialization. 

If you’re looking to break out of your bubble, joining a writing group may be the perfect solution.

Writing is, by nature, a very solitary activity. Unlike other jobs that allow you to socialize with coworkers, being an author means you’re usually on your own.

But participating in a group gives you the opportunity to interact with others, experience a sense of community, and gain emotional support.  

2. You’re struggling with accountability.

You may decide to join a writing group if you’re having a tough time holding yourself accountable.

When writing in isolation, staying motivated can be a challenge. You’re at a greater risk of letting self-imposed deadlines pass by you.

However, taking part in a writing group can give you some much-needed structure, especially if you’re expected to share what you’ve written so far or update the group on your progress.   

3. You need feedback on your writing. 

Finally, a major reason to join a writing group is that you need unbiased feedback on your writing.

When working on a new project, you’re often too close to view it objectively. And getting loved ones to read your work in progress isn’t always the best approach, as they may worry about hurting your feelings.

But having a group of fellow authors to share with can give you some much-needed insight into areas of weakness.     

Pros of Joining a Writing Group  

If you’re still on the fence about whether you should join a writing group, you may want to learn a little more about the benefits. After all, it helps to know what you have to gain. 

With that said, here are some of the pros of joining a writing group:

It’s a cost-effective way to strengthen your skills. 

If you’re starting your writing career , you need to invest in your craft. But chances are you still have a budget in place.

In that case, you’ll be pleased to learn that joining a writing group is often an affordable method of developing your writing skills. Typically, groups are free to join — or, at most, require a modest membership fee.

And in the process of participating, you’ll receive invaluable feedback, education, and encouragement that will help you become a better writer.

It often aids in overcoming writer’s block. 

Another advantage of being part of a writing group is that it can help you overcome writer’s block.

Although there are many reasons you may experience a creative slowdown, engaging with your group members can typically resolve the core issue.

Meeting with fellow authors can give you a much-needed energy boost, provide you with fresh insight, and help broaden your horizons.  

You can get tips on the business side of writing. 

If you want to become a career author , you don’t just need natural talent and sharp writing skills — you also need business savvy. Fortunately, that’s something you can work on when you join a writing group consisting of members at varying levels.

Those who have more experience can provide you with tips on publishing, marketing, networking, and more that will serve you in your career.  

It can help you rediscover your love of writing. 

Often writing can begin to feel like a chore, especially if you’re working toward finishing a book . But when you join a writing group, you’re able to find joy in writing again.

After all, enthusiasm spreads. Meeting regularly with others, sharing in their triumphs, and getting encouragement can go a long way in transforming writing back into a fun activity.  

It gives you a pool of potential beta readers. 

One of the benefits of signing up for a writing group that often goes overlooked is that it can help with finding beta readers .

For starters, those in your group are likely readers on top of writers. Further, being in a group with them means that by the time you’ve finished your first draft, you’ll know whether you can trust their judgment and feedback. 

Of course, not everyone in your group will be up to the task (all you can do is ask), but it gives you a great place to start looking.  

To make an informed decision about whether to join a writing group, you need to consider both sides. Although there are plenty of benefits to look forward to, there are some drawbacks as well.  

Here are some cons to keep in mind:

Not all the advice you receive will be helpful. 

Giving feedback is a skill that needs to be developed. This means that you can’t expect all the advice you receive to be good, especially if a group is in its early stages.

Some members may not understand the concept of “constructive criticism,” whereas others may deliver vague advice.

Additionally, the feedback you get from those at or below your experience level may not be as helpful as input from those who have been writing longer. 

There may be some personality clashes. 

A writing group is like any other community based on a shared interest — it’s filled with passionate people who have their own opinions and egos. Because of this, there may be some personality clashes that result in arguments and hurt feelings.

Before you join a writing group, you need to think about how you would handle negative comments or pushback from other members.    

It requires a time commitment, just like any other activity. 

When you join a writing group (and truly participate), you must dedicate a fair amount of time to it.

And it’s not just the meetings themselves; it’s also the time spent keeping up with communications, preparing for each session, and traveling to the meeting place (if the group gathers in person).

Depending on your schedule, this may prove hard to manage. 

It’s not uncommon to stray off course without leadership.

It can be tough to stay on track if a writing group doesn’t have an official leader (or even an unofficial one).

Without someone in charge who’s committed to providing a productive, nurturing environment, the group can fall into chaos.

At best, the group can become disorganized. At worst, it can become toxic.    

Sometimes you’ll want to break the format. 

Depending on the type of group you join, you may find yourself stuck to a format that doesn’t always work for you.

For example, you may want to share a recent chapter you’ve written during a session when you’re scheduled to do writing exercises.

If there’s no flexibility in activities, you might not get the most out of the group. 

Takeaway  

There are many reasons to join a writing group, especially if your goal is to become a published author. But when it comes down to it, you need to consider what’s best for you, analyzing the pros and cons.

Hopefully, the information provided here will help you decide on the best course of action. 

And remember, if you decide to join a writing group, it’s important to look for one that fits your needs (and avoid groups that do more harm than good ). 

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Writing Groups: Where to Find ‘Em and Why to Join ‘Em

Writers are used to being alone. In fact, many of us hunt down solitude like a starving puma stalking a fat squirrel. We crave space for ourselves—a little distance from the constant chatter of our everyday lives so we can hear the voices of our characters .

So it may feel counterintuitive to actively seek out a writing group. How can we make progress on our projects by adding more chatter to our lives—more meetings to show up for and relationships to maintain?

The short answer is that a good writers’ group can boost your productivity and skill set in ways that simply aren’t possible on your own.

The long answer is, well, the rest of this article.

You’re about to learn everything you could possibly want to know about arranging regular meetups with writerly friends. You’ll discover all the benefits of joining a group, how to find one that’s right for you, and what it takes to build a strong, supportive micro-community for the long term.

But before we get into any of that, we’re gonna want to get on the same page about what a writing group is and what you can expect when you join one.

What are Writing Groups?

When someone uses the term “writing group,” they could be referring to a lot of things.

It might be a community of writers who get together to discuss all things writing. It might be a meetup where folks get together to write side-by-side as a way to stay accountable and feel a little less alone in their craft. This is also known as a write-in.

But most of the time, “writing group” refers to a small collection of writers who meet regularly to give each other feedback on their works in progress. They might also hold write-ins and will definitely discuss writing and publishing in general. But their central purpose is to keep each other on track and help one another improve. 

That’s the type of writing group we’re talking about in this article.

Types of Writing Groups

As you’ve likely noticed, the world of writing is vast and varied. To ensure group members are able to truly connect and help one another, writing groups typically indicate a specific area of focus. 

After all, you can only get so much out of a romance writers’ group when you write science fiction . 

Here are few ways these groups might distinguish themselves:

Form - If you only want to write and discuss novels, you can find a group for that. Same deal for poetry, screenwriting, short stories , creative nonfiction … you name it. 

Genre - A genre-specific group is great for advancing your expertise within that genre. Who better to evaluate the quality of your red herrings than your fellow mystery writers? 

Goals - Some writers’ groups focus on fulfilling specific goals together. They all write and share personal essays that they plan to submit to literary magazines or support one another on their self-publishing journeys .

Mentality - Whether you’re looking to hang with chill hobbyists, driven professionals, or something in between, there’s a gathering out there for you.

Structure - Who gets to share their work when? Are there deadlines? Assignments or challenges? What’s the feedback process? We’ll dig into the particulars of structure later. For now, know that this, too, can be a defining feature of a writing group.

Benefits of Joining a Writing Group

As I previously mentioned, a writing group can enrich your work and writing process in countless meaningful ways. But before we dig into all those highly practical advantages, I’d like to point out that having a community like this will also enrich your life .

This is an opportunity to hang out with other writers and talk about something you love. You get to discuss the book you’re reading and the novel you’re writing. You can celebrate writing victories and mourn losses with the people who understand exactly how you feel.

In short, it’s fun . And you need fun, especially during those seasons when your creativity crusts over or you still can’t nail the opening scene after fourteen rewrites. 

But in case fun is not enough, here are a whole bunch of other reasons to find a group of one’s own:

Get Valuable Feedback

This is one of the top reasons writers join writing groups. Most of these gatherings center around sharing work and providing constructive feedback.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not always a joy to get notes on your work from several other people all at once, but it is a necessary and constant element of every author’s journey. Your peers' insights will make you a better writer.

Not to mention, a writers’ group offers a supportive space where you can get comfortable with the feedback process so you’re better prepared to handle the criticism—constructive and otherwise—of gatekeepers, readers, reviewers, and editors.

Learn to Read Critically

It’s amazing how much you can learn about writing when you critique someone else’s work.

When we read as readers, as opposed to reading as writers , we tend to focus more on our feelings toward the story. We know the plot dragged or the protagonist was an utter delight, but we think about the choices the author made to create that experience.

When we read for the purpose of giving feedback, however, we try to understand why something does or doesn’t work for us. 

“It was too slow” becomes “There’s a lot of background information that doesn’t directly connect to the action or help me connect emotionally with the character. Maybe you could sprinkle some of that exposition throughout the story instead of dropping it all at once.”

The more you get used to reading someone else’s manuscript this way, the more natural it becomes to critically evaluate your own.

Stay Accountable

Most writing groups are structured with regular deadlines. It might be that everyone shares their next five pages and the group discusses all the assignments in the next meeting. Or maybe the goal is to provide feedback on one person’s writing at each meet-up.

However your group does its thing, you can count on a built-in expectation that you’ll have something to share when it’s your turn. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in a group with writers who take deadlines very seriously and will lay the guilt on thick if you slack off.

Expand Your Writing Community

It’s always wonderful to make new friends who love what you love. If you plan to build an author career , however, connecting with fellow writers isn’t just nice. It’s essential.

Your writer friends will provide feedback, share resources, and keep you clued into new developments in the publishing industry. One day, they may even introduce you to agents , editors, or potential collaborators .

Perhaps most importantly, they’ll be a regular source of encouragement. No one understands this process better than a fellow writer, and no one will be quite as good at reminding you that success takes time, especially in this field.

Boost Creativity

Joining a writing group is a great way to keep your creativity switched on.

For one thing, you have deadlines to meet, a bunch of writing to read and critique, and a standing appointment to discuss the craft with fellow authors. These things alone ensure that your brain spends more time in the literary zone.

Plus, writing groups are great places to share inspiration, embark on creative challenges, and exercise those brainstorming muscles as you help each other dream up solutions to story problems.

How Writing Groups Work

That all sounds pretty good, right? But what does it actually look like to participate in a writing group? How is it structured and what will the other members expect from you?

Because there are so many different kinds of writers’ groups, there isn’t one clear answer. Nevertheless, I can offer a basic rundown of how these groups tend to operate.

Here’s the general overview:

Most writing groups have a specific system for sharing and critiquing work. As I mentioned above, your group might discuss short pieces from all members in a single meeting or spend each get-together on only one writer’s work.

Either way, you’ll likely have a deadline for submitting your story. Some writers’ groups have members share their work for the first time during the meeting, though that system is less common. It doesn’t give the other writers enough time or space to carefully consider their critiques.

Providing Feedback

As for the feedback process itself, it might resemble a typical writers’ workshop, with participants sharing their thoughts in a larger group discussion. Or it might take a more structured approach, with each member taking a turn to share all their insights at once.

Some writing groups stick with verbal feedback, but if you have any say in it, I recommend pushing for written feedback as well. This makes it easier for the writer receiving the critique to listen and absorb rather than frantically writing notes, hoping they’ll remember what their notes mean.

As you prepare your critique for a fellow writer, don’t worry much about smaller details like grammar and word choice, unless their submission is a technical mess and you want to gently remind them to do some copy editing before they submit it to a literary magazine.

Typically, writing groups focus on larger issues. Is the conflict compelling? Does the writing draw you in? Does the dialogue sound natural ? 

When you deliver your critique, remember that your goal is to be helpful and kind. Feedback is an art, and you can learn more about mastering that art here .

Receiving Feedback

We also have a guide for receiving feedback , so I’ll keep this brief.

It’s important to express gratitude for the critiques you receive, even if you don’t feel particularly grateful in the moment. 

You can expect to get feedback that’s brilliant and inspiring. You’ll probably also hear advice that feels dead wrong at first, then makes a lot of sense after you’ve slept on it. And you’ll definitely receive notes that are way off and never make it into your manuscript.

No matter how you feel about the feedback itself, you’re receiving it because a busy person took time from their own life to try to help you become a better writer. That’s something to appreciate, even if it’s obvious they completely missed the whole point of your story.

Finding the Right Creative Writing Group

These days, you can always find online writing groups if you struggle to find one in real life. There are loads of them out there. You can look for smaller groups through writing-centered sites like NaNoWriMo or join a big virtual writing group through online communities like Critique Circle .

And, of course, you can always find critique partners and writing groups in Dabble’s Story Craft Café .

But if you’d prefer to join an in-person group, start by checking out the physical and online bulletin boards at your local libraries, bookstores, and community college. If there’s a group in your area that’s currently looking for new members, they’re likely to advertise there.

You can also search for local writing groups on Google or sites like meetup.com . If you’re still not finding anything that interests you, you can always start your own group. More on that in a bit.

As you do all this hunting, remember that the goal is to find the group that’s right for you . Let’s talk about some details you should keep an eye out for.

Key Considerations

Remember way back in the day, at the beginning of this article, when we talked about all the different types of writing groups out there? You may recall that we discussed how a group might differentiate itself by any or all of these details:

• Form of writing - Is it fiction? Nonfiction? Half-hour scripted comedy?
• Genre - Are these romance writers? Fantasy ? Literary fiction?
• Goal - Does this group exist to hold members accountable for getting their words in ? As a source of feedback during the novel-writing process?
• Mentality - Do members seem pretty hardcore about building a career? Or are they looking for kindred spirits in this journey of creative exploration?
• Structure - How often do members submit their writing to one another? How does the feedback process work? 

