Oh my. I could write a tome in response. I've been part of a writers group since 2006. We have published four books, did a podcast for a few years, we've gone on hilarious road trips, continue to meet monthly and read, and on and on and on. The only reason I haven't written about our group, ridiculously called The Mystic Order of East Alabama Fiction Writers, is because I'm afraid that for our story to fit into a narrative, we will have to get in a big fight and break up like the Beatles. Because I KNOW THE TROPES! :) We meet monthly at each other's houses. There are six of us because it's the perfect number, something about numerology according to one of us. Janisse, you are friends with Katie Jackson, one of the Mystics, who was part of Old Enough and has taken your courses. Small, lovely circles indeed. We are messy but we encourage each other and mostly, we push each other to keep writing. Sometimes we were aprons to our readings. We recently did a workshop about writers groups. I'm proud to say that many of the things you mentioned here were in the part I did. I reread the DELIGHTFUL chapter in Wild Card Quilt about your group and talked about you and your group in our presentation. Oh my. I should just give it all up and write about the Mystics. We have outrageous stories, we are friends, we have ridiculous adventures, one of us is a lawyer and has had to defend all of us but one. I love my Mystic Sisters so much. Also, kudos to Becki Clifton and Jane Pike, two of my favorite Substack friends. I'll stop now, but honestly, I feel like we should all be sitting in one big room, or around a bonfire (much better) talking about all this. Thank you for this post. Now I'm off to read the article.
Excellent reflections on writing group and critique groups.
I've only been in writing groups using the Amherst approach (totally supportive) and am rather apprehensive about the group that's spun off your memoir class that I now am a part of.
They're all wonderful folks, but I'm worried about the critique emphasis. I'll see how it goes.
Just wanna say, I absolutely loved Wild Card Quilt. Also, I live in NC and would be interested in being a part of/ starting a virtual writing group for those interested.
I’ve had mixed experiences with critique groups—the workshops in graduate school could turn into real pile-ons, if the instructor wasn’t skillful at facilitating (which usually they weren’t). I’ve found small, intentional writing groups more positive and supportive, and have belonged to several, which often seem to fizzle out. Desperate for writing community after a year and a half of pandemic, I invited all the writers I knew of in my area (some of whom I didn’t know in person) for a get together, and four of us formed a writing group that’s been going four years. During one uncomfortable critique session—using the grad school/Iowa method—one of our members felt like we’d done the old pile-on. After that we adopted the Critical Response Process format (developed by dancer Liz Lerman), which is so much more useful, and gives the reins for steering the discussion to the artist, rather than forcing them to sit in silence while their work is destroyed.
Still another format I'd not heard of. Thank you for this, Andrea. I'm going to check it out. And as for everything else, good on you. Four years sounds like sweet success.
You are so generous, Janisse- thank you. To have Becki to travel alongside in the course is such a joy!
I do have experience with groups. Mine is not writing specific, but has a general creativity focus. The floor is open to anyone and everyone with an interest in making art and wants a community to nestle within.
The shared support is invaluable. We don't use it so much for critique (although if that's the request it is offered) but have co-creating sessions every week (some like gathering round the kitchen table where we chat away, and some silent) and threads within the group if you want accountability for your project.
I think, in this world, creating groups that normalise creative practice and making as part of the day to day is very needed. Thank you for being such a light xx
First, Janisse, thanks so much for sharing my latest essay! And you know you can stay with me anytime we can get you back to middle Tennessee.
When I think “writing group,” I think of writers deeply engaging with one another’s work. Next to the joy of creative flow, this engagement is such a meaningful part of the writing process that I think I appreciate it even more than publication.
To me a group means accountability, feedback, and support for the ups and downs my life as a writer—and often over time, my life in general. Notice I said “feedback”—I think “critique” is a scary word, especially for writers who are new to groups.
Feedback means you gently share ideas about a fellow writer’s piece, including thoughts such as:
Here’s what’s working.
