Fiction, from the First Draft Forward: The Write Group

Wait.

That is the first step to take after finishing a first draft and this is what we discussed in last week’s article. Once you’ve typed up that final page, put it all aside. They say to let two to six weeks pass before starting on the second draft. And who are They? Other writers, published and aspiring, agents, editors, and people who take up residence in the world of literature. I’ve set SWAYED on the backburner, and two of my planned six weeks for a break have already passed. What have I been doing during this time? Working on another project and attending a writers group. The latter is what we’re going to take a closer look at this week. More specifically, we’ll examine a few of the types of groups out there, what to avoid, and what to look for when trying to find the write group. (Heh, I made a funny).

Writing groups can be so much more than just a small number of people who get together to critique one another’s work. The right members can prove to be such a wealth of knowledge for brainstorming, editing, character development ideas and tips, etc. Or they can be the biggest detriment for what you are trying to do with your work. That last bit may come as a surprise to quite a few people. It came as a surprise to me until I experienced it myself.

About a year and a half ago, I started looking for a writers group. I wanted to receive the kind of help with my work that I couldn’t get from friends and family. Don’t get me wrong, the people closest to me are wonderful at giving me their raw reactions without looking for what’s wrong with it, but I needed (we as writers need) feedback that was more than “I like it” or “it’s good.” I also needed to be around like-minded people. As I have said in previous articles, my family supports me in what I am trying to do, but it is hard for them (or anyone who is not a writer) to see writing and reading in the same light as us, or to truly understand the significance it holds for people like me and you. So, the hunt began. I went from group to group, session to session, searching. What I ended up finding was that everyone in a writers group is not there for the most obvious reason: to help and be helped.

Some people join a group so they can have their egos stroked. Some attend meetings just to rip apart someone’s work because they themselves aren’t confident in what they have produced. And some are there so they can brag about being a member when they don’t even put pen to paper, or fingers to keys. It was somewhat jarring when I realized that writers groups hardly ever turn out to be anything like what their names suggest—groups of writers. I ran into so many obstacles and dead ends that I, like many, turned to the Internet for help. What I found are names for the little clubs that try to disguise themselves as writing groups. There were all sorts, but three kept surfacing repeatedly; the ones I’ve encountered the most, are:

Sharks and Fish: A small, tightly knit core of people that tears apart those who are not deemed worthy to be a part of the crème de la crème. In this group, certain things will stick out. People who aren’t a part of the center will be afraid to read their work. Others will talk badly about members who aren’t there to defend themselves. The biggest red flag will be the almost brutal critiques that are given. Holly Lisle, a wonderful writer, has written concerning these types of groups and says to watch out for an “open hostility toward anything not written in the group's approved style or genre, people that come to one meeting and never return, and a general Fall of the House of Usher darkness.”

The Pro and the Newbs:  This is a group where there is one published writer and the rest are all beginners. It starts out with a classroom-type setting where the published writer, the pro, is supposed to be the teacher, but it does not turn out that way. Instead of seeing the other writers as fellow students, the beginners turn into groupies. They are there to boost the published writer’s ego and little else. The pro talks about his/her greatness, what’s going on in his/her life, his/her work, and never leaves any room for helping with the progression of the students.

Pushing Pals:   This is an ideal group that usually consists of people who are on the same level, from unpublished to working. This group is usually the best combination, with established rules to deal with potential sharks or egotistical pros. They are friends who are open to accepting others into their circle and will make sure that these new people have their work critiqued as well. They push one another to try to help each other find agents and be published instead of tearing one another down or simply hanging around for praise. They are a good group of good people.

Obviously, the final group is the one to look for. I’m so thankful that I found my Pushing Pals. Their help, insight, suggestions, and every strike-through of red ink have been invaluable to the process of molding SWAYED thus far. Even though I am on this six-week break, I still go to the meetings. I have a responsibility to the other members to offer critique on their work as well. I oftentimes discover that what I help someone else with helps me with my own work later on.

Writing groups can be a wonderful resource or a deadly one if the wrong people catch you. As writers, we can give one another the kind of support that loved ones won’t be able to offer. This is not meant to be an insult, simply the truth. A doctor or lawyer or police officer cannot find the understanding or the professional advice in parents or friends that they could in a colleague. The people in the right writing group start out as our colleagues and can become our friends. Find your pushing pals and get the help you need to build up your work—and don’t forget to push those pals in return.

"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." -Mark Twain

Happy writing.

L.L. McKinney is a freelance writer, a published poet and a playwright. As an active member of First Tuesdays and YA Lit Chat, she is currently seeking representation for her young adult paranormal urban fantasy, Swayed.