In the 1600s, groups of writers would gather for an evening of artistic expression and discussion. Known as a literary academy, the all-men or all-women groups served as a meeting point for sharing topics of philosophy along with art in the drafting process. This column honors that sentiment with thoughts on craft and writing.
I remember being in my MFA program and hearing classmates exclaim, “I’ve found my tribe!” It interested me, because I realized my fellow writers felt lonely in the real world, where people didn’t know or care much about writing. But in the safe confines of our low-residency, they finally had a connection with other like-minded folk, writers and poets who spent their free time hacking away at the page.
The whole MFA or not conversation has been debated by others (Kat Lewis has a great column on it). But I want to talk about the next big step: cultivating a writing group, a gaggle of writing-focused individuals where you feel comfortable and encouraged to share and critique work.
So other than going into an MFA program, where can you find good groups?
Writing Workshops: If you are serious about being a writer, take a workshop. Invest in yourself. There are so many out there and it’s a great way to meet some like-minded writers who you may want to continue working with after class. What’s great about workshop is that you get to see your classmates in action when they provide comments. What sorts of ideas do they offer? Are they positive in a way that inspires you? There are so many writing workshops out there, both in your community and ones that offer online classes. A quick list: Grubstreet, Gotham Writers Workshop, The Porch, Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop, Writing Workshops Dallas, Hugo House, The Writers’ Center, 92NY…wait, should I just make a post?
Writing Groups on Social Media: For writers of marginalized genders, there’s Binders on Facebook and Women Who Submit, which are great ways to get into local chapters and converse with fellow writers. Usually, they will have an in-person event you can join and get to meet people in-person. Also, the website Meetup has several writing groups. For a stretch of time, I joined a group called Shut Up and Write! where I could meet with fellow writers once a week and we would sit together and work. One of the nice things about those groups is how over time, you get to know one another and you can cultivate friendships.
Libraries: Inquire with the library staff if they have a notice board. There might be people available there. If there isn’t anything, put one up yourself!
Local bookstores: Most independent bookstores have literary events. Some of them include open mike nights (I have one in my area where they do an open mike for poetry at a nearby brewery once a month). Scope out these events to engage in your local literary community.
Conferences: If you get into a writing residency, that is an awesome place to find incredible writing groups. We can talk about the price in another post, but even if you don’t get into one, there are many that offer workshops you can join. Kweli Journal has a conference going on right now and they are offering several one-day workshops to sign up for, costing a range from $50 to $200. Summers are the prime time for writing conferences, so be sure to do some research and check out what’s happening.
With this list, I want to add a few items of note as you push forward into finding a group:
Be discerning. What kind of a writing partner(s) do you want to share your manuscript with? Are you early on in your career and you just need another person present with you while you write? What genre of writing do you mostly write in?
Author Marlon James said that his best editor is a friend who works in trade and has little to no experience in literature. What makes his friend so special is that he is blunt in his comments. His friend isn’t concerned with providing feedback that has some literary weight to it. James values his friend’s notes more than his actual editor (well, that’s what he said once at a talk). There is something wonderful about having a non-writer read your work, mostly because they are providing feedback as a reader. That being said, it’s difficult to find someone able and willing to be a reader for your work when they are not writing themselves, so consider supplying them with cookies.
If you are invited to be in a writing group, but you don’t feel it is the right fit for you, it’s okay to decline. I usually go the way of explaining that I do not have the time to commit (if that’s true) or I inform them that I don’t believe I will be the best partner in providing feedback. I do a lot of writing in nonfiction and literary fiction—I’m not the best candidate for fantasy work.
Until next post!