Here’s what I LOVE—don’t revise it out!
Here’s what’s not working so much for me as a reader.
And also perhaps:
Here’s a strategy you might try, or something else I’m curious about as a reader.
My first rule of critique, taught to me by my first mentor, Darnell Arnoult: Always find things to like.
My very first writing group was the Grey Mules, a dozen or more fiction writers, most of us working on novels. Several of the groups I’ve been in have lasted many years, and across genres. A later novel writing group (an offshoot of the Mules) ended up giving me feedback on my first poetry manuscript when I defected from fiction. THAT is love and support.
I personally like a writing group that involves snacks, though my current group is virtual. Fortunately I also have a critique partner or two to meet with in person. At a coffee or donut shop.
I totally agree with the quote in your post: “If you get a good group, he said, it really does help make your work better.” This is 100% true. But I also second what you say: Writing groups have also made my LIFE better.
Kory, thank you for taking the time to write this information. It's invaluable. I was thinking that I need to incorporate some of this back into the article, particularly about finding something good first.
Janisse, many thanks for all you wrote and shared. Kevin Kelly’s piece is epic. I was going to say “astonishing” but you’re right—you’ve said as much in your classes.🌱🌿💚
How do you always come up with the perfect word? You are so right. That piece is epic. It simply summarizes everything that's happening, and those few paragraphs at the end say so much. We were people of the book, now we're "people of the screen." Thank you for going over and reading it. I feel another link of kinship with you.
PS:: I’m still reading The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow. I was smitten when you opened a Memoir class with a reading of the first scene. I may need to start it again when I finish. It’s that fine a read.
Oh my. I could write a tome in response. I've been part of a writers group since 2006. We have published four books, did a podcast for a few years, we've gone on hilarious road trips, continue to meet monthly and read, and on and on and on. The only reason I haven't written about our group, ridiculously called The Mystic Order of East Alabama Fiction Writers, is because I'm afraid that for our story to fit into a narrative, we will have to get in a big fight and break up like the Beatles. Because I KNOW THE TROPES! :) We meet monthly at each other's houses. There are six of us because it's the perfect number, something about numerology according to one of us. Janisse, you are friends with Katie Jackson, one of the Mystics, who was part of Old Enough and has taken your courses. Small, lovely circles indeed. We are messy but we encourage each other and mostly, we push each other to keep writing. Sometimes we were aprons to our readings. We recently did a workshop about writers groups. I'm proud to say that many of the things you mentioned here were in the part I did. I reread the DELIGHTFUL chapter in Wild Card Quilt about your group and talked about you and your group in our presentation. Oh my. I should just give it all up and write about the Mystics. We have outrageous stories, we are friends, we have ridiculous adventures, one of us is a lawyer and has had to defend all of us but one. I love my Mystic Sisters so much. Also, kudos to Becki Clifton and Jane Pike, two of my favorite Substack friends. I'll stop now, but honestly, I feel like we should all be sitting in one big room, or around a bonfire (much better) talking about all this. Thank you for this post. Now I'm off to read the article.
I love everything about this--especially hearing about the Mystics. Amazing!
Excellent reflections on writing group and critique groups.
I've only been in writing groups using the Amherst approach (totally supportive) and am rather apprehensive about the group that's spun off your memoir class that I now am a part of.
They're all wonderful folks, but I'm worried about the critique emphasis. I'll see how it goes.
Lisa, I'm wondering if you introducing the Amherst approach (which I had not heard of, so thank you for that) to the group might be a good idea.
Just wanna say, I absolutely loved Wild Card Quilt. Also, I live in NC and would be interested in being a part of/ starting a virtual writing group for those interested.
Somebody better jump on the chance to be part of a writing group with M.K. Creel. So good!
