Why bother to find a writing group?

 Hello again, I hope you've been having a good week!

Today, I thought I'd talk about something I reference fairly often, but have never really focused a post on; writing groups. Personally, I am not a member of any in-person writing groups, so I'll be focusing on those that can be found on social media and leaving the others for those with experience in that area.

Why is it so important to find a good writing group? I'll be tackling that question by going over related questions, as well as sharing my personal experience with online writing groups. Hopefully, (if I do my job right,) by the end of this post, you'll be excited to get into a new writing group too!

Let's get started!

Can't I just write on my own? It's supposed to be a solitary activity anyways, isn't it?

Yes, of course, you can write on your own, but why should you, especially when it's so easy to get outside help? Writing can be quite isolating on its own and simply having people to talk (or vent) to, who really understand what it's like can be incredible, let alone the value of a second opinion. 

I have friends who beta-read for me, and give me advice, isn't that enough? 

First of all, congratulations! It's wonderful to have friends and family who are willing to listen and help you with your writing! Secondly, however, it really is best to get out of your friend/family circle when it comes to your book, at least part of the time. The chances are, your friends and family have a wide variety of interests and are not all fellow writers, even if one or two of them are. And I can tell you from personal experience that getting another writer's opinion is invaluable, but getting two, three, or twenty is even better. 

This is the place where I am supposed to say that your friends and family shouldn't beta read for you because they won't be able to be critical enough, but frankly, I know that isn't always true. I have had friends and family beta for me in the past, and I've had some of my harshest criticisms from them. Personally, I don't plan to have family/close personal friends beta for me again, (short of a very good reason to do otherwise) but that is my decision, I have also had some incredible experiences with my friends/family beta-ing for me, but, for me, it's easier to set a hard and fast rule. (Note, my mom still Alpha reads for me, and I have no plans for that to ever change, because, apparently, I don't like absolute rules.)

Aren't all writing groups basically the same? 

Just... no. I've only been in three dedicated writing groups as of writing this, and I can honestly say that they couldn't be any different. 

The first group I was in, was a good place to learn... until I began to be patronized (on several occasions) and told I didn't understand the most basic of details about books, (perhaps something to do with the fact that I was in my teens when I joined?) and eventually the group shrank due to extreme disuse as well. The second is the only one I am an active member of any longer, I learn something new regularly, but I have almost never felt condescended to, even when I managed to get something extremely wrong, or got confused about something simple, the environment is educational, even when things occasionally go wrong. The third is honestly so niche, I feel silly even having mentioned it. 

And how do you even find a good writing group anyways? 

By now, I hope you can see the advantages of finding a good writing group, so on we go to the real question of how to find one. And I'm sorry because the only answer I have for you is far from a formula for success. 

When in doubt, check it out! If you are looking at a public group, scroll around, and see if what's going on looks inviting, and helpful for your situation. If it's a closed group, (and frankly I'd recommend looking for one that is, because privacy can be quite helpful when discussing your book, or ticklish issues.) try looking over the rules carefully, pay attention to what is there, and what isn't. I would never recommend joining a group that doesn't have a "don't be a jerk" rule, though the wording varies from one group to the other. 

I personally feel that aiming for a more niche writing group can be quite helpful, especially when there are thousands of options to page through. IE. Sci-Fi writing groups for the Sci-Fi author, a worldbuilding-focused one for those looking to grow in that direction, etc... I'll not deny the draw of a group that allows both specific questions and specialized ones, so it may help to aim for one that allows both.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for advice. I found my current advice after asking a very specific question and being directed there by a member of my old writing group, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. If you have writing friends or are part of a writing group already, (even if it isn't the best) try asking for recommendations for a good writing group about (whatever it is you are writing or need help with) the odds are you'll get at least a few suggestions! 

That's it for this week; I hope it was helpful! How did you find your current writing group, or are you in more than one? Feel free to share below!

Have a great day, and keep writing!