If you’ve been a devotee of C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien for a while, you’ve probably heard about The Inklings. If you’re an aspiring writer and a Lewis/Tolkien fan, then you’ve probably dreamed about being part of their writing group. But, sans a time machine, a literal fulfillment of that dream is nigh on impossible.
While a pilgrimage to Oxford and a visit to The Eagle and the Child might be an idyllic vacation, it’s beyond the reach for many of us and, really, it’s not quite the same. The next best option might be to start your own writing group. After all, the purpose of the Inklings was for Tolkien, Lewis, and their friends to regularly meet and discuss their writings.
In theory, starting a writing group isn’t all that difficult. Find a group of people who write, schedule meeting times, and write. Practically, it’s not always that easy. For years, I longed to belong to writing group, but I couldn’t find a place to plug in. I wanted the support of other writers to keep writing and their critique on my stories. So, from the pen of a writing group newbie, here’s my advice on creating your own group of Inklings.
Finding Your Group
Sometimes finding a group can be the most difficult part of starting a writing group. Writing can be a very private thing. Unless you talk about it, you might not know who writes around you. You’ve finally worked up enough nerve to share your short story, but with whom do you share it?
Start with those closest to you—your friends. Do any of them write? If the answer is yes, ask if they’re interested in forming a group. Yay; you are now one step closer to having a writing group. Decide when, where, and how often to meet. Common meeting places might be your homes, coffee shops, libraries, or anyplace where you can talk and have enough outlets for your laptops/tablets.
If writing with your friends doesn’t work for you, all hope isn’t lost. Check with your local library, coffee shops, writing teachers, and other local writing hotspots. They sometimes have writing groups already meeting. Or, if you’ve written with NaNoWriMo, some of your fellow local writers may wish to keep writing after November.
So, you’ve tried all of this, but you can’t find a local group that meets your needs, you can try online. There are several writing critique sites. You join a forum community and have the opportunity to critique others and have your writing critiqued in return. A couple of sites which focus on science fiction, fantasy, and horror are Critters Workshop (http://www.critters.org) and Online Writing Workshop (http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/index.shtml). Words for the wise, whenever you’re sharing online, remember to keep general web safety. (Anytime you put information out on the web, it’s out there for anyone to see and doesn’t go away easily.)
Types of Groups
A writing group can be as extensive or limited as you want your group to be. The simplest group would be a basic writing group. You and your friends get together once a week (or however often works for you) and you spend an hour writing. This is useful if you’re starting out and need help consistently writing.
But a writing group is more than simply writing; it’s about critiquing and bettering your writing. Mold your group’s expectations to the goals of the group.
For example, do you need help finishing your story? Set goals such as write ten pages by the next meeting or write the next chapter.
Are you stuck on a plot point or character motivation? Discuss it with your group. Sometimes discussing your snags helps unravel the problems.
Writing groups have long been part of the literary tradition. Many a famous author has at one time or the other been part of such a group. While you might not be able to discuss craft with your favorite authors, all aspiring writers can partake in the same literary tradition.
Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Groups
Do – Determine the purpose of your group.
It’s easy for a writing session to turn into a gabfest if you don’t create guidelines. Do you want to spend your groups as communal writing time? Do you want critique and criticism? By setting guidelines for your group, you’re able to recognize if your group is really helpful, or simply a hindrance to your writing.
Don’t – Spend your time talking about ‘stuff.’
The purpose of your writing group should be to discuss your writing. If you spend the first fifteen minutes deciding the name for your group, followed by thirty minutes of discussing the latest episode of Downton Abbey, suddenly you only have fifteen minutes left to write and/or critique. At this point, you don’t really have a writing group; you’re just hanging out with friends. It is so easy to get lost down the rabbit trails of procrastination. Watch out for this.
Do – Be Kind, Be Honest, and Be Helpful
Anytime you’re critiquing another person’s work, remember this is something they’ve worked hard on. They’ve put their blood, sweat, and tears into writing. Good criticism points out errors, confusing sections, and what doesn’t work, but does so in a way that helps make the writing better. Give positive feedback along with your constructive criticism. We all recognize criticism can be hard to accept, but it is one of the best ways to improve your writing. At the same time, don’t be afraid to point out errors because you’re afraid you’ll hurt their feelings. Being too gentle isn’t any help either.
Remember, treat others how you want to be treated.
Don’t – Don’t Talk
When the other members of your group are critique you’re story, no matter how much you want to, don’t talk. Listen, take notes, and remember you can’t stop by every reader’s house and explain a tricky section. After everybody else talks, it’s your turn. At that point, you can explain how the issue will be resolved later in the book or brainstorm ways to fix it.
For More on Writing Groups
On Finding a Writing Workshop:
http://murverse.com/guest-post-finding-a-writing-group/
On Writing Groups:
http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/11/10/writing-excuses-season-2-episode-5-writing-groups/
About Alpha Readers:
http://www.writingexcuses.com/2011/04/17/writing-excuses-5-33-alpha-readers/
13 Tips for Writing Groups:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/writing-groups/writing-group-starter-kit/thirteen-ways-of-talking-about-writing-groups/