Making the Most of your Writers' Group: A Guest Post by Penny Haw
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Making the Most of your Writers' Group: A Guest Post by Penny Haw
When, about six years ago, another writer in my neighborhood heard that my children’s book, Nicko—The Tale of a Vervet Monkey on an African Farm was about to be published, he asked if I’d like to join the writers’ group he wanted to establish. I was working full time as a journalist and columnist and didn’t plan to write another book immediately. However, I was intrigued, and so met him and some other writers he’d rounded up to hear what he proposed.
I’ve been a member of the group ever since. With two more books published (contemporary fiction (The Wilderness Between Us) and historical fiction (The Invincible Miss Cust)), another work of historical fiction in the publishing pipeline, two unpublished manuscripts loitering in my folders, and a further work of historical fiction underway, it’s fair to conclude that joining was an excellent decision.
How it works
There are no more than six writers in our group at any one time. Although others have come and gone over the years, we’re a reliable core of four. We meet in the evenings for about two hours every two weeks. Originally, we met in the courtyard or lounge of a quiet hotel to discuss our work over sundowners. A neutral venue avoids the hassle of any of us having to host the others. The onset of lockdown in 2020 saw us retreat to Zoom. These days, because two of our members have moved away from the village, we meet face-to-face once fortnight and online the next.
The process is simple. We work as beta readers with three members submitting up to 3,000 words of their current project to the others about a week before we meet. At the meetings, we discuss each submission in turn. Readers give their feedback face to face and email their notes to the relevant writers the next day.
Our discussions are wide-ranging. We look at plot, examining whether it is predictable, credible, and interesting. We consider language, tone, and voice, assessing how appropriate these are in terms of genre, characters and setting. Point of view is discussed, as are settings and characterization. We ask whether they satisfy reading and work for the plot. We also look at pace, dialogue, choreography, syntax, humor, release of information, exposition, metaphors, and symbolism.
The intention is that, as a writer under review, you listen to what others think about your work and decide whether to act on what they say. You can answer questions but it’s not typically necessary for you to defend your work. The assessments offer opportunities to learn about readers’ responses to your work. The overarching objective is for writers to get reader opinions and readers to provide useful, workable feedback that encourages creativity and progress.
Importantly, our writers’ group follows a reciprocal process. The effort you put into critiquing others’ work is repaid when it’s your turn to submit. While each writer is solely responsible their creative work and what they do with it, we’re engaged with one another’s work and eager to see it succeed. The format is effective. Each of us has completed several manuscripts, short stories, poems, and a screen play during the years that we’ve been meeting. We’ve become keyboard comrades and friends, and our get togethers are not just useful, but also great fun.
Making the most of it
Here’s what I’ve learned about how writers can make the most of being part of a writing group such as ours:
Take your membership seriously. It’ll help keep you keeping on. Few writers can afford to write creatively full time, which means we must conscientiously carve out time to work on our projects. Being part of a group compels you to keep writing. After all, having to submit work at least once a month gives you a deadline, which is something many writers need.
Appreciate the value of feedback. It’s not easy to find beta readers who are as committed to reading and critiquing your work as you are to theirs. The value of getting feedback that challenges you, gives you fresh ideas, points to holes in your plot and other inconsistencies in the story and characters, and/or shows up bad habits in your writing is immense. Not only does having other eyes on your work give you the opportunity to revise and improve it, but it can also serve to motivate you and boost your confidence.
Foster a safe place to share your work. There is no hierarchy in our group. It’s a safe place for our writing to be read and discussed. Crucially, we try to speak the truth about one another’s work with kindness and encouragement. And, when we’re on the receiving end of criticism, we try to welcome the candor and the opportunity to improve our writing and/or the story.
Learn to give and take criticism. The road to being published is long and rocky. Many never reach their destination. Being in part of a writing group can help prepare you for how rough the ride might be. If nothing else, it’s an opportunity to learn how to critique writing and how to receive criticism.
Enjoy the opportunity to learn from one another and to network. My writing group is not only a great place to have my work read and to pick up tips about writing, but members are also good sources of information about publishing and promoting books. They’re also a supportive bunch. We count on one another to attend book related events and share information.
Not all writers enjoy being part of writing groups and I acknowledge that I’m lucky to have found a fabulous group. However, if you’re think it might be right for you, I urge you to give it a try. Writing is a solitary business but, if you find the right people, groups can add to your enjoyment of writing and storytelling and give you the opportunity to get better at it.
Making the Most of your Writers' Group: A Guest Post by Penny Haw
