ASK US WEDNESDAY: “Do I need a writer’s group and if so, how do I find one?”

by Pip Harry
15 October 2014

Pip Harry returns to field today’s Ask Us Wednesday question, below.

I read your post on Friday about being ready to write your novel and loved it. It’s exactly where I am right now with a novel I’ve been trying to write for years. I’m now in sort of a position to start and someone suggested to me that I should get myself into a writer’s group as extra motivation. What do I need to know and how do I find a good one? BB

Writer’s groups can help you hone that memoir, polish that poem or sell that screenplay. But there are some rules to live by if you want your group efforts to work.

1. Check your compatibility

If you can, try to team with a group of scribes who are close to your skill set and working on similar types of books. “I’ve worked in writers’ groups that were too broad in both genre and ability,” says Meredith Jaffe, Literary Editor at The Hoopla. “As in everything from a book on Yoga to children’s picture books to commercial fiction. And the ability range was huge from real beginners through to working writers. I’ve learned that writers groups need to be very tightly focused to be truly helpful.”

2. Set up some ground rules

Writers’ groups can get unruly if there aren’t a clear set of guidelines. Set an assigned word limit, meet at the same time each month in a quiet spot and to make it clear how each piece will be read and assessed. “I’ve been in a writers’ group for about 4 years now – it’s called the Speculative Fiction Writers Group,” says Children’s author Wai Chim (Chook Chook series, UQP). “We take turns bringing along copies of our work of about 1500-2000 words, which we then read silently to ourselves at the meeting and then provide our immediate feedback verbally by going around the room. We’re very laid back and are exceptionally supportive and lovely – and it seems to work really well.”

3. Be prepared for constructive critique

Be prepared to hear that your romantic lead is a wet fish or your action scene is snoresville. The raw responses you get from first readers will help you immeasurably. “For me, the writers’ group is a way to get a variety of feedback and first response reactions to work and I find it really helps me identify what’s working and not working with WIP,” says Wai. “It’s really valuable and also nerve wrecking to watch their expressions as they read and the comments are usually really helpful.” That said, if anyone in your group is super mean and nasty, make sure you stand up for yourself or hit the road. Writers are fragile creatures and we don’t need to tear each other down.

4. Don’t take their word as gospel

Your writers’ group might passionately love or hate something about your work. But don’t make sweeping changes under peer group pressure. Stick to your guns and make the changes you want to after some thinking time. “Because it’s just a first read the group doesn’t really help me much with structure and story. But they’re fantastic with work shopping scenes or dialogue and are just a wonderful support network,” says Wai.

5. Write first, socialise later

I’ve tried a few varieties of writer’s groups to workshop my YA novels, but after a bit of trial and error have found that for me, smaller is better. Any more than 5-6 people can be more like a social gathering, and it’s hard to skip the small talk, beer rounds or menu perusal and knuckle down to the business of writing. Every writers group runs slightly differently, so you might have to try a few before you get a good fit.

Get started: How the heck do I find a writing group? The NSW Writer’s Centre can put you in touch with self-run groups to suit your interest and skill level. They also have an interactive data base and map to find writing peeps meeting in your area. Other state based writing centres have similar initiatives. Click here for more info. The Australian Writer’s Resource lists writers group around Australia here.