Take some time to look at that list and consider what would be most helpful to you right now. You might not feel strongly about all five points, and that’s fine. Maybe you definitely want to be in a sci-fi writing group and your ultimate goal is to publish a novel, but you don’t care if the group is open to short stories and flash fiction, too.

Also consider the size of the group. In a smaller group, you’re likely to get more specific feedback—and get it more frequently—than you would in a large gathering.

And of course, keep safety in mind when you prepare to join any in-person group. If you don’t already know any of the current members, attend your first meeting in a public place, not a stranger’s living room.

Starting Your Own Writing Group

If you can’t find your ideal writing group out there in the wide world, start your own!

You can put out a call for new members in all the same places you looked for groups—places like library bulletin boards and online forums.

You can also build your community gradually. Already have a couple of writer friends you’d love to start a group with? Ask them if they’d be down for sharing and critiquing work in a more structured way. Encourage them to invite friends of their own. 

Even if it’s just the three of you for now, you can always add more members in the future. 

However you do it, make sure you have clear and honest conversations about what you want this writing group to look like. Discuss the structure, goals, and even the vibe you’re going for. 

If you want this to be a tough-love literary boot camp, say so. If you want it to be a place of encouragement and gentle feedback, make that clear.

Getting everyone on the same page at the very beginning ensures a pleasant experience going forward. On that note…

Nurturing a Successful Writing Group

Whether you start your own writing group or choose to join a pre-existing one, you have a role to play in helping the community run smoothly. 

Remember, your writers’ group could be a source of insight, encouragement, and even publishing opportunities for years to come. Even if the group eventually disbands, the relationships you built don’t have to.

So here are some quick tips for doing your part to make this whole thing a positive and enriching experience for everyone: 

Build Trust

For most writers, it already takes courage to state their authorly ambitions out loud. To then take it a step further and invite other writers to semi-publicly critique their attempts at bringing that dream to life… that’s a whole other level of guts.

Remember that when you share your feedback, welcome new members, and respond to your fellow writers’ stories about their publishing struggles. Everyone’s at least a little bit afraid of this bold journey they’re on, and everyone’s here to connect with people who get it.

So be that person. Listen with interest and compassion. Offer constructive feedback and celebrate great writing. And when one of the other writers enjoys a victory that sparks a little jealousy in your heart (it happens to all of us), offer nothing but excitement and support, trusting that your turn is coming.

Encourage Diversity and Inclusion

When you bring multiple people together, you’re going to have diverse needs and perspectives. Be the kind of person who can make space for others.

In the context of a writing group, this could come down to practical considerations, like choosing meeting places that are physically accessible to all group members.

Where the issue of inclusion comes up most often, however, is in feedback. 

A member might point out that a fellow writer has unknowingly written a character that perpetuates a harmful stereotype of the critiquer’s own community. Or a member who’s struggled with mental health might offer suggestions to help another writer tackle the topic in a more insightful way .

Suggestions like these are extremely valuable. They’re also generous. There’s a degree of risk when a group member offers feedback like that, as some writers might become defensive, confrontational, or accuse the critiquer of being too sensitive.

Ultimately, every writer gets to decide which notes to incorporate into their own story. But please, whether you’re the direct recipient of the feedback or a fellow critiquer, express appreciation for perspectives no one else can offer.

Stay Engaged

Like all things in life, a writers’ group can get a little too comfortable. Everybody stops worrying about impressing everyone else, and the next thing you know, someone misses their submission deadline by a day. 

That makes everybody feel okay about being late the next time around. Folks start reading each other’s work hastily half an hour before the meeting starts. Members roll in twenty minutes late. Everybody’s half in, half out, and no one’s sure if this is worth it anymore.

It’s not the end of the world. Sometimes writing groups fall apart. Sometimes members have to step away because there’s too much else going on. Life evolves and the group will, too.

But I’d encourage you to stay reliable and gently encourage your fellow writers to stay on track. Be someone your group can count on for on-time submissions, thoughtful feedback, and engaged conversation.

If you ever need to step away or miss a meeting, that’s fine. But when you’re in, be all in.

And if you’re the only one, don’t be afraid to go find a more committed community.

Wade Into the Writing Group Waters With Us

A writing group is one of the best opportunities you have to drastically improve your craft and build relationships within the writing community. It’s an excellent source of knowledge, inspiration, and encouragement.

But if you’re not used to sharing and discussing your work in a group setting, it can also be a little intimidating. That’s where Dabble comes in.

Our Story Craft Café is a free online community full of friendly fellow writers who’d love to talk shop with you. You can join conversations about craft, genre, and the business of writing . Pop in for community word sprints. Share your work and offer feedback on someone else’s. 

Find your people in a low-pressure environment and let those critique partnerships happen naturally.

You can also join us for Feedback Fridays on YouTube , where Doug and Robert offer a friendly critique of material submitted by a lucky Dabbler. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the art of writing and feedbackery (real word, don’t question it). 

If you’re feeling bold and have a Dabble Premium subscription, you can even submit your work for a critique.

Not a Dabbler but always been a little curious? Try it for free for 14 days! Dabble is an all-in-one learning program with loads of features, but it’s easy to learn, so 14 days gives you plenty of time to decide if it’s right for you. Click here to get started—no credit card necessary.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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Writers groups — the pros and cons for screenwriters

I’m a huge fan of writers groups. Screenwriting, like all writing, is mostly a very lonely endeavor.  One woman.  One word processor.  Or two, if you’re collaborating.  But ironically, the end goal of all screenwriting has traditionally been a stack of pages that get turned into a film that’s projected in front of a room of 500 people.

Film is social.

We watch films with  people .  When we talk about films, we talk with  people .  The isolated screenwriter banging away in a darkened room by herself – like the film’s eventual editor, and composer, and many other solitary tasks that film will need completed – is in many ways a disconnect from the “audience” or “group participation” spirit which lies at the core of filmed entertainment.

Sure, many screenwriters love to work with other people, or at least surrounded by humans, like at Starbucks (which I caution against in my article here ), but for the most part, we screenwriters are a solitary bunch.

That is, until we get out of our own head and join a screenwriter’s group.

I’ve had good experiences with writers groups, and I’ve had bad experiences with writers groups.  If you’re the sort of screenwriter that’s on the fence about joining one, let me give you my top 4 best and worst things about joining one.

Con: the script notes you get may vary wildly

Any decently sized writers group (at least 10 people or so) is going to have a panoply of ideas about your script, and those ideas might not all jive, yo.

One groupmate might tell you she doesn’t care enough about your hero.  Another might say he cares, but needs to understand where he came from, and recommend more backstory. Or hoverboards. Or Willem Dafoe cardboard standies.

One groupmate might tell you the script has no chance of competing in a very competitive zombie-genre market.  Another might tell you it’s exactly the breath of minty fresh air that the zombie-genre market has been looking for.

So how do you know which script notes are right?

You decide.

That’s right. It’s you, Tootie, that has to choose.  Or, if you look at it the way I look at it, it’s you who  gets to choose.

The beauty of screenwriters groups is that everybody (or pretty much everybody) reads your script, (or at least part of your script, if your writers group only focuses on, say, 10 pages at a time due to time constraints).  And pretty much everybody is going to have an opinion.   You get to benefit from those opinions, whether it’s direct or indirect.

That is, you can directly benefit by applying certain notes, or in directly benefit by reading between the lines of what your fellow writers are telling you and getting inspired to take a completely different path.

Con: Writing skills vary from writer to writer

Writers groups may have 30-year veteran screenwriters, and they may have people who’ve never even  read a script previously, and of course, everything in between.

That lopsided skill level factor can often wreak havoc with a screenwriter absorbing the notes from her groupmates.  The seasoned, salty writers may have sold a script or two, but haven’t worked in 15 years.  The newbies might have mind-exploding, killer ideas on how to fix your script.  So parsing who to listen to more, and who you can tune out, can be a bit of a challenge. Or it could be mind-meltingly annoying. Or, of course, it could be easy.

Con: Too many writers could lead to groupthink

When in  any group script notes situation, whether you’re in a writers group, ordering a multi-reader script coverage from a script reading company, or at a development lunch with the producers of one of your films in pre-production, you’re in constant danger of groupthink.

I’d caution you to be on the lookout for over-focus-grouped, committee thinking that ruins your script, but most screenwriters, being those solitary creatures they are (amongst many other screenwriter species which I mention in my blog post here ),  are pretty much  born with the “stay away from my script, you damn committee!” mentality, so there’s no need to paint that particular fence again.

But what I feel many screenwriters have fallen prey to in these group script notes situations is something far more insidious.  And that is,  they go along with everything. And I mean,  everything.

Oy!  Please, please, please, don’t be so eager to please your producers, or your writers group, that you go along with everything they say, in the spirit of collaboration and brotherhood.  There’s being a team player, and then there’s being a pushover.  While it’s more common for screenwriters to be hard-nosed, closed-minded boners about their screenplays, the flipside can often cause just as much heartache and frustration for all involved.

Con: you sometimes have to listen to bad writers

Every screenwriters group has one:  the Big Mouth.  He got his short film into Sundance back in 2000, and had a friend who knew a guy who was married to the director of Star Trek 22: The Wrath of Lens Flare , so he feels it necessary to put his screenwriterly mansplain on your forehead whenever possible.

The instinct of the pioneer-spirited, Hemingway modeled screenwriter is to lash out at these types of poop goblins, but in a writers group situation, it’s not very productive to do so.  So you have to listen.

Most writers groups are good about policing this sort of behavior, but sometimes it’s impossible.  After all, how do you encourage a spirit of group collaboration, and call your writers group a safe haven for new ideas and open minds if you’re simultaneously barring certain personality types from the shindig?

In any case, if you do find yourself in a writers group that doesn’t seem to be aware that a big mouth is sucking up all the oxygen in the room, you might want to find another one.

Pro: other writers’ opinions

Nothing beats multiple opinions on your pages, or your script. Especially if you’ve been holed up in a bunker for six months with your index cards and bloody fingers.

The opinion you get from a live interaction at a writers group, from several people in the same session, is extremely valuable, even if it’s not exactly on the mark.  I always tell my potential customers before they come and pay for script notes or script coverage to get as much  free  opinion on their script as possible from writers group for  exactly this reason.

Live interaction with fellow writers in a room does  wonders for not only your script’s potential, but for your screenwriting skills as well.

Pro: screenwriters networking with other screenwriters

Whether you’re a shy, private type who may need a few pointers on how to be more social as a screenwriter in group/party situations , or you’re the belle of the ball in any room and in any situation, you always have something to learn from rubbing up against the thoughts of other humans in a creative environment.

The ideas are flying: good, bad, very bad, worse… But simply being in the middle of all that makes you grow as a writer and a human.

But social skills aside, in writers groups, you also tend to  bond with people. Those bonds often become friendships.  And we all know how you get ahead in the film industry, right?  Repeat after me that age old truism that’s on every coin minted in Hollywood:

It’s who you know .

Pro: your script’s first audience and feedback

Holed up with bloody fingers and index cards feels good, sure, but showing your work to a group of people for the first time feels even better .

Screenwriters,  generally , have a proclivity to be open to criticism.  Most of us know it’s a required trait to have.

So a group of screenwriters reading pages for the first time is, in many ways, the best possible first audience to have, because they assume you’re there in that group to hear script notes, so they’re gonna give ’em to you.  And that’s instant feedback on your script, and/or on your writing.

Giving your script to friends or family to read is a cheap way of saying “Don’t hurt me!”  But handing it over to a writers group is saying “Bring it on, bishes.  Rip me a new one.”

And the more you can embrace “Bring it on, bishes,” the better screenwriter you’ll be.  “Bring it on, bishes” is the spirit at the core of any good writers group, and/or any good screenwriter.

Pro: script notes that are wildly different!

Wait, wasn’t this thing marked “Bad” at the top of this article?  You betcha.

Wildly varying notes might, at first blush, appear to be a bad thing.  For several reasons.  We’re hard-wired as humans to look for patterns, we like our experiments to be controlled, etc.

But the most telling reason why wildly varying notes appear to be a bad thing is that we screenwriters tend to  want the easy answer.  We want to know the quick way of how to fix our script and get it done and sold.

Quick is good.  Easy is good.  But that never happens.  At least not with good scripts and good screenwriters.

Wildly varying notes provide what I believe to be  the most valuable resource a screenwriter can use to improve her script because the variance of the notes forces the writer to not only figure out how she’s going to reach a wide variety of people and make the script work for as a large of an audience as possible, but she’s going to also have to pinpoint those varying script notes, and the gaps between those varying script notes, and use her own imagination and creativity to plug the gaps .

Like all good script notes, script notes from writers groups are only as good as the screenwriter receiving them .

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have, the writers group.  The writers group.

Be that screenwriter that listens to both the stupid notes and the genius notes and is willing to chart her own way through them.  That’s how you get the most out of your writers group experience, or out of any group notes/collaboration/script development committee situation.

And that, is a fact of life. 

PS Here’s a list of screenwriters groups in the Los Angeles area. Have fun!

4 thoughts on “Writers groups — the pros and cons for screenwriters”

Very insightful article, thanks! I love that you used a female pronoun. Most film related material reference males instead.

Thanks Kendra!

You used a picture of my ex-girlfriend, good job.

Never knew you dated Mrs. Garrett.

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Holly Lisle: Writer

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or How to Choose a Writers’ Group

I know I’m not in the majority when I recommend that you get involved with a writers’ group. Dean Koontz apparently loathes them, Harlan Ellison despises them, and I’ve read advice from dozens of other pros whose work I love and whose opinions I value who say writers’ groups will do everything from steal your soul to cause your writing to break out in pox.

Nonetheless, I strongly recommend that you get involved with a good writers’ group when you’re getting started. I credit what I learned from my early groups (plus enormous amounts of hard work and persistence) with leading me to publication.

