Writing groups can give lonely writers like us a haven of like-minded individuals who understand us and make us feel like we belong. In a writing group, writers have the opportunity to be held accountable to make a habit of writing.
But where do we start and what should we look for? This can be just as daunting as the need to belong to a group. Unfortunately, writing groups are not “one size fits all.” Each writing group will have a different focus and varying levels of experience, so it’s up to us, the writer, to do our research so we can find what is right for us and our needs. In this article we will go over four different types of writing groups.
The social benefit from local groups is a great one to consider. You can develop firm friendships and meet with members outside of the group to collaborate. Drive to writers’ conferences together, swap writing books, or share local resources (like locations that have free wifi but don’t care if you sit there for three hours and only buy one coffee).
A local group is also a great place for live critique sessions where you can get instant feedback on your work.
You’ll also find a diversity of perspectives from people with different backgrounds in an online writing group, which can help broaden your horizons as a writer.
In a genre-specific group, you’ll find people who love what you love and will accept you. Members of a group like this will also have extensive knowledge of writing conventions and expectations within the chosen genre when it comes to finding the right publisher or market. You don’t want to join a group of people who write children’s stories if all you write is hard science fiction, and vice versa.
The only downside to this type of group is you wouldn’t have the opportunity to be challenged in other genres or styles of writing within the group. If you don’t plan on trying out other genres or styles of writing, this type of group might be the right place for you.
While some community writing groups may offer writing exercises or critique sessions, usually the overall purpose to support one another. Sometimes it’s nice to be in a group where you don’t always have to talk about writing. You can be comrades who understand and respect each other.
The best place to start your search will be the internet. Try Google, or do a search within a social media platform you prefer to use. Keep in mind that you may end up joining several groups before you find the group (or combination of groups) that best fits your needs.
The important thing to remember is that all of us writers deserve a group that accepts and respects us both as a person and a writer. Don’t settle for one that doesn’t.
I’ve been quite happy with the writing group I’m in. It’s an online community-driven writing group, and I’ve grown and learned so much since joining, and have made many friends. To learn more about them, check out their website here to find out if they would be a good fit for you.
