What to look for in a writing group -- Misha Herwin

 

Whenever I am asked for tips for new writers one I always give is to join a writing group. I then go on to say that you must choose your group carefully, for if you want to benefit from the comments of other writers there are certain points to be considered.

Firstly, are you looking for critical feedback or for approbation and encouragement? The two things are not mutually exclusive, but there are some groups where the first is singularly lacking and, pleasant though it is to read out your work and be told it is really good, if you want to improve and move forward, unalloyed praise is not very helpful.

Secondly, your group needs writers with experience and a track record of success. I don’t mean they have to be best sellers or traditionally published but they should be people who know what they are talking about and whose work you respect, for if they are not you won’t value their advice.

Thirdly, are the members of the group going to be kind, supportive and encouraging? If they are not then the whole experience can be so demoralising you feel like giving up writing for ever and taking up crocheting instead.

That doesn’t mean that their feedback won’t sometime hurt, or even anger, but depending on the way it is done you’ll survive the experience, even if you go home, like I have in the past, gnashing my teeth and holding back my tears because of what has been said about my current WIP. But because no one has made a personal attack and what has been said is with the intention that my work will become better, after a short space of time, I have to admit that the group is right and that a re-write is what the chapter/short story/flash needs.

Listening to the combined wisdom of the group, inevitably leads to improvement and improvement leads to success. Currently “Vladimir the Vampire’s Cat” is on a longlist for the WM Chapter book prize which it would never have done without the detailed feedback I got from Renegade Writers. So many thanks to my friends and fellow writers. Throughout the years I've been part of the group, you've been there for me, as I hope I have for you.