Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. There’s no pressure to buy the perfect gift. No kids wondering if they’ll get the most coveted item on their Christmas list (probably not!). Instead, the focus of the holiday is connecting with our loved ones and reflecting on our blessings.
This year, as with every other, I’m grateful for my writers’ group — a group of standout individuals, all former students, who have helped me hone my craft and take my work to the next level. These five women have played a starring role in my career achievements. I’m certain I wouldn’t have been able to snag even a fraction of the essay sales I have without their astute and patient tutelage.
So it makes sense that one of the most frequent questions I receive from students is this: How do I find a writer’s group?
I’m a firm believer in making things happen, so my response is always, “start one yourself!” Over the years, I have belonged to a number of different writers groups. I’ve learned what works — and what doesn’t. I’ve also discovered that the type of group that works for one writer doesn’t work for another. And some writers simply don’t want feedback from others.
If one of your goals for 2020 is to find like-minded writers to help you make your essays sing, here are a few of the strategies that have helped me along this journey:
- Pay attention to size. Everyone has a “sweet spot” when it comes to size. Some people prefer groups of 10 members, or more, so they only have to chime when they have time. Others like the intimacy and accountability inherent in a smaller group. The sweet spot for me is usually five to seven writers. With personal essay, writers are covering very personal territory. Some are even writing under a pen name. I like to test vulnerable material with a small group of people who really “get me” and know what I’m about. That way, they’re better equipped to call bullshit if something doesn’t ring true to them.
- Be careful who you invite. You want to select writers whose work you admire and respect. Even better, choose members who are not only great writers, but who also have different ages, interests, and life experiences. The reason: You want to make sure your work resonates with someone who has a wildly different world view. My group now contains a mix of parents and non-parents, outdoor enthusiasts and homebodies (that would be me!).
- Hone your critiquing skills. The best way to ensure a writers’ group succeeds is to offer valuable critiques. Your job as a reviewer is to tell the author where you see holes, where the pacing seems off and when you feel the author is holding back. And if the piece doesn’t have a clear take-home message or a universal, relatable thread, offer suggestions to help the writer make his/her story more salable.
- Lay the ground rules. It’s important to establish some ground rules before you get started with a new group. They don’t have to be complex, but they do have to state what’s expected of each member. Here’s a peek at what we use:
- While you don’t have to review every essay that comes over the transom, please respond to anyone who submits an essay for review to let them know when/if we’ll be able to review their work. And please don’t be afraid to decline. We all get busy and sometimes we just can’t add another thing to an already full plate.
- Even if you only have over-arching comments/suggestions, please provide a line edit within the document so the writer can clearly see where/when you feel the story is lagging or hitting the right note.
- We have capped the number of times members can post the same essay (with revisions) at three since it can be difficult to see the forest through the trees after several rounds. That said, if sufficient time has passed since the original submission (say 6 months or more), members can ask for another read.
- What’s shared within the group remains within the group. In many cases, writers are covering sensitive stuff. Let’s agree to keep the content and specifics of the essays shared here within the group.
You don’t need a journalism degree — or even a published clip — to form a writers’ group. In fact, reading other people’s work is the best way to improve your own. Not only do you learn the formula for telling a good story, you also have an opportunity to see how other writers handle dialogue, character descriptions, sensory details as well as entry and exit strategies.
Want to join a group in 2020? I have a running list of former students and colleagues who are interested in connecting with fellow writers. Send me an email and I’ll hook you up! Better yet, take advantage of my Black Friday Sale (from November 30 through December 2) and sign up to take one of my courses in 2020. Many students from my classes have started groups with their classmates after the course ends.
No matter what you choose to do, I hope you’ll find some quiet time before the month ends to cultivate gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving All!
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