The Unknown Writers’ Group and Schrodinger’s Petshop (Essentially Bizarre, But Cats Like Us) pushed me to succeed.

But I was lucky. I got in on the ground floor of each group, and each group was good. I heard horror stories of other writers’ groups in the area (we acquired a lot of their fallout members) and discovered that not all groups are created equal.

In this column I’ll assume that you have at least one writers’ group in your area with an opening. (Many places do. If you don’t, we’ll fix that in a later column.) Print this list off, take it to a meeting or two with you, and keep your eyes and ears open. Here’s what you look for.

Good, Bad, or Ugly?

• Does the group have a clearly defined goal, preferably in writing?

This can be something as simple as “We want to see something new from each writer at each meeting,” or as elaborate as a mission statement. However, if the members of the group haven’t taken the time to define their purpose, they probably don’t know where they’re going. And neither will you.

Rule #1 Example

“ Purposes and Goals:

Schrodinger’s Petshop, established in May of 1988, grew out of a core of aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers who wanted to write better and sell our work, and who weren’t able to find a writers’ group or program that met our needs and interests. We’ve met on a regular basis since, constantly growing and changing to meet the needs of our admittedly esoteric membership.

Our main goal is to help each other get published. We do this by presenting and participating in workshops on our varied areas of expertise, by reading and critiquing each other’s work, and by encouraging each other to submit finished works. We also provide networking, contacts with professionals in the field, and a chance to meet other local talents with similar interests.”

(This is a quote from the Schrodinger’s Petshop Handbook, which I wrote in 1988. It was the keystone to our keeping our group good. If you’d like to read the complete rules, here’s the text. )

• Does the group have any interest in the type of writing you want to do?

This may seem irrelevant to you—you may be thinking “We’re all writers, right? They’ll be glad to help me.” Unfortunately it isn’t true. The worst horror stories I got were from writers who wanted to write SF or romances and attended meetings at the other large local group in the area. They found themselves and their work attacked as substandard, unworthy, and stupid—in spite of the fact that many of them did very good work. They were not, you see, considered sufficiently “literary” to be worth anybody’s time.

Rule #2 Example

“ Writer Requirements:

We are open to members of all levels of experience, and of all ages and interests. We have members who are experienced in novel-writing, in short-fiction writing, in non-fiction, and in poetry. However, we are strongly biased in favor of science fiction, fantasy, and horror (speculative fiction) subject matter. We are not a general-interest writers’ group. If you want to write mainstream or non-fiction or works in other genres, but have no interest in speculative fiction, we are not the group for you.

While we have a great deal of fun at our meetings, we are not geared toward socializing. We are a working writers’ group, and our main premise is that writers write. If you join, be prepared to read what you are working on, to take criticism, and also to give it. We’ll help you achieve your goal of getting your stories into print—your goal is one we share.

Welcome to Schrodinger’s Petshop.”

• Does the membership arrive and get to work, or does everyone just stand around and talk about writing?

Pretty early in the meeting, everyone should start moving toward the chairs. Manuscript pages ought to start appearing in hands, and pens and notepads ought to come out. You should see people beginning to discuss the writing they have in front of them, in whatever critique format they use.

The group should not spend more than half an hour hanging out and gossiping.

• Are there any rules for people who are criticizing each others work to follow?

This is so important. One nasty writer with a mean streak can destroy a talented beginner, and use his critique time as a way to grind the “competetion” into powder. This is stupid, it sucks, and it’s pointless.

There is a better way. Critiques should deal only with the work, should be constructive, and should be short. If one person takes more than ten minutes to discuss a piece of work, that’s a good sign that the meetings are poorly controlled.

Rule #4 Example

“ Schrodinger’s Rules of Critiquing:

1) Critique the writing, never the writer. Never say, “You are…” or “You should…” Instead say, “The writing is…” or “The story should…”

2) Find what is right in each piece as well as what is wrong.

3) Don’t say, “This is how I would write it;” how you would write it isn’t the point.

4) Remember that subject matter is personal. You don’t have to like a story to give it a fair critique.

5) Remember what your biases are and critique around them.

6) Remember that real people wrote this stuff, and real people have real feelings.”

Things you may not say while critiquing.

“That’s awful.”

“That’s stupid.”

“You couldn’t write your way out of a paper bag.”

• Are there any rules for people whose work is being criticized to follow?

Again, this is essential. People get very defensive when others are telling them what they did wrong, and their first impulse seems to be to argue. The critique-ee needs to have rules to follow, too, and the first of these needs to be “Shut up and listen.” If people have taken the time to read or listen to what you wrote, take the time to hear what they have to say about it.

Rule #5 Example

“ Schrodinger’s Rules of Being Critiqued:

1) Listen. The person who is speaking has taken the time to listen to your work, and wants to help you find ways to make it better.

2) Wait until everyone has finished critiquing before making comments.

3) Explain only if necessary. Don’t rebut.

4) Take notes.

5) Realize that everything can be improved.

6) Be willing to make changes. Conversely, don’t change anything you feel must remain in order to make the story yours.

Things you may not say when being critiqued.

“You’re wrong.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries.””

• Does the group have set guidelines for behavior, and a way to remove troublesome members?

Shouldn’t be necessary, should it? After all, everybody’s an adult. Or at least literate. At least that’s the theory.

In fact, however, a removal rule is necessary. You can get a great group together, and you can be having wonderful meetings, and someone will unsuspectingly bring the Writer From Hell with him to a meeting. This writer will ignore the rules, attack the other writers, try to hog the meeting, refuse to even consider changing a word of his precious story, and make life miserable for everyone.

The group MUST have a way, stated in advance, of getting rid of this nightmare.

“ Membership Guidelines:

Attending meetings is a privilege and not a right. Memberships can be revoked—for failure to follow critiquing rules, for failure to follow protocol in being critiqued, or by a general vote of the other members.”

• Do the people who are there like each other?

If the other folks at the meeting spend most of the meeting talking about what a bitch Dorothy is or how they suspect John is writing in English as a poorly-learned third language, or if they snap at each other, cut each other down, or are brutal with each other’s manuscripts, RUN AWAY! They will be no kinder to you and your work.

You’ll need a few meetings to get a feel for the group dynamics. You’ll usually find that the group falls into one of the following types:

• Circle of Friends
• Master and Students/Slaves , or
• Sharks and Dinner .

Rule #7 Examples

We also actively recruited beginners. Most groups aren’t like this.

If, however, your existence in the group is solely to provide ego-boosts for the master, then you end up with a Master and Slaves dynamic, and you aren’t likely to get much that will help you get published.

• Does everybody bring work to each meeting, or do you hear from the same three people?

In general, avoid all groups where you get to hear from only one or two writers, and everyone else sits around and talks about what they’ll write someday.

• Is anybody happy to see you?

Do people make an effort to include you? Did anyone ask you your name? Did you like anyone there?

Furthermore, are you happy to be there? Do you look forward to going to meetings? When you get home, do you want to write, or do you want to smash your computer to pieces and investigate careers in ditch-digging?

If it isn’t fun, if it doesn’t add something positive to your life, don’t waste your time.

NOTE: If this article resonates with you, and you want to meet other writers who share your passion and who are working in a friendly, supportive environment, come hang out with us and make progress on your writing in my free writing community.

9 responses to “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or How to Choose a Writers’ Group”

[…] Lisle, H. (n.d.). The good, the bad, and the ugly, or how to choose a writers’ group. https://hollylisle.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-or-how-to-choose-a-writers-group/ […]

Thank you for such refreshing, common sense advice! I live on a fairy small island and there’s no writers’ group within 20 miles of me, so I’ve been ‘persuaded’ to start one up. Our first meeting is next month and initially, I’d just decided to see who turned up and take it from there wrt what sort of activities to do etc.. However, now that I’ve read your post, I’ve realised that we will need some guidelines from the outset in order to avoid any potential unpleasantness later on. Therefore, with your permission, I’d like to use your Rules and tweak them a little to suit our circumstances. That way, we’ll all know where we stand and we can take it from there. Thanks again and Season’s Greetings from the Irish Sea!

You may use the Schrodinger’s Petshop rules. That’s why I posted them 😀 — but thank you very much for asking.

Excellent advice. I have been writing since childhood, and generally write fantasy. I also write poetry, the critique of all this is hard to find.I live in a rural area and am no longer driving due to disability. I was invited to join a group in West Bend, Wisconsin, but am unable to get transport there. Are there any decent groups online?

I was served up for the dinner and the sharks really enjoyed their feast ! Needless to say I will not be returning to this dysfunctional writers group ! The next time I’ll be interviewing them first before I join !

Hi this article is FABULOUS! My publisher loves it also! I just wish I had read it prior to joining that dysfunctional writers group where I got eaten up alive for dinner ! But I’ll definitely be more careful next time! A circle of KIND friends/ authors will be what I will be looking fior

Thank you very helpful insights. I’m looking forward to finding a fiction fantasy writers group.

Thank you. This is very helpful so that I knows what to look Godc And not ” waste my time”. I have a project that is almost conplete but it needs ” other ears besides mine ” before I assume that its ” perfect “. I also need it published. …and by the way I love accountants. They do the hapless job that: ” Most Americans( myself included)Dont like Doing” ?

Huge thanks for the heads-up! I recently moved to eastern Long Island,NY, and figured finding a writers group should be my first course of action. Wrong! Finding and reading your cautionary column was exactly what I needed to do first. Now, let the search begin for the right “Circle of Friends” to help tighten, perfect, and publish all the stories inside just clammering to come out!

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Writers Groups: Why they’re crucial, where to find them and 6 questions to ask before joining one

• by Kate Meadows
• November 1, 2021 November 1, 2021

I have a huge heart for writers groups, because writing (as you probably know) is often lonely work, and we need to belong in a community as creative people. Being a part of a group that shares a creative interest is often just the sense of community a writer needs. And sense of community is crucial especially now, when the world is hesitating toward in-person connections. In a recent blog post on the future of online events, Meetup.com’s CEO David Siegel wrote , “When people can’t safely meet in person the need for human connections doesn’t go away, it only gets stronger.”

Why a writers group is a crucial component to your growth as a writer

Writers groups provide so many advantages to your growth as BOTH a writer and a reader. Regular meetings, even online, can help you improve your craft, keep you accountable to your writing goals and expose you to new writers and timeless work. When others are counting on you to show up (whether to a group meeting or to your desk to produce new work for the next meeting), you are less likely to renege on your commitment.

By networking with other writers, you are putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to new opportunities, challenges and resources. In the process, you also have countless opportunities to help other writers improve their craft. And believe it or not, helping others improve their writing naturally helps you improve yours.

What’s more, scrutinizing your own work and others’ work helps you become a more seasoned reader and editor of your own work. It is far easier to recognize weaknesses and shortcomings in others’ work than it is to recognize them in your own. But as you read and talk about work that is not yours, you will start to recognize areas in your own writing that can be stronger.

What type of writers group is best for you?

Yet not all writers groups are created equal. Some writers crave a community that provides regular writing prompts and opportunities to generate new work. Other writers seek a safe space where they can receive respectful but honest feedback on their work-in-progress. Still others love a scene where like-minded creatives read their work out loud. What works best for you depends a lot on your writing goals and a little on your personality — what makes you tick. An extrovert may seek different qualities of a writers group than an introvert. The ideal writers group for a writer looking to generate new work may not be the best group for a writer whose number-one goal is to finish and publish a first book.

Six questions to consider before joining a writers group

In the 10 years that I’ve led and participated in writers groups, my conviction that writers groups are a fundamental part of the writing life has only grown stronger. But a writers group will only work for you if it aligns with your own goals as a writer. Consider these 6 questions before joining a group:

• In what genre do you primarily write? Is it important to you that other members of the group write in your same genre?

2. How often would you prefer to meet with a group? Once per week? Once per month?

3. Would you prefer to meet during weekdays, weeknights or on weekends?

4. What focus(es) would you want to see in a writers group? Produce new work? Revise works-in-progress? Have your work read and critiqued by others? Opportunities to read your work out loud? Exposure to books on writing and writers on craft?

5. Is the size of group an important factor to you? Do you thrive in small groups of less than 10 people, or are large groups more your jam?

6. Do you prefer to meet in person with other writers, or are you more interested in meeting with writers remotely via Zoom, Facebook Live or another online platform?

Just because we’re writers doesn’t mean we’ll all benefit from the same type or structure of writing group. As you can see, there are many ways to structure a writing group, and different features will appeal to different people. Moreover, keep in mind that your answers to these questions might change over time, and that’s okay. For example, you may not be comfortable meeting in person right now but would like to join an in-person group eventually.

Regardless of your preferences and your writing goals, one thing is true for all of us as writers: we can all benefit from a creative community.

Where to find a writers group

Knowing what you want out of a writers group is a big step toward finding a group that is right for you. But where do these writers groups that I speak of exist?

In short, writers groups exist everywhere. Knowing where to look for a group largely depends on what you’re looking for. Here are a few places to find writers groups:

• www.meetup.com
• your local bookstore
• writing associations (search for associations according to genre or region)
• Community bulletin boards (online and at local hangouts like coffee shops, libraries and bookstores)

If you know what you want in a writers group but can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, consider starting a group yourself. I promise this is not as scary as it sounds. Chances are what you’re seeking in a creative community others are, too. The challenge (and I like to think of it as a fun challenge) is to find where those people are and invite them. If you’re nervous about inviting people to a group, put yourself in their shoes. How would it feel to be invited to a group of creative-minded people who share a common passion?

Go forth and write — in community

Do you belong to a writers group? If not, consider joining a group today as an important step to improving your craft and making connections. Networking. Improvement of the craft. Opportunities to submit and share your work. New ideas and new takes on old ideas. Lasting connections and friendships and strong bonds of trust.

