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| Source: Alan Levine, https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/14279306964/ |
Does the thought of handing your writing over to a writing
group to critique make you sweat with fear? Or maybe you’d like to join a
writing group but you are nervous about what to say to your group-mates? If you
are serious about your writing, you have surely heard that giving and receiving
feedback is an important part of the process.
It is true that feedback from
others helps you to make your writing stronger. But it can be difficult.
Letting others read your work, especially if you are not sure about its
quality, can be a nerve-wracking experience. And if that’s not enough, when you
join a critique group or attend a feedback session, you will be expected to
deliver constructive criticism on others’ work as well. You may wonder what you
have to offer others when you are still receiving help on your own work. The
answer is a lot.
Unless you are in a writing group with Stephen King, Tom
Clancy, or some other multi-national best-selling author, everyone in the group
is in the same place (and I suspect even the famous authors receive some degree
of working feedback). Whether you’ve written one book or six dozen, it is
always valuable to know how readers see your writing and to listen to what
works and what could be improved. Similarly, if you are interested enough in
books and writing to be participating in a writing group, you have plenty to
offer.
The key is to join a group with people with whom you are comfortable and feel a connection to, whether online or off. Make sure everyone knows the group "rules" and that they come from a place of encouragement and support. Being in the right group and following the advice I will offer over my next two blog posts will help to ensure a more
helpful, fulfilling experience.
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