Writer Group Groupie

By Deborah Sharp 
Author of the Mace Bauer Mysteries

On my long and winding road to becoming a novelist, I test-drove a lot of writing groups. Some were too fast; some were too slow. Some chug-chugged along until they -- or I -- ran out of gas. I spent less time choosing a husband than I did trying to find the perfect group of fellow writers.

Was it just me, or do all writers have a hard time finding a critique group that fits? The formula should be fairly straight-forward. Get together a handful of folks with similar sensibilities and comparable writing skills. Mix well; share what you write; and hope for mutual improvement.

I did finally find a great group. But I landed in plenty of ditches before I arrived there. I remember one night early on, trying to concentrate as a fellow aspiring writer read aloud the chapter she'd labored over. In a heavy Russian accent, she droned on and on about life in the former Soviet Union. There wasn't much food. There was a lot of snow. A LOT of snow. The more she mentioned the white stuff, the more I focused on frigid air blowing on my neck from the AC ceiling vent.

 I huddled lower in my seat. My God, it's freezing in here! It's gotta be 65 degrees.

I stared at my hands. My fingers are turning blue! No, wait. I think that's an ink stain. 

I looked across the room. There's an empty chair by the window. I wonder if that side is any warmer? 

My obsession with the thermostat didn't bode well for the reader, or for my participation in the group. I tried several others. Like Goldilocks, I found one group too hard; another too soft. Some were too big; others too small. One was stalled at the talking-about-writing stage. It was less a critique group and more a support group for wannabes.

Me: Hi, my name is Deborah. I'm addicted to the notion I'm going to be a great writer, even though I haven't written anything to read today. 

Group: Hi, Deborah!

The group I finally clicked with was led by a talented and insightful author,who guided the rest of us toward helpful critiquing and better writing. (Thanks, Joyce Sweeney!) We wrote in many genres -- mystery to young adult, poetry to humor -- but we had several things in common. Most of us already grasped the basics, so we didn't get bogged down on sentence structure, grammar, and the like. We all were eager to write, happy to read, and thoughtful when it came time to critique. Nobody pulled punches, but nobody played gotcha either.

Have you ever belonged to a critique group? What do you think makes a good one?

A Comfortable Fit

By Deborah Sharp

It was a Tuesday in the distant past, and I was trying out another writing group. A fellow aspiring novelist read what he'd labored over, something about Russian immigrants and snow.

My God, this room is cold. Is that an ink stain, or are my fingers actually turning blue? I glanced around the air-conditioned room. Maybe I'll move. Wonder if that side is any warmer?

My interior monologue on the AC thermostat didn't bode well for the reader, or for my membership in that particular group. I'm a huge supporter of writing groups, but it's important to find the right fit. When I left journalism six years ago to try my hand at writing mysteries, I heard the same advice I now give beginners: Join a critique group. There's nothing like getting other eyes -- or ears -- on your work. But finding the right group is easier said than done.

I worked harder at finding a writing group than I did at finding a husband (Thanks to my persistent husband, Kerry, for finding me!) Choosing a group, I was like Goldilocks and beds. One was too hard; the next was too soft. One was too big; another too small. One group hadn't even moved beyond talking about writing. It was less a critique group than a support group.

Me: My name is Deborah, and I'm addicted to the idea I may write someday, just not today.
Group: Hi, Deborah!

Another group fancied itself Serious Novelists. They all wrote Literary Tomes about Important Themes. Now, if y'all know anything about my Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky mama . . . Serious, Literary, and Important do not immediately come to mind. One member was writing about a post-apocalyptic world, after almost everyone died of the plague.

Woo-eee, sounds like a knee-slapper! After 20 years as a journalist, I'd had enough sad stories. I wanted to write fun, frothy books. The serious group clearly wasn't the group for me.

All this is not to say you have to find writers working in your exact genre, with your exact style. I ultimately found two groups in Ft. Lauderdale, and I still pop in occasionally (the pace once you're published makes regular attendance more difficult). Both have members with a wide range of styles, including Young Adult (YA), historical, and even a few Serious Types. The key, for me, is the mix. Not too lofty; not too lowbrow. Similarly proficient in the basics, like punctuation, spelling, and the ability to write in paragraphs. Supportive, but also willing to give honest critiques.

Your writing group should be like a favorite pair of shoes. You wouldn't buy a pair you couldn't walk in, would you? (Okay, I've done that ... but still). The shoes don't have to be perfect, just comfortable.

How about you? Do you go to a writing group? What's the best -- or worst -- thing you've gotten out of it?

Writing my List, Checking it Twice

Cricket McRae

This is the time of year for list making, so here's one with a writerly bent: ten requirements for a good writing group.

A caveat to begin -- these are MY most important requirements. There are tons of suggestions out there for how run a writing group and what to expect. I've been in a few over the years, without particularly seeking them out. It's pure serendipity that I happen to have the best writing group on the planet (sorry, but it's true, I got 'em). So here's why they're so great.

1. Keep the group small. Too many people and your work gets lost in the shuffle. It's also hard to keep up with all the other critiques.
2. Experienced writers. This is merely a case of avoiding the blind leading the blind. Different kinds of experience is a plus. People who can critique everything from commas and sentence structure to overall pacing and character arc are pure heaven.
3. Send out material before meeting, so the critique periods are spent critiquing and not reading. Some groups meet and read their own work aloud. I think this affects the way a reader would experience the writing, but each to his own.
4. Pay attention to what works as well as what doesn't. Partly this is because everyone likes kudos, but also because, as inveterate self-editors, we need to know what not to cut or fix.
5. Be honest. Sometimes it's hard to tell someone there's something wrong with a particular piece of writing, but wouldn't you want to know in their shoes? It's your job to tell them. (And it's their job to tell you, too!) But also remember that it's not your job to convince them. After all, critique is subjective and other group members might not agree. It's always up to the writer to decide what to do with feedback.
6. Make the group a priority. This means getting your submissions in on time and reviewing the others' work carefully, as well as doing your level best to show up for meetings, even if you have to rearrange other parts of your life to accommodate the group.
7. Communicate with each other. If you have specific questions about a piece, ask them when you send it out. If it's a first draft and needs to be evaluated from that point of view, let people know to back off the stuff you know you'll polish up later, and give you big picture feedback. If you don't understand someone's comments, ask them to explain.
   
8. Meet regularly. Weekly is best -- demanding a fair amount of commitment and time, but not onerous for working writers.
9. Allow members to use their critique periods for other purposes. By this I mean problem solving (I'm trying to get a certain effect, but it's not working -- any suggestions?), brainstorming ideas, etc. When we're in the middle of a novel, it's no problem putting together a submission, but between one book and the next there is a lull when we're researching and plotting and getting ready to dive in again. A writing group can be useful during those periods, too.
10. Whole book reviews. After reviewing pieces and parts for each other, when a whole book is done it deserves (and the author deserves) another reading. Seeing it as a whole gives a different perspective.

Oh, and one more rule -- the Golden one. Though it probably goes without saying, this simply covers all the silly stuff that can adversely affect writing groups. Just remember to do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

So what works for you in your writing groups? Any of my "rules" above that you disagree with? Got some good ones I missed?

Happy Holidays, Merry Solstice, and Good Writing to all.