Writing is a contradictory pursuit.

On the one hand writing is something you usually do alone, but the whole point is for the result to be enjoyed by other people.

Many writers love nothing more than to squirrel themselves away in their broom closet, or whatever other space they’ve managed to protect for themselves away from the demands of family and work, but an isolated writer is like a plant without water.

In my experience, most new writers are very reluctant to join a writing critique group, which I believe is borne of fear.

Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of exposure. But I believe it’s really important for writers to overcome this fear if they are ever going to grow into professional, saleable authors.

So, here are my five reasons you absolutely have to join a writing group

Invaluable critique

The number one reason I go to a writers’ group is for critique. It’s impossible to see the flaws in your own writing, so you need others to point them out to you. Friends and family are notoriously rubbish at this, whereas other writers will have the skills that can identify weaknesses and areas for improvement that can take your writing to the next level.

Going to a group means that you will get a range of opinions, which will often be conflicting, which in itsellf is extra useful for assessing what in the critiquers comments if their personal peeve and what is a definite issue with your writing. 

For example, if half the group tell you to cut the last line and the other half tell you it’s their favourite part, then you need to use your own judgement. However, if they unanimously tell you your punctuation sucks, it’s time to buy a grammar book.

Learn from other writers

There’s a hallowed old saying: If you want to be a writer, read.

By joining a writing group you will read the work of other aspiring writers, and by analysing their work you will learn more about what works and what doesn’t. 

 

Get a motivation boost

It’s a common outcome of spending a few hours in the company of other writers that you’ll come out raring to rush home and back to the keyboard. 

Being with other writers, talking about writing, sharing writing experiences, it all serves to bring up feelings of excitement and enthusiasm and get the blood flowing.

Also, another writer's ideas may send you off on a tangent you didn't expect, or you may read someone's piece and think: "I could do better than that..." and be spurred on to writing for competitive ends.

Move out of your comfort zone

I mentioned above that the main reason people avoid writing critique groups is fear.

While writing feels like a fairly safe pursuit for shy, sensitive people, if you’re serious about getting anywhere, it’s anything but.

When you’re just starting out it takes a pretty thick skin to bounce back from all the inevitable rejection letters. The more impersonal they are, the more personal it feels.

And if you persevere long enough to actually become published, then the negative reviews will start coming through – and don’t think you’ll be exempt - from Rowling to King to Shakespeare, there will always be someone who hates what you do.

So it’s wise to start building up that resilience nice and early, as well as learning that sometimes the negative comments are the most valuable ones for learning.

Soak up the support and encouragement

Despite the point above, good writers’ critique groups are not snake pits at all. They are filled with kind, sensitive people (and a handful of loonies... you know who you are) who will give you support and encouragement – essential when you’re dealing with all those rejection letters I mentioned earlier.

I have made some of my best friends in my writing group and have been boosted into believing in myself again when the doubts started to gather on the horizon.

So, if you’re not already going to a writing critique group, get out there!

There was a woman sitting at the roadside between two towns when a man approached. He stopped and asked the woman what the town ahead was like.

The woman asked, “What was the town you’ve just come from like?”

The man replied, “Oh, it was awful. Filthy and full of thieves and cheats.”

The woman nodded. “You’ll find the town ahead much the same.”

The man rolled his eyes and went on his way. 

A little later, another man came along the same road, coming from the same place and heading to the same place, and asked the same question. 

Again, the woman asked, “What was the town you’ve just come from like?”

This man replied, “Oh, it was a lovely place. The streets were clean and the people kind and 

generous.”

The woman nodded. “You’ll find the town ahead much the same.”

I love this story, because it makes the point that life is what we make of it. That’s not to deny that some

people encounter more hardships than others – there is a big difference between the life of a middle class teacher in Surrey and a refugee from Sudan. However, you often find that the people who have suffered the most are the ones with the most positive outlook, focusing on the joys of life, small and large. Whereas people who have experienced to real difficulty to speak of, whinge endlessly about their lot.

Having a positive outlook to life is a good in itself and should need no further justification. However, it can also be good for your writing.

By noticing little things in life that make us happy, we become more observant to detail and these details are often simple and sensual, relating to the five senses. If we deliberately notice sights, smells, sounds, tastes and things we can touch that bring us pleasure, then we can draw on that memory bank when it comes to our writing to draw people into our fictional worlds.

Try this exercise:

1.       Make five lists of things that make you happy, under the headings: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Add at least ten things to each list. Don’t be surprised if some lists are much harder than others.

For example

Sound

1.  The sound of birds singing in the garden
2. The sound of keys in the door as my partner arrives home from work
3. The sound of a breeze through the trees on a summer’s day
4. The sound of the dog panting after a good game of chase
5.  The sound of live piano music in an echoey old house
6. The sound of bacon sizzling in a pan
7. The combination of uplifting chords in my favourite song
8. The sound of a newborn baby crying for the first time
9. The sound of a powerful shower
10. The hum of a powerful car engine

Add your favourite sensations in the comments below!

Credit to The Five Minute Writer by Margaret Geraghty for the inspiration for this post – if you liked it, you should buy the book.


Have you tried The Novel Factory? Novel writing softwarewritten for writers, by writers.

Writing is usually a very solitary experience, and therefore writers can become quite isolated. But joining a local face-to-face writing group is one of the best things you can do as an aspiring writer.

A lot of people are reluctant to join a writing group; it seems quite daunting to meet a group of strangers and even show them your work. However, it’s well worth manning up and getting out of your comfort zone to go along to one, because there are so many benefits.

The first benefit is that of sharing our experience and learning about how other people work. It can be very enlightening to see how other people have gone through the same process as you, or alternatively, how they approach things completely differently. You can pick up useful tips on how to beat writer’s block.

The second major benefit is getting feedback on your work. Most writing groups hold critique sessions, where members read each other’s work and give feedback and comments. This input should always be given taken in a positive manner – the purpose is to be constructive and help a member improve their skills – not find fault. Receiving feedback from other writers is so much more helpful than you might imagine if you’ve never done it, and it’s infinitely more useful than getting non-writer family and friends to try to give you constructive criticism.

A third benefit is that you can find out about writing competitions, writing related events in your area and even get special offers for writing related products such as books and writing software. This beats trawling the web for hours on your own, and still not finding out about half of it.

Finally, a writing group is a great place to meet useful contacts. This is exactly the kind of place where you’ll find successful published authors, who may know people that they can introduce you to help you launchyour writing career.

So, if you’re serious about becoming an author, but haven’t yet attended a local writing group, I urge you to overcome you reluctance and try a few out!