Support Other Writers

Writing Groups 101

This is one of the most important parts. I’m not going to lie, I have points in my life where I can read tons and tons of things from comic books to Journal articles. BUT with that comes struggling through even just a few pages in other points of my life. It’s important to be mindful of what you have to give. And to set time aside where you can give intentional and thoughtful feedback. It’s not just receiving tips to improve your writing that helps with your craft. Teaching and giving mindful guidance to your peers is one of the best ways to learn. So make sure when you sign up for the group, that you will be able to invest the time needed to support your fellow writers.

It’s not just taking time to read and support other writers, it’s also respecting their boundaries. One of the things I learned in college is that it is important to be clear about what type of feedback you’re looking for. I say this to remind you that it’s important to honor boundaries when giving feedback. If someone isn’t looking for grammatical correction focus on what they are looking for.

With all that being said, there are different types of reading groups. Some read their work while they are there. That’s a great option, for people who don’t want to read at home between groups. Find a group that best fits your lifestyle.