.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Wr

When I worked at Barnes and Noble a number of years ago, one of the local writing groups met there once a month. Every now and then, I'd happen to be working in the area they were meeting, and I'd listen in, curious as to what it was like to be part of a writing group.

After listening a few times, I found myself put off by the group. On one occasion I heard them telling a woman that her poem was just stupid. On another, several members were laughing over the story being read, a story that wasn't intended to be funny. I was appalled, and I remember thinking that if that was what writing groups were all about, then I wanted nothing to do with one.

But the truth is that if you decide to join a writing group, there's one important thing to remember. Not all writing groups are the same. Like anything else, writing groups can have personalities, reliant in part on the personalities of its members, the dynamic of the group as a whole, and its approach to the idea of writing groups in general.

There are two main approaches when it comes to writing groups: support groups or critique circles.

The goal of many writing groups is support. Often informal, these groups tend to have the goal of bringing writers together to share work, market tips, and most importantly, encouragement. Feedback may be forthcoming, but it will usually be gentle and fairly broad-based, a scattering of suggestions amidst ample praise. The purpose of such groups is to encourage writers to write in a supportive and positive environment.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Wri

that her poem was just stupid. On another, several members were laughing over the story being read, a story that wasn't intended to be funny. I was appalled, and I remember thinking that if that was what writing groups were all about, then I wanted nothing to do with one.

But the truth is that if you decide to join a writing group, there's one important thing to remember. Not all writing groups are the same. Like anything else, writing groups can have personalities, reliant in part on the personalities of its members, the dynamic of the group as a whole, and its approach to the idea of writing groups in general.

There are two main approaches when it comes to writing groups: support groups or critique circles.

The goal of many writing groups is support. Often informal, these groups tend to have the goal of bringing writers together to share work, market tips, and most importantly, encouragement. Feedback may be forthcoming, but it will usually be gentle and fairly broad-based, a scattering of suggestions amidst ample praise. The purpose of such groups is to encourage writers to write in a supportive and positive environment.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Wr

all writing groups are the same. Like anything else, writing groups can have personalities, reliant in part on the personalities of its members, the dynamic of the group as a whole, and its approach to the idea of writing groups in general.

There are two main approaches when it comes to writing groups: support groups or critique circles.

The goal of many writing groups is support. Often informal, these groups tend to have the goal of bringing writers together to share work, market tips, and most importantly, encouragement. Feedback may be forthcoming, but it will usually be gentle and fairly broad-based, a scattering of suggestions amidst ample praise. The purpose of such groups is to encourage writers to write in a supportive and positive environment.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Wr

support. Often informal, these groups tend to have the goal of bringing writers together to share work, market tips, and most importantly, encouragement. Feedback may be forthcoming, but it will usually be gentle and fairly broad-based, a scattering of suggestions amidst ample praise. The purpose of such groups is to encourage writers to write in a supportive and positive environment.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Wr

.

Groups like these are wonderful for beginning writers or hobbyists, or for those who want companionship more than critique. These groups can be wonderful motivators for writers who need a little push in the right direction.

The other type of writing group is the critique circle. Often more formal, these groups generally have the ultimate goal of publication in mind. Writers joining critique circles are those who are interested in working hard to refine their craft and who aren't shy about giving or receiving detailed constructive criticism.

Critique circles are great for more serious-minded writers, particularly those who are submitting work for consideration for publication. Many critique circles are select about new group members and may require a submission of work for consideration. Some critique circles have a zero sugarcoating rule. All feedback is served straight up, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow.

And there are, of course, many shades of gray between support writing groups and critique circles.

Other differences in writing groups include genre, an often important consideration to a writer considering membership. Some writing groups focus on a particular genre such as science fiction, romance, or mystery. Other writing groups have an eye on literary fiction. There are writing groups for poetry, for short stories, for novels. Some writing groups are open to all.

And beyond all that, there are also personalities to consider. Writing groups can take on significantly different flavors based on the people who belong to them, something I've found out personally over the years, and it's something that deserves serious consideration. Like so many things in life, some people will click in certain writing groups. Others just won't.

Years after eavesdropping on the local writers group at the Barnes and Noble, I've been a part of a number of wr