A writers group offers all of these. When you join a good one, you’ll grow in ways you can’t imagine. And, you’ll be helping others grow in the process.

If that’s not a definition of “community” — something we all need right now — then I don’t know what is.

Do you belong to a writers group? If so, what do you like best about it? What do you like least? 

If you want to join a writers group but don’t know where to start, please reach out . I’m happy to help!

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Writers Groups: The Pros and Cons

[This is one of Tawnya Bhattacharya’s regular columns at Script Magazine, titled “Your TV Guide”. You can read them all here ]

Overall, I’m pro writers groups. I’m part of an awesome one currently. We are five writing entities (six writers total, since I’m a part of a team), well balanced between males and females, working writers and those on the verge, and we all write drama. We’ve been meeting for just over a year and here’s the key for us, I think: we meet consistently, we are respectful and supportive of each other, and, for the most part, not really in direct competition with one another. We are writers at different staffing levels , or just trying to break in, or transitioning from features to TV. We have a horror/thriller writer, a former cyber geek who writes technology-based procedurals, a writer who does character-driven drama in unique worlds and so forth… Oh, and everyone is pretty damn smart and talented, too. That’s just my opinion.

After writing this I asked our writer’s group to say what they liked about our group and why they thought we worked, so you’ll see some of those quotes throughout this article. But when writers ask me whether or not they should join a writer’s group, here’s my answer: maybe. It’s not that cut and dry. My experience has been a good one, but I’ve heard the war stories and have been in one of those nightmares myself. So, whether to join a group or not depends on several factors, which I’ll get into shortly, but the important thing to remember is, that much like the beds in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” not all groups are created equal and not all groups may be the right one for you. It’s important you find a good fit. Before you jump into the deep end of the pool without any water wings, let’s go over some of the pros and cons of writers groups, what red flags to avoid, and how to create a functional and successful group of your own.

PROS OF WRITER’S GROUPS:

Fresh eyes on your work.

Sometimes you’ve written so many versions of something that no longer know what’s working in your script and what isn’t. It can be extremely helpful to have someone experience your material for the first time to give you a fresh perspective.

More Brains, the Better for Brainstorming With

Sometimes two (or three or four) heads are better than one. Maybe you have new ideas but can’t decide what to write next, or you’re working out a pitch , or rewriting something and feel stuck and need help weighing options between storylines  or possible “ways in.” A smart group can lend their personal experiences and professional expertise to help you land on the strongest choice.

“This diverse brain power provides everyone with perspective and the smarts needed to develop amazing scene work, characters and situations that are truthful, fun and compelling.” ~ MP

Fine-Tuning Professional Etiquette

Your group is a great place, and hopefully a safe place, to pitch ideas and offer your thoughts on story. This practice will help you better navigate and contribute in a writers room. Group is also a place for you to learn how to give and receive criticism and notes gracefully – a necessary skill in this business.

Swapping Career Advice

A strong writer’s group can be an invaluable source not just for your writing but also for career advice, tips,  networking  or support. You’ll appreciate being able to turn to people you like, respect and trust to help you navigate this crazy business.

Camaraderie & Fun

Work and fun do mix, and it’s a good sign if you look forward to meeting up with your group because you enjoy their company as much as you enjoy their feedback.

“I like the honest forum it provides for ideas so I don’t get too far afield on a project that might be a waste of time. Also, I get to benefit from the experience of writers who have been staffed on shows. And even if I don’t have work for a particular session, I get to hang out with cool people, talk about ideas and creative process and drink wine.” ~ TG

CONS OF WRITERS GROUPS:

Too many cooks in the kitchen.

I’ve had many writers who have developed and written and rewritten their scripts in their writers group then come to me to do a consult and it’s not a good thing when my first thought is: “what happened?” Naturally, having varying ideas coming at you can be confusing. And of course it can be problematic if members of the group are imposing their vision rather than supporting yours. But that’s bound to happen. It’s common to think in terms of what they would do with your story. Your job is to remain as objective as possible and to recognize notes that don’t ring true for you or notes that might be downright bad notes and veto them. It’s crucial that you, the writer, are able to remain an authority of your own work and be the keeper of your vision.

Lazy Writers

In the early phase of an idea, part of the fun is brainstorming , and there’s no better time to have everyone throw two cents into the pot. It often opens the story up in ways you may not have thought of, or can make you table an idea that your colleagues’ feel isn’t commercially viable or something you need to add to your portfolio. Alternatively, it can be extremely annoying when a writer is lazy with the development of their project and throws it at the group to figure out. Think of your group like your boxing team and your writing like a boxing match. Your comrades are there to help cheerlead and coach you and tend to your wounds. But you are the boxer. You are the one who has to go into the ring and fight.

It’s fine and dandy to meet and chit-chat up a storm, but the goal is to get to the work, so if the group is full of people who like to hear themselves talk – you know, the writers who like to wax on about how much they are writing, how many meetings they’ve had, and what industry bigwig just LOVES their work and deemed them the next Aaron Sorkin ,  Shonda Rhimes , and Vince Gilligan  all wrapped up into one visionary talent – heed my advice: run, don’t walk. What’s happening is a manifestation of deep-rooted insecurity and it’s best to avoid it before it wears on your ever-loving last nerve and you find yourself looking for a poison that doesn’t leave a trace. The body count should remain in your script.

“I guess I’d say that what helps me the most is the professionalism. It’s not a social group, it’s a writers’ group. ~ ZA

Soul Crushers

Rejection is unavoidable in this business. There will be enough industry people who criticize and pass on your work therefore you do not need negative, toxic writers who shit on everybody else’s work in your writers group. The goal of giving notes is to be constructive and helpful, not to rip apart someone’s work to the point of making them want to find the highest cliff and throw themselves and their laptop off it.

“We have each other’s backs out there in the biz as we all progress in our careers.” ~ AL

Poachers, Highjackers & Thieves

How can you stop writers in your group from stealing your shit? It’s unfortunate, but it happens. I’ve heard several accounts of this and in one case it was allegedly so egregious that the writer was kicked out of the group. What you have to remember is that copyrights protect the EXPRESSION of the idea, not the idea itself. The thing is we all have access to and are pulling from the same sources of inspiration: books, newspapers, magazine articles, blogs, podcasts, documentaries, and films… Plus some ideas are just in the collective consciousness  at a given moment. That’s why you’ll have a handful of ideas surface on the same subject (witches, Salem witches) at the same time, like Ryan Murphy’s “ American Horror Story: Coven ,” Brannon Braga and Adam Simon’s “ Salem ,” and Jenji Kohen’s “ New World .” If someone hijacks your idea, don’t sweat it too much because it’s all in the execution. You can bring something unique to the idea that no one else can. Also, whose to say which idea will get any traction?

It sucks, but the point is, anyone can take an idea and run with it. Hopefully you’ve instilled the “no assholes or thieves” rule when assembling your writers group, but one thing you can do to protect yourself is to not bring an idea to your group that is in the early stages of inception. Those ideas are most vulnerable. I can already hear the excuses: ‘You haven’t really done anything with that idea yet, so.” “Well, yours wasn’t fully formulated and mine’s different because…” Bring in work that is more formulated and leave a paper trail –- so it’s more memorable. (See “Be Organized” below) This makes it difficult for someone to conveniently forget that you pitched an idea that just happens to be exactly like the one they came up with two months later.

What else can you do? Confront. Not everyone feels comfortable doing that, but I have zero problem saying, “Oh, that’s exactly like what we’re doing in X.” Call people on their bullshit, for gawdsake! If they know you’ll just take it lying down you’re an easy target.

Oh, and don’t forget to register your finished work with the WGA  and U.S. Copyright .

FIVE FAMOUS WRITERS GROUPS

In honor of the fabulous five writing entities in our currently unnamed TV writing circle, here are some of my favorite writers groups.

The Algonquin Roundtable

The Algonquin Roundtable – aka, “The Board,” “The Round Table” and my personal favorite,  “The Vicious Circle”,  was a group of intellectual New York City playwrights, critics, actors, and comedians who met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel. Notable members include: Dorothy Parker, George S. Kaufman, Harpo Marx and Edna Ferber.

The Inklings

J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are two of the famed members of this fantasy fiction collective associated with the University of Oxford, England.  The Inklings  convened at “The Eagle and Child Pub” in Oxford – now that’s my kind of writers group!

The Bloomsbury Group

This intellectual artist circle sharing and discussing ideas all lived or worked near Bloomsbury, London and boasted E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes. I like to think The Bloomsbury Group  met in “A Room with a View.”

Stratford-on-Odeon

Named after one of their favorite bookshops in Paris,  Shakespeare and Company , this talented crew includes renowned authors Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce. Wonder if Gertie brought along any of Alice B’s magic brownies …

Some of the coolest, brainiest, and, let’s face it, sexiest scribes make up this Hollywood TV and silver screen A-List Fempire  which includes Diablo Cody, Dana Fox Liz Meriweather and Lorene Scafaria.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN SUCCESSFUL ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLE

Have a facilitator..

Writers groups should be focused on the feedback of the pages brought in, whether it is new ideas, tool work, concepts, outlines or actual pages. Of course, it’s lovely to catch up, gossip and eat guacamole, but “time is money writing” and the more you waste coffee klatching, the less time you are working to finish that script and make your dreams come true. I’ve heard of writers groups that last 5 or 6 hours or longer. Sometimes this is because the group is enormous, but usually it’s because a good chunk of time is spent discussing the nightmarish traffic on the way there, or all the meetings one writer is getting or not getting, or the woes of a terrible work schedule getting in the way of writing, or boyfriend or girlfriend issues, or Tinder hell, and general kvetching. In cases like this, it’s best to appoint somebody to “run” the meeting in order to make sure everyone’s work is getting attention. If your writers group is more than 3-4 hours long, then either time is being wasted or the group is too damn big! Which brings me to…

Limit the size of your group.

Group shouldn’t be a “come one, come all” circus. I’ve heard of groups where a writer has to submit a script, everyone in the group has to read it then vote you in. However you decide to do it, smaller is better in my opinion. Four to six writers feels ideal to me. Typically people also have jobs or significant others or families, so not everyone can make it every time, but you want to make sure that if everyone shows up with work you can get to it all within a 3-4 hour window. Therefore…

Limit the work brought in.

It’s up to the group to make the rules, but in my experience, development focused groups tend to be more successful and efficient. Set guidelines. Allow people to bring in an idea or 1-5 pages of development work or 10 pages of a script or a slightly longer document if it’s an outline. Maybe scripts are given to members of the group outside of group time. Some groups will only focus on one writer’s entire script per meeting and give overall notes and detailed page notes.

Have deadlines.

Everyone needs enough time to read the work. So set a day and a time when work needs to be turned in and then make it easy to do so with…

Be organized.

Make it easy for everyone to share and access work by creating using Google Drive or Dropbox . The group manifesto, rules and regulations, meet up addresses and other important information can be stored there as well.

Meet regularly.

Take the time to find what works best for everyone’s schedule and be realistic about it. If you’re meeting weekly are you really giving yourselves enough time to create or turn around material? Don’t rush through the process and do things half-assed. If you meet every six weeks will the steam dissipate until the group ceases to exist? Some groups meet weekly or bi-weekly or once a month. Whatever you land on, be consistent.

“First, everyone’s commitment to not only showing up to the meetings but to contributing content consistently. Second, a prior knowledge of (most) everyone’s style/work/competency.” ~ MM  

HANDLING FEEDBACK – GIVING & RECEIVING

Use a timer..

If you know 4 people brought in work, then make sure everyone gets roughly the same amount of time or the time needed for whatever materials they brought in.

Create feedback rules.

The last thing you want is mutiny. Once someone hurls the first grenade, it can get real Lord of the Flies real quick. In my Script Anatomy classes  I always ask that writers point out what they LIKE first and then what’s not working (instead of what they don’t like) and why. They also are asked to try to have a pitch to fix the problem. This will come handy in a writer’s room. No on likes the naysayer. Granted, it is important to speak up when something is working for you, but offer a solution. In order to avoid “I didn’t like it when…” type of notes, focus on things like:

• What emotional impact did the story make you feel?
• Story sense and logic – is everything tracking?
• Character goal and motivation – are they strong and clear?
• Were the stakes high?
• Are the act outs strong?
• Is there an opponent creating conflict and obstacles for your main character?
• Was the story arc strong and clear?
• Are the core structural beats working and are they strong?

Asking yourselves these kinds of questions will help you deliver notes that don’t feel like a personal attack on the writer.

Start with the positive.

List off what you liked and what was working before launching into all the things that didn’t work.

Be honest but constructive.

Everyone is there to make the work better. Of course you can’t help but think of what you would do to the story, but try to come from a place of helping the writer realize his or her vision. Don’t be afraid to throw in your two cents, even if it goes against the writer or the rest of the group. But be constructive. Try to have a fix just like you would be expected to in the writers room.

Don’t defend yourself when getting notes.

No one cares. Your scene or dialogue or moment either worked for the note giver or it didn’t. It’s your job to take it in, process it and fix it. Some universities don’t allow you to utter a peep during class feedback or you get thrown out of class. Extreme? Maybe. But I can see how that teaches one to listen and process and not defend their work. Whatever the notes are, sleep on it! Often times the notes don’t seem that “bad” in the morning as when you first head them. Take some time, you don’t have to process and fix everything right away. It’s more important that you make good decisions over quick ones. Sometimes solutions come if you go out for a walk, or when you least expect – like when you’re in the shower, etc. Knowing all of this can help prevent you from panicking during the initial notes meeting. Take a deep breath. It’s all going to be ok.

It’s okay to ask questions.

As the writer, it is okay to ask questions or to say, “My intent was X. Did that come across?” Or “I did that because X, does that not make sense?” But if you, the writer, disagree with the note, keep it to yourself. Ooh, that one is so hard sometimes, right?

