How Can You Learn From Your Writers Group?

Our last post was all about what a writers group should do to help you. This post is about how you can help your writers group, and in turn, get the most out of the experience.

Your Role in a Writers Group: 

1.  Show up. This one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many members attend meetings sporadically.  I’m not talking about those who come to a meeting or two and decide it isn’t for them; I’m talking about those who come to every other (or every other other or every fourth, etc…) meeting for two years straight. They want to write, but don’t want to put in the hard work. Work schedules and home life can get in the way, but not showing up on a regular basis shows a lack of respect for other writers’ work and a lack of respect for your own. How can you get better if you don’t make the meetings?  
2. Listen to critiques. Even seemingly harsh comments are usually meant to help you, and almost all critiques contain at least one valuable insight. Don’t let somebody spend his or her time and energy reviewing your work and then ignore it. Not only are they fellow writers, but they’re readers, too. They will have some valuable first and second impressions. Apply some of what’s been said to your current work and future submissions. Don’t make the same mistakes again and again. That’s not getting better; that's stagnating. And like number one, it doesn’t show much respect for others’ abilities or your own.
3. Try changes. Insert certain changes. Try them. Test them out. If they don’t work, you can always remove them. After all, you’re the final arbiter of what works in your submission. Listen to everything, then carefully decide what to use.  
4. Read everything your group submits. You might be a veteran writer or a newbie with a novel idea. Either way, you’ll be surprised what you can glean from reading others’ work. You can learn from writers better than you, but also from those far worse. “Oh, I get it, do this, don’t do that.” “I can see why they did this, why on earth did so-and-so do that..?”

Remember, the members of your group are there to support you. Not only do they want to get better, but they want to see you turn in first-rate manuscripts, too. Most will cheer your success, console you during defeats, and live through your accomplishments. You owe it to them and yourself to submit the best work you can as often as possible. Learn, work and revise. Those steps will make you a better writer. And then, when it comes to your writers group, they’ll be happy to have you come to every meeting, and you’ll be happy to go since you’re improving your technique and talent. Participation makes you a better group member and lets you benefit tremendously from another’s expertise.

Part One: What Should a Writers Group Do? 

Help your fellow writers out: How have you made your writers group work? 

What Should a Writers Group Do?

Get the most out of your writers group after every meeting.

A writers group (or writer’s group, or writers’ group or however you want to spell it), also known as a critique group (or crit group) has certain functions. First among these is to serve the needs of every member, no matter what their level of expertise or ability. These needs will vary, but there are certain common goals.

Functions of a Writers Group:

1. Make you a better writer. The goal isn’t to make you a better writer today, but for every day to come. If you apply the tips and suggestions you received to the next chapter, short story or novel, you’ll be a better writer. 
2. Improve the piece you’re working on. Of course, a group must also improve the story you’re writing today. If members suggestions aren’t making your story better – or you see no reason to implement them – you may need to find another group.
3. Make you professional. Well-written work makes you look professional, but a writers group should also make sure your manuscript is properly formatted. When you’re ready to submit your work for publication, it must be properly submitted. You should know publishing terms and trends. You should know about upcoming writers conferences and what agents and editors want. In short, you should understand the publishing industry. A good writers group can help you do that. If it isn’t, research the business yourself and help them.
4.  Help you network. You don’t have to be a New York-based writer to network. Even writers in the most remote parts of the country will know a few local writers. At the very least, bookstores and other events will have them in-store for author signings. Meet them. See if they’ll talk to your writers group, or better yet, join it if they don’t have a group of their own. Use your group to network. It will help you achieve goal three.
5. Meet regularly. A writers group must meet regularly, whether that’s once a month or once a week. If it doesn’t, you’ll never achieve goal one (and it will take a long time to reach goal two). If you’re in an online group, you still need to submit regularly. 
6. Encourage you. Every writer, from unsure newbie to seasoned professional, wants to be published (or published again!). A writers group should let you know where you and your manuscript are in the process. Is it close? Is it far away? Is it never going to happen with this story? Critiques may sometimes seem harsh, but they’re the best way to meet goals one and two very, very quickly.

A writers group is only as good as its members, but a thriving, active group with lots of participation, submissions and feedback, is a great group – because whenever people are writing and rewriting, editing and critiquing, you’ll want to do it, too. The biggest advantage to being in a group is that it makes you want to write. And that’s the best way to reach the biggest goals: becoming a better writer and getting published.

So, if you’re in a group, make sure they’re doing the above. And if you’re not in a group, form one with these goals in mind.  They’ll make sure your writers group benefits all its members.

Part Two: How Can You Learn from Your Writers Group?