Writing groups vs. Critique Groups: How to find a writer's community

[@mathisvatt8944]

I’ve been in a few writing groups and critique groups, both irl and online, over the years. My issue has been other writers’ lack of understanding of why they are there and how to go about giving good critiques. It’s been bad enough that the last two years I haven’t touched my own stuff or even other people’s stories. I went on a whole education arc near a decade ago just so I could do a better job of giving and getting critiques but it only showed me how many people don’t actually want help or do but don’t know how to use the advice they get. I like talking about the craft, but finding those groups has been rough. Anyway, nice video on clarifying the two. 😁

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

I know exactly what you mean. Fo rmy critique group, the very first thing I put out to the group was how to give helpful commentary

[@GLucas7797]

The problem with online critique groups is that you have to post it, and literary magazines won't accept work that's been published in ANY WAY on the internet. Almost everything I write -- poems -- gets published, so as much as I would lie to post online and get critiques on my poems, I can't do that. I want my poems to continue to get published, but I really wish I could do online posting for critiques. My in-person critique group is not especially good for me. It is only sort of better than nothing.

[@j.elainefrancis3845]

Wonderful information. My question is--if in a critique group, what happens when one person is not on the same writing level as the rest of the group? For example, most members have s certain level of sophistication in their writing, but one member is quite concrete and doesn't understand nuance, metaphors, etc.?

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

Our group welcomes new and experienced authors, but the issue you're describing isn't necessarily indicative of writing skill. It's more of reading taste. The person may not prefer more literary work and thus their critiques may not always be on the money. However, it can still be useful to hear what readers outside your genre may think of your work. And if around half the group aren't picking up on the subtext/metaphor, that also might be an indication that you've made it too opaque and will need to tweak it

[@gopro_audio]

would you consider making a video that formats the group session for each group type?

[@moments7494]

wanne get connected: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKe4fJyiaLOAftE

[@TheCartoonluver23]

I was in a writing/critique group at uni where one girl literally would interrupt people to give her critique. I was usually just left sitting there like okay not your turn

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

Ugh that sounds annoying!

[@TheCartoonluver23]

@@nonsensefreeeditor It was. The techer tried telling her to stop but it didn't work

[@christianindiewriterspodca9124]

Great information!

[@herbertjones8258]

I learn thanks

[@theradioactivepatient]

Hello Nonsense-Free, so glad you did a video on this! There are so many articles, blogs and even videos about writer's groups, but none offering a clue of how to find the right one for a work in progress. So as to your question--I was in a series of college community workshops taught by MFA students. Once there I made friends with a fellow student and she and I started attending a community writer's group. Right after COVID, we transitioned to Google Meet and Google Drive. My friend and I are a bit adrift with the lack of developmental editing feedback and the lack of any discussion of craft, i.e., 3 Act structure, scenes, using physical detail or corporeal language to do double duty or work as metaphor. Also, some of the group members give punctuation and style guidance that is overly formal, especially if you've studied modern literary minimalism or even taken a look at the masters who occasionally employ sentence fragments or off-beat capitalization here or there to illustrate a larger point or lopsided power dynamic. Thank you for clarifying the difference between the type types of writer's groups! Our group is probably straddled between what you've called "Writer's Groups' and "Writer's Critique" groups.. I have steadily submitted chapters from my Rock and Roll-informed Opiate Recovery Memoir, and my music references have met with "That doesn't work for me" or "I stopped listening to music after America's 'Horse with No Name,'" or "I'm losing my hearing, so you mentioning music irritates me" sorts of comments from fellow group members. I've been encouraged by them to make my book accessible to all.... but for the last year I've been needlessly butchering my manuscript in constant rewrites to explain why Rage Vs. The Machine is cathartic or why Steely Dan's pathos is soothing after frustrating medical appointments.... At 59, I'm the youngest member of my group by 10 years, and my target readership would be pretty put off by such pedestrian unpacking. The other thing is....I'm willing to read another writer's entire manuscript start to finish, and I've heard that writers groups exist like this, but don't know the right search terms (and also, writer's critique groups are closed for good reason...not everyone is a good fit within a given group. That's why it's good to have a professional facilitator. I'm sharing this video with writers in my group who feel similarly and am interested in a closed critique group with writers working on longer-form works. Allison Strong. The Radioactive Patient.

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

Yes, finding the right fit is so important! I’d love to have you in the critique group

[@theradioactivepatient]

is memoir ok?

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

Yes definitely! All book-length works are welcome

[@UniquelyAshantesCorner]

Thank you for sharing this video. I have two questions: (1) Is the nonsense free novelist platform free and can I offer critiques to others without submitting any of my work? I want to hone my editing skills, but I don't think I have any projects I would want critiqued right now. (2) Do you have videos where you talk about how you became a editor? If not, can you please do a video about it? I want to work as an editor from home and I would like to hear about your journey. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon!

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

Hi! The main NFN community is free, which basically operates like a FB group. The critique group (which is a private group within the community) costs 7.99 per month. So honestly, I'd recommend waiting to join that until you have material to submit. Right now, it's just two of us, so I'm not sure it would be worth your money just to read work from others. As far as videos on how to become an editor, I did make one about how I became an editor, which may be helpful to you. But it doesn't feature multiple ways to become one, just the path I took: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mma5equNq6usibM Though I have gotten some questions on it, so it's a good idea for future videos. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@UniquelyAshantesCorner]

@@nonsensefreeeditor Thank you for your reply! I just watched your "How I Became an Editor" video (which I appreciate you sharing with me). I'm still trying to figure out how to start working remotely from home as an editor since I don't have any prior experience (which includes both editing experience and work experience) I know everyone's journey is different, but I still find it helpful to hear how other people did it. I have 2 questions ( 1st one might sound kinda silly...but I just want to make sure I understand correctly). In your "How I Became and Editor" video, you mentioned that if you use anopenly public document as a work sample (i.e., Wattpad), you want to refrain from using identifying information if you don't have anyone's permission. Are you talking about using documents that don't have someone's name and/or mentions their name in the piece you're editing? Should I just look for documents where someone's using some type of pen name? 2nd question: Did you ever take any editing classes prior to starting your editing journey? Do you happen to know any free online classes that are good?

[@nonsensefreeeditor]

@@UniquelyAshantesCorner As far as identifying information, ensuring neither the book title or author is present in the sample portion should be enough. And I've never taken any editing classes other than those in college. The majority of your work will likely come from academic work, so your money would best be spent becoming an expert in APA , MLA, and Chiacgo styles. It's likely Skillshare has some courses that would help

[@UniquelyAshantesCorner]

​@@nonsensefreeeditor Thanks for the clarification. I'll definitely be mindful of that if I use anything from Wattpad or any other public platform. I never thought about referring to Wattpad for editing samples...but you made a good point about it in your video. I've been on the website before, so I definitely know what you're talking about. I've heard a lot about Skillshare...I'll have to look into it. Hopefully I can find some good free classes so I can get more familiar with APA and Chicago style and refresh my memory on MLA. Hope you'll be able to do more editing-related videos in the future!