Writing can be a very lonely pursuit, so it’s only natural to want to build some sort of community to bring life and energy to your creative endeavors. While we love our friends and family, they aren’t always the best at helping us navigate our writing process, providing useful feedback, and relating to our writing successes and failures. Luckily, writing groups can offer community with fellow creative minds who can experience the ups and downs of writing alongside you.

It’s important to recognize that writing groups aren’t for everyone. Some writers praise the writing groups they’ve joined. Other warn fellow authors about nightmarish critique group experiences and swear they’ll never join another group again. It’s also worth noting that not all groups are created equal; each group has its own goals and social dynamics.

So, should you join a writing group? The short answer: it depends. Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of writing groups to help you determine what you value in your writing process.

PROS

#1: Accountability

Sometimes one of the hardest parts of writing is getting into a disciplined writing routine. Meeting regularly with a group of fellow writers can foster the accountability you need to stay on top of your writing goals.

#2: Community

Again, writing is often a solitary act, so it makes sense to build a community for emotional support and friendship with those who understand writers’ block, defeating rejection, and the excitement of meeting a word count milestone in a way that only fellow writers can.

Plus, if your writing group members are open with each other, this community will help you see how the writing process isn’t just about successes. Being honest about the struggles we encounter can help us better embrace the fact that failure is part of the writing process.

#3: Learning Opportunity

As writers, we are lifelong learners—and writing groups can help us in our learning process. When participating in critique writing groups, you have the tools to better understand how readers will understand and respond to your writing. These groups might also help you reassess who your audience is. For example, if your YA draft is boring the younger folks and engaging the older members, you know that you should probably target a different demographic. Some writing group conversations venture beyond writing itself, providing useful insight into the publishing industry, book marketing strategies, and other relevant topics. And, of course, receiving feedback will give you a better idea of the sorts of revisions you should make in your upcoming drafts.

#4: Sense of Accomplishment

Scheduling writing group meetings in your agenda can make your writing routine feel more structured and professional. So, whether your draft is taking positive strides forward or is stuck at a bit of a standstill, attending writing meetings can help provide a sense of accomplishment.

On that note, it’s important to choose a group with a clearly defined goal to provide this sense of accomplishment. For example, many groups expect members to come to each meeting with new material in preparation for a critique circle. Other groups’ core activity is writing together during uninterrupted “writing sprints.” Some groups simply check in to hold each other accountable on personal writing goals. And still others focus on discussion, functioning more like social or support groups than the traditional critique groups. Consider what you want to accomplish.

CONS

#1: Bad Feedback

Let’s be honest—not everyone has a natural talent for critiquing writing. Some people are afraid to hurt your feelings and beat around the bush. Others might demand an oddly specific change or addition to your manuscript without being able to pinpoint what they feel is missing, unclear, or problematic in your current draft. And some people are just plain rude, making it difficult to accept their harsh criticisms. Further, if you only meet once or twice a month, it’s easy to forget the larger picture and focus entirely on the specific writing excerpt. Because of these potential problems, it’s best to find a group that’s established some clear ground rules and guidance for helpful critiques.

It goes without saying that, if you don’t listen to the feedback your peers give you, then you are wasting your time by attending a writing group meeting. But equally important is acknowledging that you shouldn’t accept all criticism just to people please. Consider the feedback, but don’t feel as if you need to take every suggestion. Instead, make sure you are preserving your own voice and story.

#2: Mismatched Members

It’s important to find a writing group that matches your writing needs and experience. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a group full of writers that you don’t relate to, and this could be frustrating or alienating. For example, you might be a thriller writer in a group full of literary fiction authors. And, while it’s great to meet a diverse range of writers, you’ll probably receive more insightful feedback from writers who are more familiar with your genre.

Similarly, you may want to find a writing group with members of the same experience level. For example, if you’ve published a book before, it’s a good idea to find a group of experienced writers. On the other hand, if you’ve never published, you’ll probably feel more at home amongst emerging writers that you can grow alongside.

#3: Time Commitment

Sometimes, we’re just too busy to add another item to our agenda. While writing groups have the potential to be extremely helpful, you get out of them what you put into them. Don’t feel pressured if you are concerned about the time commitment. (That’s right, we’re giving you permission to say no!)

#4: Uninviting Group Culture

Unfortunately, not all groups are warm and inviting. There might be a handful of “expert” writers that dominate the conversation, or maybe the group is too cliquey for your taste. That being said, pay attention to the group dynamics as you scope out potential writing groups—and steer clear of those that make you feel uncomfortable or excluded. You deserve a positive space for your motivation and writing success.

A Final Note

If you decide to look for a writing group, embrace the process of searching and weeding out the groups that don’t quite match your needs and expectations. Finding a good match is important.

Still not sure if you should seek out a writing group? Keep an eye out for next week’s SparkPress quiz to find out if writing groups are for you!