How to Run an Effective Writing Group

Dan Brotzel, author of a new comic novel about a writers’ group and a member of a successful group in real life, shares some practical tips…

How do you get started?

Writers’ groups often begin with a nucleus of a few friends with a shared interest in writing. From there, you might put out feelers in local networks or you library. Groups typically meet every 2-4 weeks.

Tip: Don’t worry if you only have a small group at the outset. This will give you time to work out the right format and approach for your group.

What’s the best format?

In our group, everyone brings along an original piece of work to read, and we listen and then give feedback and discuss each one in turn. Some writers’ circles may set writing challenges or discuss writing-related topics. The key thing is to find a format that works for your group. For me, you can’t beat the experience of reading out loud to others as a way of developing as a writer. 

Tip: Avoid any misunderstandings by making it clear at the outset what the format of the group will be.

What’s the optimum group size?

For us, 5-6 is best, if you consider that we meet for about three hours in evenings and it takes roughly half an hour to hear and discuss each member’s work. Some bigger groups are open to all-comers every time, which may mean that only a few of the people present can read. This is a pity, because the best groups provide a supportive environment where even the least experienced or confident writers can feel empowered to read something.

Tip: If you have a lot of interest in your group, you may need to cap each meeting to a maximum number, perhaps by booking in the first 7 people and having a couple of reserves.

Do members have to attend every time?

No. Our group has a core of about 5 regulars, and another 4-5 who come when they can. But even regulars can’t make it very time, so in practice we usually get a turnout of about 6-7. If lots of people are having problem making a date, we’ll just reschedule for a better time.

Tip: Let people find their own frequency of attending. Having a slightly different mix of people each time helps keep things fresh too.

Where’s the best place to host a group?

Some groups take place in pubs or cafes. But it can be a challenge to find the right space to meet undisturbed. Our group meets roughly every fortnight in a different member’s living room each time. This creates an intimate and comfortable atmosphere that works really well for what we’re trying to achieve.

Tip: Not everyone has a home space that’s ideal for a group like this, and some groups meet in the same home every time. Let members know that hosting a group is optional.

What can you read?
Our group is very flexible on this. You can read a poem, an extract from a novel, a script – anything really, so long as it’s yours. Self-contained pieces probably work best, so long as they aren’t too long – 3000 words is about the maximum for our sessions.

Tip: Encourage people to read something, even if it’s a practice piece or an old story, as well as to feed back. That way, they’ll feel more part of the group.

How do you handle feedback?
The key is for feedback to be honest, constructive and supportive. You want to try and articulate what you thought and felt as you were listening to a piece, say what you liked about it and perhaps a suggestion or two about how it might have worked even better. But of course you don’t have to say everything you think.

Tip: When feeding back, look out for good storytelling, giving the reader pictures, engaging the emotions, keeping the reader entertained or in suspense or amused.

What if there are disagreements in the group?

Writing is an intense, personal business, and disagreements can inevitably happen. You might get differences of opinion about the way the group is run, or someone might object to some feedback or to the content of a piece of writing. A big help here is to be clear about what the group is for and have a few ground rules about material, reading time per member, approach to feedback and so on.

Tip: Circulate a brief summary of how the group works and a few basic ground rules.

Dan Brotzel is co-author of Kitten on a Fatberg, a comic novel about a writers’ group. As a reader of this blog, you can pre-order Kitten on a Fatberg for a 10% discount — quote code KITTEN10