There you have it. So now all you need is other writers, right? How do you find your tribe? There are plenty of networking and meet-up groups out there, but one of the best ways to meet like-minded people who want to create a dedicated writers group is in class. You’ll get a chance to see what kind of writing they do and how they handle themselves when giving and receiving feedback. Our Script Anatomy alumni have formed writers groups with people in their classes that in some cases still meet to this day, many seasons later. To join us, check out our upcoming classes:

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Writers Group: How to Build a Fantastic Writing Community

by Sue Weems | 24 comments

A few years ago, I had only shared my writing with family and friends and a few blog followers. I was writing, but I wasn’t growing. I knew I needed accountability, fresh and critical eyes on my work, and a writers' group if I wanted to move forward. But I’m an introvert who moves often, and I was terrified to share my work.

The pressure to get better eventually won out over my fear, and I’m a stronger writer for it today. How do you find a community of writers to push you to improve and encourage you when you’re stuck?

Writing is a solitary profession for the most part, but sooner or later, we realize we need a network of people, from beta readers to editors and eventually readers. Some writers retreat, discouraged by unkind comments or unsupportive friends or family, believing that someday, somehow their work will reach a wider audience.

But writing alone and hard work aren't enough by themselves. Very few writers can write and launch a book and career entirely in isolation. (Plus, being a part of a writing or creative community is much more fun.)

Here are a few small steps for finding, joining, or building a writing community.

How to Find a Writers' Group

In order to join a writers' group, first you need to find other writers. Try these two strategies to find the people who could become your community.

Take a class

Writing classes are a terrific way to meet writers, learn new skills, and invest in your craft. Whether online or in person, commit to completing every lesson and reaching out to classmates.

I’ve taken a number of classes in person and online, and by the end of a course, only the strongest survive. These are the people who are more likely to take their writing (and yours!) more seriously. Challenge yourself to stay in touch via social media or email.

Join a critique or writers' group

Writers meet up all over the world. Check out your local library for writers' groups that are open to new members, or consider online forums such as ours, Becoming Writer .

I was living abroad a few years ago, looking for accountability, when I found The Write Practice and joined . The weekly accountability kept me writing consistently, and over time, I found a niche of writers who I still turn to for critique, support, and encouragement. They have enriched my writing and life in countless ways.

Check out these tips for how gather the right people and create a writers' group that lasts.  Don’t be afraid to give a group a trial period, and switch if it isn’t a constructive, encouraging place to learn and grow.

How to Make Your Writers' Group Amazing

Once you find a community of writers that seems to be a good fit, do these three things to keep your community thriving:

Give and Take

When you first begin with a writers' group, it will be uncomfortable. Recognize that those early days are time for you to feel out the guidelines and expectations of the group.

Be honest about what you can give and humbly receive feedback. (That said, do not tolerate rudeness or abuse—leave any group that allows it immediately.) Make sure you don’t dominate the group or its members with a barrage of questions or your work.

Not sure how to give great feedback? Check out our guide to the components of amazing feedback .

As with most relationships, there must be a healthy amount of both giving and taking to make it work.

Be consistent

Once you find a writers' group or class, be consistent about attendance and participation, even if you have decided it will be for a four to six week or meeting trial period.

Some days you will not feel prepared, but go anyway to support the group. Consistency is key in the early days of creating a new habit, so follow through on your commitment.

Once group members see that you are a trustworthy and engaged individual, your interactions with the group will be richer and more productive as well.

Keep learning

Attitude is everything when you work with a group. Stay positive, committing to learn from everyone you meet.

Even when a writer in your group is just beginning, find ways to respectfully engage their work. You'll find it grows you as a writer.

I can always tell who is going to be the strongest writer in a class by the end of the semester—it isn’t the person with the best technical skills. It’s the person who humbly and hungrily absorbs all feedback, working to put that feedback to work. They don’t think they know it all, and they are quick to find the good in others.

Find Your Community Now

The best time to find a writing community is today. Don’t put it off until you have a book ready, when you join groups to shout “Look at my book! Read my book!” It’s much more rewarding to struggle forward together, learning and spurring each other on.

When your book is ready, you will find you have beta readers and launch team members ready to help and cheer.

What experiences have you had with writers' groups? What keeps you from joining one? Let us know in the comments .

One of the great things about The Write Practice is you don't have to look far to find your writing community. In fact, you'll find community if you scroll down to the comments. Today, let's practice the first strategy to maintaining healthy community: give and take.

Share an excerpt from your work in progress in the comments below. Or, take ten minutes to write a new piece based on this prompt: first day at a new school. Then, share your story in the comments .

With the remainder of your time ( five minutes if you just wrote, or fifteen minutes if you're sharing a prewritten piece), respond to the pieces other writers have shared. In order to receive great support from your community, you have to support others, so take time to leave thoughtful feedback for your fellow writers.

BONUS: Looking for a writers' group? We'd love to see you in Becoming Writer , the online writing community here at The Write Practice.

Sue Weems is a writer, teacher, and traveler with an advanced degree in (mostly fictional) revenge. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses (and dramatic asides), she follows a sailor around the globe with their four children, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can read more of her writing tips on her website .

24 Comments

I think writing groups are a great idea and would like to be part of one. Now the BUT…

What keeps me from joining a writer’s group? For one thing, physical distance. I live in a rural area, quite sparsely populated. (Fewer people=very few writers.) We’re an hour from the nearest city — a long drive home on cold winter nights.

I was part of a writing group there, but that disbanded for lack of continued interest and attendance. I’ve heard of another writer’s group in the city, but never been to a meeting. I needn’t be so particular, but I am; I don’t want to drive that hour in and out again to read and listen to a lot of genres I’d never read by choice and certainly never write.

I’m a rather conservative-minded older lady; I’d like to be part of an on-line writing group where we share non-fiction or contemporary, fairly “clean” stories. No paranormal, no horror, no thriller, no fantasy, no erotica. If someone can recommend a group like that, I’d love to check it out.

Hi, Christine! I understand where you’re coming from, but. The but is that being exposed to other genres may give you some ideas or approaches you hadn’t thought of. I’m lucky enough to be in a critique Circle and we have members who do straight-up fiction, historical romance, fantasy, vampire stories, and historical novels based on post-Civil War family histories. Me? I’ve done a memoir (which I can’t find an agent for), and a number of short stories.

Besides this group, I’d suggest you try Two Drops of Ink as a starter. It’s a good mix of writers and would give you the chance to get some exposure (in a good way).

Thank you. I was checking for small writing groups on Goodreads after I wrote this. I think a person could start their own, but it might take time.

Hi Christine. I’m with you on this. Let me know if you find anything

Christine, I respond to you as a conservative older lady, and agree entirely with your desire for “clean” writing. Stick with the write practice where your personal style of writing will engender responses to encourage you. I am a recent member and have found it easy to engage with the pieces I appreciate and I can chose to ignore the others. I imagine this is a fairly large group and you might therefore find a smaller cohesive group to your liking.

I had not problem finding a writing group at my local library and I live in a very small town. I enjoy the group. I also am part of an online group that has a mix of ages. I am older and so far everything shared in the group I am in has been clean. It is specific to “creative non fiction”. If you want to investigate this group it is at the following link: https://www.familyhistorywritingstudio.com I think one has to take a couple of the classes to be able to participate in the group so a participant knows the genre. But the classes are not expensive and are both fun and informative. If you like family histories.

There are various writing groups you can join if you’re willing to pay. I see this one asks for $200 US for the lessons that will get you into the group. The advantage, or disadvantage, is that the group is limited in genre. I’m doing NanoWrimo now, so will put out some feelers there.

I did not spend $200. I took one class that was 50 Canadian dollars. I think they recommend a second class. There is a fee to get into the group itself but I was lucky and slipped in during the introductory rate. Glad you have found a spot Christine. Best of luck!

It was Cora’s first day at the Academy of Witchcraft.

Her parents told her that it would be a great—and challenging—experience and that she would make lots of friends in the process. They had bought all of the necessary supplies to ease her journey at her new school, meaning she was fully prepared for whatever came at her; or so she thought.

The first thing she noticed was the paper-planes flying around the school grounds and various cliques with kids waving their wands in the air while muttering spells. Right after, she saw how a group of seniors swung their staffs in a vertical motion causing the planes to split in half and fall onto the grass below. They laughed their lungs out and some of the kids with wands showed watery eyes and ran inside.

Cora closed her eyes thinking (knowing) that this was going to be a tough year for her, but she quickly opened them, showing a glint of determination. A look that would show that she was ready for the new adventure ahead.

Thanks for being brave and sharing your practice, Luis.

I could still remember it vividly.It was the first day of my school when I was just a kid of 5 years old.Early in the morning at about 0830 a.m I accompanied my dad I went to my school to join.I was wearing a new dress, having a new school bag wherein I had a plastic box filled with two pencils, a sharpner, an eraser and a two rupee coin given as pocket money by my father.In addition I had a box filled with toffees.What I could do with just Rs 2/-?It was some 50 years ago.In those days Rs 2/- meant a lot.I could have some toffees or some nuts or buy a new pencil or even a pen.My father admitted me in the school.I wished the class teacher with a good morning.Then I distributed sweets to my class mates.Then I was seated in the third row, in the midst of a small boy and a girl.Then my father went home.The class was commenced with a recital of Tamil Thai Vazhthu, which meant that we paid our respect to the Tamil Goddess.We simply recited what the class teacher said. Being the first working day of school and my first day at school, the class teacher just asked our names.I told the teacher I was Ram, the only son of my parents.As time went I became friends with my neighbors namely Arun and Bama.They were so cute.I learnt a lot from them.Arun’s father was a police man and Bama’s father, a doctor.My father was an advocate.Being a tinytot, my thoughts mostly lingered on playing.Arun said he could play hide and seek.Bama said she could play the game of thief and the police man.Since we were in school, we did not play our favourite games.We decided to play our favourite games some other time.At about 11.00 a.m, we were almost tired.The class teacher helped us to lean on our desk and have a nap.When we woke up it was 1130 a.m.The class teacher told us that was all for the day and ordered us to back to our home.I could see my father was waiting outside the school with a smile on his face.Perhaps it was due to my successful completion of my first day in the school.My father patted me on my back for not crying on the first day of my school.I really wondered, why quite a few of my class mates cried.But I thoroughly enjoyed my first day in my school.I went back to home with my father.As soon as I reached home, I boasted much to my mother on my first day at school.My mother hailed me as a cute boy.

I wanted to add to your sources also the NaNoWriMo local/ regional groups as good writers groups. This was the place I met amazing writing-oriented people of different generations whom I wouldn;t have met otherwise. And all of us didn;t have around them any people interested in writing until meeting us.

Thank you for mentioning this, especially during November!

My first experience of a writers’ group was at a community event with an open invitation to join a local writer for one hour of sharing. The event was based 60 miles from my home. When I arrived at the appointed time I was the only person to have signed up. This proved to be very helpful as I had the tutor’s full and undivided attention. We discussed some ideas I had, and he shared some of the local successes he was aware of. He does run a local group, but distance precluded me from joining that one. He then named a couple of weekly meetings available in my home town, and also reminded me of residential opportunities at a well known rural retreat. I have yet to follow up on any of his suggestions. However I have found the Write Practice and it feels comfortable, so I will hang out here for a while and see how things develop.

Glad to have you here! It takes a bit to get comfortable in any new group. Good luck!

You should try using WattPad, it’s an amazing community regardless of how long you’ve been writing and how confident about it.

So glad you mentioned this! Many of my students have had success in Wattpad. I need to wade in.

My days and nights blended into solitary darkness. I dreaded my captor’s visits as much as the lonely silence in her dungeon.

With each visit, she brought new methods of increasing my pain as well as her pleasure. Afterwards she would collect samples of my blood and seed, no doubt for some sorcerous ritual of hers.

It was during one of these sleepless nights after her visit that I heard a strange scurrying on the stone floor. It stopped, than resumed on the table to which I was bound. As it neared I saw it was a rat. For a moment it stared at me, than proceeded to gnaw at my bonds.

I sat up on the table, rubbing my sore wrists. The rat scurried back into the darkness from whence it came. I decided to search the rest of the dungeon outside this chamber.

I opened the door a crack. I peered through, looking for any anyone heading this way. Satisfied, I surveyed my surroundings. Piteous moaning came from the other cells. A nearby table displayed many instruments of torture, along with a club, which I took.

As I turned to investigate the cells, I heard the familiar footsteps down the stairs that led to the dungeon. I reentered the chamber and stood near the door, my club poised to strike.

The door opened, the torchlight illuminating part of the room. As she entered, I swung my club toward her head. The blow sent her reeling to the floor. Picking up the torch, I lit the candles on the wall. I could now see the interior. In a corner of the far wall I found another bundle of ropes.

I lifted her unconscious body to the table, binding her to the iron rings. The knife she had used on me lay on the nearby shelf. I used it to shred her dress from her body.

I paused to admire my handiwork. At last, my captor lay as I had; bound, naked and helpless. I wanted to make her suffer and ensure it endured until she would beg for death’s cold embrace.

The voice of necessity stilled my wrath. If she is missing, they will search for her. I haven’t the strength nor skill at arms to deal with the guards. I decided to put vengeance aside in favor of more immediate needs.

The moon shone as the night’s lantern when I emerged from the dungeon. The halls were empty save for the occasional guard patrol. I made my way to the kitchen, where I grabbed as much food as I could carry and brought it to the dungeon.

By now she had awakened, struggling to break her bonds without success. Her muffled pleas and curses were little more than buzzing flies in my ears.

A curious mark painted upon her leg caught my eye. It was a large bleeding eye, likened to the symbol of that altar where the vrylamyr fell. Curious, I touched the mark. I saw visions of the lady chanting before a blood-stained altar, carving the mark into men’s flesh.

My hand, moving of its own accord, snatched the knife from the table. I carved the symbol above her heart, than plunged it into her flesh.

