Writing Groups – Why You Should Join One

How often have you written something you’re proud of – but, after labouring away over its content, editing it thoroughly and feeling it was complete, you’ve posted it off to a publisher somewhere, only to have it returned with a rejection slip?

Some writers may be lucky enough to get it right first time, but most of us have to work to achieve a polished result. Even then, it could well be lacking that special something needed for a publisher to decide to accept it.

Just starting out as a writer: We all start somewhere, playing with words, putting our thoughts together on paper, or on the computer screen. We read it to a few family members and friends. They love your work. Of course they do, they’d never do anything to hurt you. But, you can’t help wondering, is your work really good enough to send away to a publisher?

Searching for ongoing improvement: Even after you’ve achieved publication, you need to keep learning, keep growing. After all, isn’t it said that you’re only as good as your last success. It’s so easy to find a style of writing that seems to work for you and to stick with it, writing yourself away into a stagnant pond of stale ideas. You know you need to do something, to grow, to venture out and explore new ways of writing, or new subject matters. But it isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Join a writing group: The best form of feedback is from fellow writers, those who are sensitive to your fears and know how to encourage the budding writer in you. There are small writing groups in many communities that meet on a regular basis to read their work and support each other. You may be surprised at what there is in your community. I definitely had a choice when I decided to look for a group.

Why a writing group: Writing groups have writers as their members, people who enjoy not only sharing their work, but helping others reach their potential. Writing group members learn how to critique each others work in a positive and constructive way. When I first joined my group, members were kind and just made positive comments. As a writer I needed advice and they didn’t want to scare me away. Over the years I’ve had suggestions of changes I could make, of what works and what doesn’t in a piece of writing. I’ve had ideas on where to go next when I’ve been stuck in the middle of a piece. I’ve had suggested title changes. Listening to the work of others also gives you ideas on how something can be handled. All these things add up to positive improvement in your work.

Diversity of members: When I joined my writing group, I had labelled myself as a children’s writer. That was where I felt most comfortable. Within our group we have poets, short story writers, travel writers, song writers, memoir writers, creative non-fiction writers – almost anything you can think of. Some have been published, some have submitted and received rejections, some write for personal pleasure and have no interest in publishing. From being exposed to this diversity, my own writing has grown. I haven’t written a children’s story for some time. But I do write every day, some things I take more seriously than others. I now enjoy experimenting with the ways I write, exploring different ways of putting an idea down.

If you don’t already belong to a writing group, maybe now is the time to think about it. There are so many positive benefits to having fellow writers comment on your work. Find a local group, visit it to see if it suits your need, and fuel your enthusiasm for writing.

Other articles I have written include:

What’s on Top – Writing From The Heart

Write Every Day, How to Avoid Procrastination