BellaOnline Forums Career Fiction Writing Writing group experiences

Have you participated in a writing group in the past? What was the experience like and was it helpful?

To learn more about the writing group style that would suit you best, check out my new quiz.

I am in a great local writing group in south London where I live. We meet every 2 or 3 weeks at someone's house and we all bring something to read out that we've written. Then we critique each other's work. I find it really helpful. We are always constructive and encouraging and it really prompts me to keep writing. There are usually between four and eight people in the group. Writing is such a solitary activity that I find this contact with fellow writers a great bonus

I was in an online group where - over time I found several good critters but it took time and effort to find the gems AND there too much fun and games and social chatter that I find not conducive to writing - esp when doing the tough part of re-write, re-wrtie, re-write. That group leads to too much procrastination and distraction.

*ack* I just took your quiz and learned that I'm better of without a writing group! LOL.

I'll keep an open mind though.

I had a good writing group experience where the mix of people included varied skill levels. Everyone was nice. I did get some great feedback though that proved helpful to my work. I just found it hard to provide feedback. But I'll try!

LOL. Oh no. Well, the quiz certainly isn't fail proof...but it would indicate that you are somewhat of a lone wolf when it comes to writing. But the fact that you are attracted to a group might mean that you want something else out of it as well. What attracts you to a group?

Well, I would like some honest and constructive feedback about my work before sending it off to publishers. I don't want to miss the obvious and be labeled an amateur (even though I am definitely a fiction novice!)

Plus, I am a social person by nature. I love people and I love to encourage each other along the rocky path to publication.

So it sounds like you are mostly interested in a critique group. That's the type of group I have been a part of and it has been incredibly helpful. I will be trying to start one online here as a combination forums/email group. I encourage you to join. We would love to have you!

Melissa