An invigorating wave of energy swept through me as her life faded. I felt stronger, my vitality restored.

The reverie of the moment faded; now I needed to escape this place. I remembered the cells I had passed on my first day. The occupants within could be of use to me.

Exiting the chamber, I opened the door to the first cell. In it lay an old man, lying in a most pitiful state. A husk where once stood a man. I opened the other cells, but met with the same result. This is what I would’ve become had I not slain that bitch.

They served no purpose in living, save one. Their minds long consumed by time and torture, they offered no resistance as I sent them to the Fates. Their blood, undeserving to run through the their veins, would serve me better.

I took a horse from the stables. It was dawn when I rode away from that place. I resolved to continue my journey, but first I had another matter to attend to.

When I arrived, the villagers came out to see. They reacted to my presence with dumbfounded astonishment. “Your oppressor is dead. Your fate is in your own hands now.”

After moments of stunned silence, the villagers knelt before me. “We accept you as our new lord. Do with us as you see fit.”

Pathetic, I relieve them of their burden, yet they seek another to weigh them down. I should kill them for their part in my incarceration, but I must continue my journey. “Return any items you have stolen from me, and I will cool my wrath.” They moved with haste, handing me a sack containing my belongings. I gave one last scornful look upon those pitiful creatures. Spurring my horse on, I left that village far behind me. Like cattle, they existed only to follow, to serve their betters. It will be their demise one day.

To be continued…

I am hanaa and I have been writing journals since long time, and always wanted to make a book . And after 30 years I decided to finish my book. the book name is woman in the cellar it is about woman go to the psychiatrist where she tells him her life story. when she goes to the session she has to wait in the waiting room where she meets other patients who tells their problems as well.

I need to abide by these suggestions. Writing can be a lonely job. I do need to take a writing class. I need to definitely receive some feedback on writing. And, I need to join a group of other writers, as well. Thank you. Much needed.

My first experience of a writers’ group was at a community event with an open invitation to join a local writer for one hour of sharing. The event was based 60 miles from my home. When I arrived at the appointed time I was the only person to have signed up. This proved to be very helpful as I had the tutor’s full and undivided attention.

http://www.emetechnologies.com/industrial-training-in-chandigarh/6-months-cse-training-in-chandigarh-&-mohali.php

The best time to find a writing community is today. Don’t put it off until you have a book ready, when you join groups to shout “Look at my book! Read my book!”

http://www.emetechnologies.com/industrial-training-in-chandigarh/6-months-mechanical-engineering-training-in-chandigarh-&-mohali.php

Hello ladies. I understand what you are saying. I recently started my own on-line forum and am looking for members to get the ball rolling. I am giving away free lifetime memberships to anyone interested, just email me at [email protected] and I will get you set up. My goal, once I have enough members is to put people in groups by genre. I feel that you can give a better critique to someone in a genre you are familiar with as well as getting stronger input. Let’s face it, you know the tropes and conventions of what you read and write the best. I’m wanting to foster closer relationships in small groups and hopefully collaborations and lifetime friendships will spring forth. If your interested, let me know. I wish you all rounded characters and plots that sizzle. Best, Amber.

This class has often encourage me to continue to write I read the comments on a regular basis and take lots of notes here is an example on something I’m writing….

Drop him in the shark tank says Princess no no I will tell you what you want to know about your sister death. It better be good or you are going in the shark tank Sam. When I joined the family loan sharking business I knew we committed serveral crimes however I never knew it would allow us so much pain and heart ache until my sister was found died at St. Mary Academy.

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• Building a Writing Community | sandieclark - […] How to Build a Fantastic Writing Community […]
• What Not to Do When NaNoWriMo Ends – Art of Conversation - […] spirit it engenders. Keep in contact with those who inspire you to keep following your dream. Find a group…
• How to Achieve Goals: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated and Actually Accomplish Your Goals – Art of Conversation - […] more tip for how to achieve goals? Ask for help, if you need it. Having a community standing behind…
• Writing Community: 3 Critical Reasons Why Writers Need Community - […] are many ways to join a writing community. MeetUp is a fantastic resource to meet like-minded individuals and writers…
• How to Write a Self-Help Book – user's Blog! - […] best way to complete numerous rounds of beta testing is to join a writing community. Many writers prefer a…
• How to Write a Self Help Book - […] best way to complete numerous rounds of beta testing is to join a writing community. Many writers prefer a…
• How to Handle Criticism: 3 Strategies to Make Criticism Work for You - […] Having a tribe is paramount. There’s a tremendous amount to be gained as a member of a writing community.…
• How to Write a Book: The Complete Guide - The Write Practice - […] Need someone to hold you accountable? Here’s an article on how to find a writers group. […]

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Writing Groups: How To Find the Right One

When we writers spend hours alone at the keyboard, that isolation can get to even us introverts.

The solution is to find a writers group—populated by like-minded fellow strugglers.

I belong to three—one that meets in person and two that interact online, and I encourage Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild members to find one or form their own.

If you’re serious about your writing dreams, a writers group can help you fulfill them.

Writers understand each other.

You can look to family and friends for support, but unless they’re writers , they’re not likely to really comprehend what you’re going through.

You want someone who’s been where you are.

Whatever your challenge, someone in your writers group has experienced the same and gained insight they’re happy to share.

Late motivational speaker Jim Rohn said we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.

That’s why I enjoy spending time with writers.

• Before Joining a Writers Group

Know what you hope to gain from it.

A writers group should help you become a better craftsperson , not serve only as a cheerleading squad for you. And neither should it be the opposite—a gaggle of critics that leaves you feeling low after every meeting.

Rather, seek (or form) a group that includes at least one member who has succeeded in the business. Ideally, the leader should be someone who has published two or more books , has an agent , and knows how to work with editors at publishing houses.

Most important, be sure the leader allows both praise and constructive criticism. Otherwise you could wind up in a writers group where everyone praises everyone else’s work, yet no one gets published. Or one in which everyone criticizes each other’s writing but no one learns how to improve.

• Guidelines for Joining a Writers Group

Choose as specific a writers group as possible. Some have writers of all sorts who write in a variety of genres—fiction, nonfiction, children’s, sci-fi, fantasy, memoir, you name it.

That isn’t all bad, but such assemblages tend to discuss what applies to all—the business side of things, like agents, contracts, promotion. If you’re looking to specifically improve your writing, look for a writers group made up of others in your genre.

• How to Find a Writers Group

Finding an online writers group is as easy as publicizing your interest. Google or announce in social media your desire to interact with other writers in your genre.

In-person groups offer more dynamic interaction, but you may find online groups easier to form by genre.

For in-person writers groups, check:

• Your library
• Your community center
• Word Weavers International (designed for Christian writers)

For online writers groups, check:

• Facebook (search “writers group” and remember—the more specific, the better)
• The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild
• Scribophile

If you can’t find a writers group that seems the right fit, consider starting one. Word Weavers offers a great model.

Even if you don’t live near other writers (don’t assume that till you’ve sought others in your area online), you could meet using video conferencing tools like Zoom and sharing manuscripts through email or via collaboration tools like Google Docs .

The #1 thing to remember when searching for a writers group:

You’re not alone. And you have plenty of options to find out who’s out there with you and for you.

The right writers group can help improve your craft, motivate you, and give you confidence. Finding one is worth the search.

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7 Tips for Starting a Writers’ Group: Writing Alone Together

• February 3, 2024
• 32 Comments

A writers’ group can increase your productivity, inspire you to write more, and motivate you to send your writing to literary agents, magazine editors, and book publishers.

When I mentioned my writing group on Twitter, and received several “I wish I belonged to a writers’ group, but there aren’t any in my area” or “My writing group disbanded – and I really miss it!” responses.

Whether you’re a freelance writer, aspiring novelist, or published poet – a writers’ group can keep you motivated, disciplined, productive and published.

How do I know this? Because I started a writer’s group several years ago, and witnessed firsthand the benefits of writing with a group of motivated, encouraging, and supportive aspiring authors! We discussed everything from how to write an author bio when you’ve never been published to the most common reasons manuscripts are rejected by editors . So, here are my tips for starting a writer’s group.

First, though, let’s run through a quick list of reasons you should start (or at least join!) a group of writers…

Benefits of a writers’ group:

• Information sharing, which leads to growth
• Inspiration from successful experiences
• Support for rejections and feelings of failure
• Encouragement to keep going
• Feelings of solidarity and connectedness
• Feedback for your writing, article ideas, or plans
• Accountability for your writing goals

Also, if one or more of the writers in the group goes to a writing conference or workshop, she can share what she learned. Not only does this benefit the other writers, it’ll help solidify the writing tips in her own brain. Teaching is a great way to really learn something 🙂

7 Tips for Starting a Writers’ Group

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s what bestselling author John Irving said about taking risks as a writer:

“If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital.” – John Irving.

I had no idea what I was doing when I started my group for writers. But guess what? I learned lots! These tips will help you start and sustain your first writing group.

1. Decide on the best place to meet

My writer’s group started in a classroom at our local elementary school and moved to our homes (we rotate through the members’ houses). We’ve also met in the pub, which wasn’t as comfortable as a home. Other great places for writers’ groups to meet include the library, an uncrowded coffee shop, or a spare room in your local community center.

2. Be clear from the beginning about the structure of your meetings

Will you read your writing out loud, and will everyone give feedback? Will you email your story, article pitch, or book proposal before the meeting? Will you write during your meetings (that wouldn’t work for me – but it may be appealing to writers who struggle with motivation or time to write)? Will you brainstorm story ideas or wrestle with plot problems?

3. Start stretching your writers’ group from Day One

Be flexible about tweaking the structure based on group dynamics, location changes, new members, etc. Instead of rigidly adhering to “the way we’re supposed to do it”, consider mixing things up a little. For instance, if you meet every two weeks, you could alternate between a critique night and a “just talking about writing” night.

4. Be clear about what you’re looking for in a writers’ group

As I told my writing buddies last night (waving to my fellow WOBBERS! which stands for Write on Bowen 🙂 ) – I prefer sharing our writing goals , experiences, information, and inspirations. I’m not big on reading my writing out loud, nor do I love critiquing others’ writing. But, a writer’s group should be an amalgamation of what everyone needs and wants – which is where flexibility and open-mindedness comes in.

5. Develop clear guidelines for members, book genres, leaders, etc

Here are a few questions to help you set guidelines for your new writing group:

• Is your group open to new writers?
• Should all members write in the same genre?
• How will feedback be offered?
• What are the goals of your writing group?
• Who will lead the meetings?
• What is the purpose of your meetings? (eg, to write together, or offer feedback, or read your writing aloud, or a blend of it all?)

When you’re starting a writer’s group, it helps to have a plan. My group recently faced a dilemma involving a possible new member; we weren’t all on the same page (as it were) and we hadn’t decided beforehand if we were ready for new members.

6. Re-evaluate your writing group regularly

As a group, agree on the guidelines for meeting and sharing your writing. Then, re-evaluate your goals and practices regularly – such as every quarter or every September.

At the beginning of every season, review these 5 Signs of Bad Writing You Should Never Ignore .

7. Consider recruiting a co-leader

When I started my writer’s group almost 10 years ago, I had a co-leader who pulled out at the last minute because of other commitments. I wasn’t happy spearheading the group on my own, so I let it wither away. One of the members encouraged me to start it up again (Maggie!) – and I’m so glad I did. It’s a smaller group and I’m not “in charge”, which made me happy..

For me, the best part of this writer’s group – besides the motivation and encouragement – is seeing how we’re achieving our goals as writers. We’re completing novels, book proposals, and articles. Together, we’re forging ahead in this crazy business – and our progress is sweeter because we savor it together.

To learn more about writers’ groups – or to start your own writers’ group – read Writing Alone, Writing Together: A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups by Judy Reeves.  She has lead all kinds of writing groups and classes, and gives concrete examples of what works best. Her book is well-organized, and interesting to read!

This book will help you get organized, and learn how to critique your and others’ writing in helpful, encouraging ways. Judy discusses how to write, where to write, who to write with, how to critique, how to revise, etc. You can even form an online writers’ critique group with her tips — and improve both your group and your writing.

If you’re not motivated to write (much less start a writers’ group!), read  Writing a Novel? How to Stay Motivated .

Fellow scribes, do you have any thoughts or questions about starting a writers’ group? Feel free to write below…

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32 thoughts on “7 Tips for Starting a Writers’ Group: Writing Alone Together”

Wendy Burt-Thomas, author of Query Letters talked about writers accountability groups in one of my blog posts ( https://www.theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/interview-with-the-author-of-query-letters/ ).

I forgot about that interview – which I did in 2009! I love the idea of starting an accountability group for writers to discuss goals and struggles instead of critiquing each others’ work. An accountability group can be a fantastic way for writers to stay motivated, focused, and connected with like-minded individuals.

If you’re thinking about an accountability group (versus a writing critique group), make sure everyone is aware of the purpose and structure. Determine what the main goals are, whether it’s setting and achieving writing targets, sharing struggles, or providing support and encouragement.

In-person meetings are my preference, but virtual meetings are great for distant writers. Establishing a regular meeting schedule helps writers plan and commit to participation.

In an accountability group, each writer should have specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for their writing. SMART goals provide clarity and focus, making it easier to track progress and stay accountable.

We’d allocate time for members to share their current goals and progress in every meeting. This not only encourages accountability but also allows for celebration of achievements and troubleshooting of obstacles.

I’d also implement a system for tracking goals and progress outside of meetings, such as shared documents or accountability buddies. This extra layer of accountability can help us stay on track between meetings.

Peer support, brainstorming sessions, problem-solving discussions, sharing writing resources and tips – it’s all welcome in an accountability group.

I’d like to start a local one for writers to meet in-person. The next question is how to find writers like me, who want to meet regularly and stay accountable to our writing goals.

When you’re starting a writing group, navigating interpersonal dynamics can be tricky, especially when it involves co-facilitation.

