When I first started writing I took a disdainful, go-it-alone approach. The fine words would flow from my pen and create art on the page. What need did I have for a writing group? Picasso didn't create what he did by attending a painter's group, did he?
I'm exaggerating a bit to make my point (no, I don't compare myself to Picasso) but the reality is that I thought of writing as a solitary activity to be approached in something of a vacuum. But as I progressed through my first manuscript, as my eyes became increasingly glazed and I had no idea if what I was writing was art or schlock, I began to yearn for feedback. But the fact was, that I was scared of crawling out of my bubble and subjecting my work to the scrutiny of others.
Finally, I decided that if I ever wanted to publish I had to start showing my work somewhere. And with that, I got on the internet and began to search for writing groups in my area. And am I ever glad I did. I just wish there were more of them.
I live in Milwaukee, WI, not exactly a hotbed of creative activity. So I attended my first meeting of the local writer's groups with - how to put this tactfully? - not the highest expectations. But I was surprised and impressed. I enjoyed the pieces that others were writing and appreciated the chance to give them constructive feedback. And I received a ton of good advice from the other members on my work. I received praise for what I had done (always good for the ego) as well as constructive criticism. No one - thank god - told me my work was shit, though one of the grandmotherly types looked offended when we got to a section on sex and drugs.
The main value of a writing group to me is the fresh sets of eyes it brings to your work. Just because a fellow member isn't a NYTimes bestselling author (or even a published author) doesn't mean that she won't have wonderful feedback. The feedback from a focused group can encompass many things, from plot developments to POV to character development and the value is the fresh perspectives it brings to your work. I doubt that I am the only writer ever to lose perspective on what I was writing halfway through. How many times can one person look at the same thing over and over after all?
That said, even if you attend the most accomplished group, you need to take advice with perspective. For one thing, the advice may conflict. With one of my works, a member was adamant that I drop a character's colloquial voice. He thought it was distracting. Another member was equally adamant that I keep it. In the end we had a great discussion but I was left to decide things on my own (I kept the colloquialisms).
Another drawback (at least with my group) is that members don't look at the work as a whole but rather look at several pages each time we meet. That is a slow process as it is disjointed and can take months to work through a manuscript. To avoid that, you really need a writing mentor or audience you can turn to with complete drafts. But this is not really a criticism of writing groups - it comes with the territory, that's all. And it may be at your writing group that you meet a mentor or someone willing to read your full manuscript.
My group has made me hungry for more: we meet only once every two weeks after all. I am now exploring other options, from internet meet-ups to writing seminars and festivals. Any thoughts on useful and rewarding venues from my readers would be much appreciated.
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