I’ve had mixed experiences with critique groups—the workshops in graduate school could turn into real pile-ons, if the instructor wasn’t skillful at facilitating (which usually they weren’t). I’ve found small, intentional writing groups more positive and supportive, and have belonged to several, which often seem to fizzle out. Desperate for writing community after a year and a half of pandemic, I invited all the writers I knew of in my area (some of whom I didn’t know in person) for a get together, and four of us formed a writing group that’s been going four years. During one uncomfortable critique session—using the grad school/Iowa method—one of our members felt like we’d done the old pile-on. After that we adopted the Critical Response Process format (developed by dancer Liz Lerman), which is so much more useful, and gives the reins for steering the discussion to the artist, rather than forcing them to sit in silence while their work is destroyed.
Still another format I'd not heard of. Thank you for this, Andrea. I'm going to check it out. And as for everything else, good on you. Four years sounds like sweet success.
There’s a great book that lays out the process called Critique is Creative.
You are so generous, Janisse- thank you. To have Becki to travel alongside in the course is such a joy!
I do have experience with groups. Mine is not writing specific, but has a general creativity focus. The floor is open to anyone and everyone with an interest in making art and wants a community to nestle within.
The shared support is invaluable. We don't use it so much for critique (although if that's the request it is offered) but have co-creating sessions every week (some like gathering round the kitchen table where we chat away, and some silent) and threads within the group if you want accountability for your project.
I think, in this world, creating groups that normalise creative practice and making as part of the day to day is very needed. Thank you for being such a light xx
You are doing great work, Jane. I LOVE what Becki produced in your workshop. Onward!
First, Janisse, thanks so much for sharing my latest essay! And you know you can stay with me anytime we can get you back to middle Tennessee.
When I think “writing group,” I think of writers deeply engaging with one another’s work. Next to the joy of creative flow, this engagement is such a meaningful part of the writing process that I think I appreciate it even more than publication.
To me a group means accountability, feedback, and support for the ups and downs my life as a writer—and often over time, my life in general. Notice I said “feedback”—I think “critique” is a scary word, especially for writers who are new to groups.
Feedback means you gently share ideas about a fellow writer’s piece, including thoughts such as:
Here’s what’s working.
Here’s what I LOVE—don’t revise it out!
Here’s what’s not working so much for me as a reader.
And also perhaps:
Here’s a strategy you might try, or something else I’m curious about as a reader.
My first rule of critique, taught to me by my first mentor, Darnell Arnoult: Always find things to like.
My very first writing group was the Grey Mules, a dozen or more fiction writers, most of us working on novels. Several of the groups I’ve been in have lasted many years, and across genres. A later novel writing group (an offshoot of the Mules) ended up giving me feedback on my first poetry manuscript when I defected from fiction. THAT is love and support.
I personally like a writing group that involves snacks, though my current group is virtual. Fortunately I also have a critique partner or two to meet with in person. At a coffee or donut shop.
I totally agree with the quote in your post: “If you get a good group, he said, it really does help make your work better.” This is 100% true. But I also second what you say: Writing groups have also made my LIFE better.
Kory, thank you for taking the time to write this information. It's invaluable. I was thinking that I need to incorporate some of this back into the article, particularly about finding something good first.
Janisse, many thanks for all you wrote and shared. Kevin Kelly’s piece is epic. I was going to say “astonishing” but you’re right—you’ve said as much in your classes.🌱🌿💚
How do you always come up with the perfect word? You are so right. That piece is epic. It simply summarizes everything that's happening, and those few paragraphs at the end say so much. We were people of the book, now we're "people of the screen." Thank you for going over and reading it. I feel another link of kinship with you.
Awww…
thank you for giving me smiles.
Truly.
I love what you’re doing with Spiral.
PS:: I’m still reading The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow. I was smitten when you opened a Memoir class with a reading of the first scene. I may need to start it again when I finish. It’s that fine a read.
I'm still reading too. I'm such a slow reader these days. Yes, I agree, a lovely person wrote a lovely book.