Here are a few suggestions to help move a writer’s group forward positively:

1. Encourage an open and honest discussion within the group. Maybe organize a meeting where everyone can share their thoughts and concerns about the current dynamics. Emphasize the importance of a supportive and collaborative environment, making it clear that everyone’s input is valued.

2. If one of your members is causing problems in your writers group and is unwilling to meet with you one-on-one, consider bringing in a neutral third party, perhaps a mediator or a counselor, to facilitate a conversation between the two of you. This can help address underlying issues and find common ground.

3. Collaboratively create a set of guidelines for your group oif writers. This could include expectations for behavior, feedback, and participation. Having a shared understanding might help minimize power struggles and conflicts. Writing is hard enough without dealing with interpersonal dynamics between writers!

4. Discuss the approach to giving writing feedback and whether members are comfortable with them. It might be beneficial to offer a variety of writing prompts that cater to different interests, ensuring everyone feels included.

5. Implement a constructive feedback mechanism. This could involve sharing positive feedback during writing sessions and addressing concerns privately. Creating a culture of constructive criticism can contribute to a healthier group of writers.

6. It’s important to gauge the feelings of the other writers. Ask for their input on the group dynamics, assignments, and any other concerns they might have. A collective effort can foster a sense of unity.

7. Regularly revisit the roles of co-facilitators, and clarify responsibilities. This might help in avoiding conflicts arising from miscommunication or differing expectations among the writers.

The goal of creating a group of writers who want to “write alone, together” is to create a space where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and able to express themselves.

I wish you all good thinks as you start your own group of writers!

Libby Fischer Hellmann

Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers

Five Rules for a Successful Writers’ Group

Why? You see, most of the members in our group have had exceptional success. After being with us for several years, over 75% have inked publishing deals on their own. Of course, some leave the group after they publish their first book, but others stick around for decades. I can say this: If you stick with us, you probably will get published.

Still, a writing group isn’t for everyone. How do you decide whether or not to join an existing writing group or even form your own? The most important question to ask yourself honestly is whether you can take constructive criticism.

If you have a chip on your shoulder, or you think your prose is perfect, don’t join a group. It won’t go well. The following is a true story. When I first joined the group, It became quickly evident how little I really knew about the craft of fiction writing.

Our group works like this: everyone brings 8-10 double spaced pages, usually sequential, and we read them to the rest of the group. Everyone takes turns reading, and while one writer is reading, the rest of us take notes.

I’ll explain later why we read out loud. Anyway, after I finished reading my pages, the group started in on me. EVERYONE had something critical to say, and usually two or three different somethings. When they were finally finished and I’d finished furiously noting down everything they said, I thumbed through my pages and said, “I don’t think you guys missed a single line.”

Sensitive types might find that daunting or upsetting. Others might find criticism makes them angry. But I loved it. How often do you get personalized critique? The group members took the time and effort to listen and comment in fine detail. Weeks of the same process eventually helped make me a better writer.  I learned point of view, why to delete adverbs, the way to transition between chapters, the basics of police procedure, and much, much more.

So, in the spirit of all of us becoming better writers, here’s what our group does, and why.  As long as you can take the rough with the smooth, I think these guidelines will provide the foundation for a long-lived strong writing group.

1. Create a good mix of writers but in the same genre

A mix of men, women, different ages and occupations works best. But, and this is important, all the writers in a group should be in the same or similar genre.

Why? First, a mix of different types of people means you will get a variety of opinions, which is more useful than one-dimensional criticism from a bunch of people who all think the same way. We have a criminal defense lawyer in our group who lets us know when we get court procedure wrong. We also have a former priest, a police officer, an environmental lawyer, and a former bus driver.

Second, while I continue to think crime fiction is one of the most flexible, and interesting genres around, there are conventions in a mystery or a thriller that are unique to the genre. Mixing science fiction and horror in would muddy the waters a bit— their conventions are slightly different. And romance? Well, that would change the dynamics even more. So I recommend you stick to the mystery, crime, and thriller genres for your group.

2. Read aloud

Reading aloud brings a story dramatically to life. It helps you spot areas that don’t flow as well as others, and it helps identify inconsistencies—there’s no place to hide. Plus, there should be a built-in rhythm that surfaces when you read aloud that you might miss if you’re reading on the page. If it’s not there, you need to tend to your prose. For example, run-on sentences are clearly “outted” when you read aloud. If you can’t finish a sentence in one breath, it’s too long.

Finally, reading from fresh material means the listener experiences them for the first time, and can react honestly without any preconceptions. In other words, you benefit from people’s gut feelings.

3. The basis of critiquing should be “What Stopped Me…”

Often when you start out in a group, you know something someone reads is wrong, but you don’t know why. That’s okay. Usually someone in the group will know why, but if no one does, it doesn’t matter. We just know that it stopped the reader. And that is an  excellent starting point. Any time a reader is taken out of the story, whether it’s due to purple prose, point of view mistakes, or run on sentences, the writer needs to know that. If not, the writer may lose the reader permanently.

So we tell our members, just say “A and B stopped me.” If you know why, great. If not, it’s still a valuable tool.

Btw, if more than one member of the group calls attention to the same thing by saying “I have that too” or “that was what I was going to say” , it’s a pretty good indication the writer SHOULD revise that passage.

4. The person being critiqued should NOT defend themselves

You’re not in a group to defend your writing. You’re in the group to improve it. So becoming defensive or trying to convince other members why the passage was there or why it should remain isn’t going to help your writing. It’s only going to produce tension and stress. As the person being critiqued, you are totally free NOT to take other members’ advice. It’s your book. But listen to what they are telling you. They’re not trying to sabotage you. They’re trying to nurture you. They may not express themselves as nicely as you want, but arguing just isn’t productive. Sometimes a writer in our group will say “Thanks. I’ll take it under advisement.” That usually means they don’t want to change the passage. OK. As we say, it’s your book.

5. Park your prejudices at the door

You need an open mind. You might not like female detectives, hate too much violence and gore or dislike it when people write in the first person. You might love legal thrillers or hate serial killers. But you are not there to express your personal prejudices, you’re there to help other writers become the best they can. In fact, if your writing group is working as it should, everyone will feel safe to put forward their ideas and opinions without being shot down, or shooting the author down in flames.

Do you belong to a writing group?

Are you in a writing group? If so, what is your most important tip for success? And how do you find the experience?

How to Launch a Writers’ Group: 6 Pieces of Advice

A well-known African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The same is true for writing.

Six months ago, I had an idea to start a writers' group, a cohort of people banded together by their passion for writing. Three months later, I launched the web presence of the group, The Write Practice.

Since then, I've learned a little more every day about what it takes to start a successful writers' group . It's not easy, but it's worth the effort.

The only good reason you should start a writing group is if you don't already have access to a one. It's far easier to join a group than it is to start one.

However, for the brave and stubborn, here are six pieces of advice about how to launch your very own writers' group.

1. Help people

People join writing groups to get help, so if don't want to help other writers, don't start a group.

How can you help your fellow writers?

My group helps people develop their writing voice , but others might help you build your online platform, network with other writers, or help you deal with rejection.

The possibilities are endless, but the non-negotiable is that you must help people.

2. Have a physical and online presence

From the beginning, I wanted my writing group to be both online and off-line.

The Internet is an amazing way to connect people to each other.  Blogging especially is a great way to meet people. However, it's difficult to build deep and meaningful relationships in a writing group if you only meet online.

As the leader, it's your job to find ways to connect those people in real life. You may find yourself throwing parties, starting book clubs, or even going to writing workshops and conferences.

3. Throw parties

Chuck Palahniuk said, “Use writing as your excuse to throw a party each week — even if you call that party a ‘workshop.'”

I love the idea of a group of people coming together to celebrate their passion.

Once a month, my wife and I host a “writing feast.” We make a bunch of food, invite a bunch of our writer friends over to the house, and have a big party.

We might talk a little about our writing or the books that inspire us, but mostly, we celebrate the gift of writing.

4. Be consistent

Writers, like all creatives, can be terribly inconsistent.

We like to write when we want to write, to get together when we want to. However, to build a group you have to show up consistently.

If you're going to meet in person, meet at the same time every week. If you're going to create an online community, contribute every day or at regular intervals.

Writing groups take a long time to build, and if you don't show up consistently, no one else will.

5. When critiquing, focus on the bright spots

One of the main reasons people join writing groups is to get feedback about their work. However, there is a helpful way and an unhelpful way to do this.

The human mind naturally focuses on flaws. It's in our wiring.

When you critique someone's writing, try to intentionally look for way to praise the person's work (even if you didn't really like all of it). For example, say, “I loved what you did here . You should do that more often.”

It's more helpful when someone tells you to do something more than when they tell you what you're doing is wrong .

6. Beware “Entrepreneur's Depression”

As you are preparing to start your writers' group, you might dream of dozens of writers showing up to your first meeting. You may fantasize droves of hungry writers saying, “We've been waiting for someone to start this for years. Thank you so much! Lead us, oh fearless sage.”

But it doesn't happen like that.

The first time I threw a writing feast, two people showed up. After three months of preparation, my website had received less than 100 visits in the first week.

When you don't get the response you expect, the you may feel betrayed. This is normal . But whatever you do, don't give up. Fight through the disappointment.

If your dream for a writing group is going to become a reality, you will have to keep showing up. You'll have to persevere.

No one is going to start it if you don't.

Would you want to be a part of a writers' group? What would you look for as part of your perfect cohort? Share in the comments .

*Photo credit: Horia Varlan (Creative Commons)

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The Cabin offers programs year-round, including youth and adult education, a Readings and Conversations series that brings the world to Boise one author at a time, and publication opportunities for all ages.

Idaho Commission on the Arts

A state organization that offers grants and awards to writers and elects annual writers-in-residence.

Idaho Writers Guild

A community-based literary arts organization that promotes education and literacy by hosting public programs and projects, including author readings, writing workshops on a broad spectrum of topics, writing contests, and conferences of interest to writers and readers of all genres.

Lost Horse Press

A nonprofit, independent press that publishes poetry titles of high literary merit and makes available fine contemporary literature through cultural, educational and publishing programs and activities.

Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers

Membership is open to anyone, published or unpublished, who is interested in self-publishing, including those from nearby Idaho.

Help us add to this list, Idahoans! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or an Idaho literary journal we should be aware of? Let us know here

Today's session was awesome. I feel unblocked. I have concrete tools I can use to unblock over and over again from now on. And I have writing I want to do in front of me. That's just amazing for a single session! Sid Kemp Boca Raton, Florida

Client Credits

WBN has helped writers publish with:

Simon & Schuster Little, Brown & Co. St. Martin’s Press Amazon Slate Threepenny Review Huffington Post

WriteByNight, LLC 235 West End Avenue, 6H New York, New York 10023

646.374.8174 [email protected]

Writing Groups

Clearwater Writers Network

Organizer: Needs a new organizer. Could it be you? Location: Orofino, Idaho For more information visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1966187353598515/

Confluence Writers

Organizer: Janet Marugg Location: Lewiston, Idaho For more information and meeting times contact Janet at [email protected]

Palouse Chapter, Idaho Writers League

Current President: Mark Ready Location: Moscow, Idaho This group is a hybrid that meets in person and via zoom on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays for critique. For more information contact Mark at: [email protected]

Inland Northwest Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Palouse Contact: Annette Pimentel Location: Spokane, Washington This group has a KitLit Book Club for adults that meets at One World Cafe in Moscow, Idaho. Meetings are at 11:30 am on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month.

For more information about this group, visit their webpage: https://inlandnw.scbwi.org

Municipal Leaders: Jay Dearien (Moscow) & Sean Williams (Pullman) Location: Everywhere in November. Just Moscow, Idaho the rest of the year. National Novel Writing Month is November, but Jay holds edit and write-ins in Moscow, Idaho every Saturday at 10 AM. Location alternates between One World Café and Moscow Contemporary. Drop-ins welcome. Email Jay ahead of time to get the location, his email is: [email protected]

Also, visit the local NaNoWriMo Page: https://nanowrimo.org/regions/usa-idaho-moscow-Lewiston

Shari’s Critique Group

Palouse Contact: Sanan Kolva Location: Moscow, Idaho

This is a dedicated critique group that meets in the back of Shari’s on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month. Meet at 6:30 PM for dinner, critiques usually start about 7:00 PM. They mostly focus on novels and longer works, but short stories are also welcome. Fiction/Nonfiction okay. If you come, bring copies of your work with you to pass out to be critiqued at the next meeting.

For more information, contact Sanan Kolva at https://sanankolva.com/contact-me/

National Groups

Authors Guild

ChatGPT is funnier than humans (and it’s no joke for professional writers)

Who’s funnier, AI or humans? A new study found that we find ChatGPT-generated comedy funnier than, or as funny as, comedy written by humans, including professional writers. The findings suggest that AI is no laughing matter for the entertainment industry.

Writing comedy is hard. Humor is often subjective, so what you find funny, others may not. And comedy writers need to remember to include critical ingredients: timing, delivery, originality, and avoiding cliché. They are constantly walking the line between funny and unfunny.

So, how would AI, specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 , fare as a comedy writer? Can it even be funny? If AI and humans were compared, who’d be funnier? In a recently published study, researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) found the answers.

“Since ChatGPT can’t feel emotions itself, but it tells novel jokes better than the average human, these studies provide evidence that you don’t need to feel the emotions of appreciating a good joke to tell a really good one yourself,” said Drew Gorenz, a doctoral candidate in social psychology at the USC Dornlife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, an amateur stand-up comedian, and the study’s lead and corresponding author.

Some prior research has looked at whether ChatGPT can produce humorous writing, but not by comprehensively evaluating the AI’s output and comparing it to human comedy writing. So, Gorenz and Norbert Schwarz, a Provost Professor of Psychology and Marketing, set out to do just that by conducting two studies.

In the first study, a group of US adults was asked to complete three different comedy-writing tasks. In the acronym task, they were asked to generate a new, humorous phrase for the acronyms ‘S.T.D.’, ‘C.L.A.P.’ and ‘C.O.W.’.

For the fill-in-the-blank test, they had to fill in the blanks for three items. One of the items was, ‘A remarkable achievement you probably wouldn’t list on your resume: ________.’

Finally, there was the roast joke task, where participants had to create a humorous response to a fictional scenario. For example, ‘Imagine that one of your friends wants your opinion on how well she sings. She sings a minute or two to demonstrate her voice, and you cringe – she might be the worst singer you’ve ever heard. When she asks, “So how was it?” you decide to be honest, so you say, “To be honest, listening to that was like ________.”’

Then, ChatGPT 3.5 was given the same tasks.

A separate group of adults rated the funniness of the responses on a seven-point scale, from zero (not funny at all) to six (very funny). ChatGPT’s responses were rated funnier than the human responses, with 69.5% of participants preferring them (26.5% preferred the human responses, and 4.0% thought both were equally funny).

“Overall, ChatGPT 3.5 performed above 63% to 87% of human participants depending on the humor task,” said the researchers. “ChatGPT 3.5 showed particularly strong performance in the roast joke task. We found this result particularly interesting given the aggressive nature of the task. Given that ChatGPT is designed not to generate any speech that could be considered offensive or hateful, the opposite prediction could have been made.”

For the second study, the researchers compared ChatGPT’s ability to write satirical news headlines like those seen on The Onion . Because ChatGPT doesn’t regularly receive world news updates, the researchers drew the last 50 headlines from The Onion ’s ‘Local’ news section before October 1, 2023. An example was ‘Man Locks Down Marriage Proposal Just As Hair Loss Becomes Noticeable’. The headlines were given to ChatGPT, and the AI was asked to generate 20 new headlines.

A group of USC psychology students rated the funniness of the AI-generated satirical headlines on the same seven-point scale used in the first study. The students were also asked to rate how much they sought out comedy, including satirical news. Those who self-reported seeking out comedy more and reading more satirical news rated the headlines as funnier, independent of whether they were AI-generated or produced by professional writers. Based on mean ratings, 48.8% preferred The Onion’s headlines, 36.9% preferred the headlines generated by ChatGPT, and 14.3% showed no preference.

“Participants, on average, rated the headlines as similarly funny, indicating that the average participant did not discern a difference in quality,” the researchers said. “This is particularly interesting given the high standard of comparison (i.e., professional comedy writers) in this study.”

Interesting, yes, but also concerning. Something that’s acknowledged by the researchers.

“That ChatGPT can produce written humor at a quality that exceeds laypeople’s abilities and equals some professional comedy writers has important implications for comedy fans and workers in the entertainment industry,” they said. “For professional comedy writers, our results suggest that LLMs [large language models like ChatGPT] can pose a serious employment threat.”

The study was published in the journal PLOS One .

Source: USC

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Experience July/August 2024

Confessions of an Incorrigible Writer

Norm tabler.

Jul 17, 2024

• An attorney who once hated writing found his way to partner and chairman of his law firm's practice group by writing effective briefs, memoranda, and proposals.
• The now-retired attorney continues his talent for writing by volunteering for editorial advisory boards and writing columns and articles at his own pace.
• Maintaining a daily writing practice and time in an office can provide some structure and social connection that retired attorneys may miss.
• Writing is not as physically demanding as many other hobbies, making it a relaxing and fulfilling hobby for retired attorneys.

What I’m doing right now is my hobby: writing. I do in it every weekday morning in the law office I retired from several years ago.

When I was a student—in college, grad school, then law school—I hated writing. I’d sometimes avoid a course simply because it required what we called a term paper . I don’t know why I hated term papers, but my guess is that it was self-consciousness: fear of producing an unworthy product.

I remember with clarity (and embarrassment) the feeling of dread I experienced whenever a professor announced the requirement of a term paper. I’d think to myself, with a deep feeling of self-pity, My lord, 20 pages and only four months to do it!

Later, as a young lawyer in a large law firm, I’d often churn out 20 pages in a single day! Why did I become a lawyer if I hated writing so much? Ignorance. I didn’t know what lawyers did. I had no idea it involved so much writing.

Just like that, I became a writer

As it turned out, my ignorance was a blessing. I quickly came to enjoy the writing that was forced on me. It became the essence of what I did as a lawyer. Other lawyers went to court (usually over money), bargained with opposing lawyers (usually over money), or counseled clients (usually about money).

I wrote—briefs, memoranda, proposals, whatever. And I did it with enough success to make partner and even become chairman of my practice group.

Now in retirement, I search for opportunities to write—articles, columns, podcast scripts, whatever. I currently write monthly columns for three publications: two ABA publications and my college alumni magazine.

I’m on the editorial advisory boards of two ABA publications and one state bar publication. And I write and record a monthly podcast for the American Health Lawyers. It’s supposed to be humorous, but you’ll have to ask a listener (if you can find one).

In addition to the columns and scripts, I try to write articles as often as I can. As I believe most writers can tell you, the hardest part of producing an article is identifying a good topic. That highlights another irony in my long-ago hatred of term papers: The professor usually provided the topic, thereby eliminating the chief obstacle.

At the office on the regular

My firm provides an office to any retired partner who actually uses it. Surprisingly (to me), few of our retirees choose to meet that condition.

But I do. Each weekday morning, I arrive by 8:30 or so, dressed in suit and tie, and enter the small office assigned to me.

In that office, I have all I need for my research, writing, editing, podcasting, and editorial advising: a computer and two monitors, recording equipment, subscriptions to all the publications I want (50 or so), printer, telephone, and thankfully, access to the firm’s help desk.

Of course, I could produce my columns, articles, and podcasts at home. For several months during the COVID-19 crisis, I did just that. But I prefer to work in my office.

Why? Partly for practical reasons: I have two monitors in my office, there’s no television to tempt me, my bulldog Albert ( Tabler spelled sideways) doesn’t whine for attention, and my wife Dawn needn’t worry about making noise.

But the main reason I prefer to work in my office is that it’s what I’ve always done. I associate the office with researching, writing, and editing. Like the suit and tie, the office is part of a routine I’ve followed for more than half a century.

Ironically, I’m much more efficient at writing in retirement than before. One reason is that I always leave my office by noon. The shorter workday (if I can call it that) forces me to work faster, confirming Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. (A cynic might say I write faster in retirement because no one is paying me by the hour.)

Seek and ye shall find

How do writing opportunities arise? Well, generally, they don’t arise . You have to find them.

I do that by volunteering for editorial advisory boards, volunteering to write columns, and submitting articles, generally unsolicited. Of course, all that involves the risk of rejection, but so what? If an article is rejected, I’m no worse off than before I submitted it, and I’ve had the satisfaction of writing it.

My recommendation to a retired lawyer looking for a hobby? Try writing. Your legal career probably made you pretty good at it. And don’t overlook another advantage: It’s indoor work with no heavy lifting.

Norm Tabler is a retired lawyer in Carmel IN. He focused his practice on health law, both as a partner in a major firm and as general counsel of a state-wide health system. He is on the editorial advisory boards of the ABA's...

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The Amazon Literary Partnership Announces Grant Recipients for 2024

Monday 15 th July 2024: The Amazon Literary Partnership has announced the non-profit literary organisations to receive grants for 2024, as it continues to support and champion writers of all ages and stages on their creative journey. This year, the partnership is expanding to the Republic of Ireland, supporting more organisations than ever before, with 37 organisations set to receive grants across the UK and Ireland.

The Amazon Literary Partnership has been awarding grants to deserving groups since it was first formed in the UK five years ago. The grants support various non-profit literary organisations, writing centres and community engagement programmes. While each has a different cause, all have a shared goal of offering opportunities to aspiring writers and empowering those from underrepresented communities to experience the magic of storytelling.

Darren Hardy, Senior Manager, EU+UK Author/Agent & Editorial Programmes at Amazon said:

“Championing the creativity and talent of diverse writers both young and old is more important than ever, and so we are thrilled to once again be working with inspiring literary organisations to help create a positive impact in communities around the UK. We are also proud to be extending the partnership to the Republic of Ireland this year, and look forward to playing a small part in inspiring the next generation of writers alongside our partner organisations for the first time.”

This year’s grant recipients include continued relationships with a number of organisations such as Africa Writes, Literature Works and Creative Future, as well as new groups including Stories of Our Lives, and Ironclad Creative CIC. In its inaugural year supporting groups across the Republic of Ireland, the partnership has awarded funding to the Graffiti Theatre Company and Fighting Words.

One of the grant’s new recipients, community writing project Stories of Our Lives , will use the partnership’s funding to help run workshops within its local community in Greater Manchester. Thanks to their recent grant, these workshops are now increasing in frequency, with meetings now taking place twice a month, providing more space for creativity, storytelling and engagement from their diverse range of participants. The team has also brought on a selection of creative writing specialists to help inspire creativity during the sessions.   Commenting on the impact of the grant, a spokesperson from Stories of Our Lives said, “The funds granted by the Amazon Literary Partnership will be used to support our Stories of Our Lives project. This includes delivering workshops focused on wellbeing, storytelling, writing, blogging, and media skills to diverse groups across Greater Manchester, many of whom are older and previously isolated. These activities promote intergenerational dialogue and mutual support, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing mental wellbeing.”

Speaking on their experience of receiving support from Stories of Our Lives, one writer who has attended various workshops said: "The sessions have provided me with stimulation and motivation through sharing ideas and experiences. After 30 years of not writing, I am now on a Creative Writing MA!"

One group from the Republic of Ireland set to receive support from the Amazon Literary Partnership is Fighting Words . Founded in 2008, the organisation aims to champion creativity and self-expression through writing workshops. The grant will go towards supporting two of the organisation’s major programmes, Write Club , a weekly session to help teens develop their writing skills through prose, poetry, script writing and more, and Word Warriors , a weekly after-school programme for 9-12 year olds from disadvantaged schools, where participants can work together and individually to create plays, short films, poems and stories.

Speaking on how the funding will help support and expand their work with young people across Dublin and Limerick, a spokesperson from Fighting Words said: “At our Dublin Centre, Write Club currently runs weekly in-person and bi-monthly online, while Word Warriors provides a regular space to explore creative writing with our team of volunteer writing mentors. With the new support from the Amazon Literary Partnership, we plan to establish a Write Club in Limerick as well as a space for members to read, share and perform their work, which will give them the opportunity to build audiences for their writing. We will also establish new Word Warriors clubs in Limerick and Dublin’s south inner city and Tallaght areas, to help more children develop not only their writing skills but also their confidence and resilience.”

The team is also set to launch a new Story Slam open mic night at their Dublin centre for Write Club members and other young people who want to share their stories.

The Amazon Literary Partnership is also continuing to support existing partner Literature Works , an organisation which promotes creativity and wellbeing in the South West of England by connecting people and communities, and breaking down barriers through words and stories. Literature Works’ various programmes range from online talent development, coined Wordspace , to the team’s ongoing Community Writing programmes, which will be extended to Gloucester later this year.

On using the grant to support the Word Space and Community Writing programmes, a spokesperson from Literature Works said: “We plan to use the funds to support access to our annual online talent development programme, Word Space . It is in its third year now, and is aimed at supporting marginalised voices and providing ways for talented, dedicated writers to take their work to the next stage over a twelve-month period. We will also put some of the money towards our ongoing Community Writing strand, where we work with existing community groups to co-design word-based creative activity that supports the work they are doing. We have worked with recovery groups, women’s groups, mental health support groups and many others around the South West.”

Complete List of Supported Organisations for 2024:

Africa Writes (Royal African Society)

ArtfulScribe

Comma Press

Creative Future

Edinburgh World City of Literature Trust

English PEN

Fighting Words

Fighting Words Northern Ireland

First Story Ltd

For Books' Sake CIC

Graffiti Theatre Company

Granta Trust

Hosking Houses Trust

Ironclad Creative CIC

Kernow Education Arts Partnership

Literature Wales / Llenyddiaeth Cymru

Literature Works

Ministry of Stories

National Centre for Writing

New Writing North

Papatango Theatre Company Ltd

Queen's University of Belfast Foundation

Royal Society of Literature

Scottish Book Trust

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage (Serendipity Artists Movement Ltd.)

Sharing A Story CIC

Society of Authors on behalf of Authors’ Awards and Advancement

Stories of Our Lives / Joy Ethic

Swanwick Writers' Summer School

The Bridport Prize / Bridport Arts Centre

The Faraway CIC

The Folio Academy Foundation / The Literature Prize Foundation

The Literacy Pirates

The Margate Bookie

The Story Museum

Writing East Midlands CIC

About the Amazon Literary Partnership

Building on the success of the previous four years, the Amazon Literary Partnership provides grants to UK literary organisations that empower a whole host of writers, no matter what age or stage they find themselves. In 2023, the partnership supported a variety of literary groups, ranging from organisations that run after school workshops, to writing retreats, all the way through to organisations running their own events to champion local and diverse writers.

Applications for 2025 grants from the Amazon Literary Partnership will commence towards the end of this year.

For further information please contact:

Hunt & Gather Email: [email protected]

Please download press imagery here .

Community Development Graduate Group

Justice-Lab celebrate the conclusion of their spring writing retreat at Quail Ridge

• by Carrie Armstrong-Ruport
• July 03, 2024

Jonathan London (CDGG and GGG) and some members of the Justice-Lab celebrate the conclusion of their spring writing retreat at Quail Ridge. The lab has bi-annual writing retreats mixing writing, team-building , game playing, sharing meals, and enjoying nature. Pictured here are: Coco Herda, Heather Lieb, Lupe Franco, Sadaf Sinambari, Megan Williams. Sudikshya Bhandari and Gaurav Thapa (on Zoom).