Writing Groups: A Cautionary Tale

Every writer needs constructive criticism if they are to improve and hone skills. A successful published writer has an agent and editor to advise on plot effectiveness, to suggest cuts and modifications to their work, while the rest of us rely on like-minded writing enthusiasts and teachers we find on creative writing courses, in local groups, evening classes or on-line forums.
Until eighteen months ago I belonged to a very happy, helpful established group. There were rarely more than twelve people at fortnightly meetings which were a creative experience, informal, supportive, entertaining and held in a pub. (Bonus). The membership comprised writers of different genres: novels, short stories, poetry and the occasional script; interests and personalities were diverse and there was a wide age-range. Everyone contributed oral feedback with respect and honesty and, we believed, without need for a formal set of rules. Until, that is, a long-standing member labelled a new member’s poem offensive, and a heated argument followed.
A writing group must create a confidential environment where a member can feel it’s safe to share their work and even to fail. Unfortunately the established member, keen to promote and explain his own point of view, went on to post further criticism of essay proportion … online. If the comments had been shared with only the members who had attended that particular meeting, there might have been some chance of reconciliation. The problem was, after all, a personality clash. But the group e mail list included at least a further forty-five addresses, mostly of writers who had at one time been group members but who hadn’t attended meetings for months, and in some cases years. They received the post too… a damning criticism of someone named but whom they had never even met. Sadly, but not surprisingly, the poet felt betrayed and left, while subsequent attempts to apply a formal ‘critiquing’ policy to the proceedings met with resistance from the e mail poster, who never accepted a line had been crossed. It was the beginning of the end. When the popular group founder left for reasons unconnected, membership dwindled and the group disbanded.
Readers have differing tastes. We can’t always appreciate the same subject matter, authors or genres, and while constructive criticism may provide useful suggestions on style, characterisation, plot, syntax, etc. it should never include personal condemnation of the author. Though students of writing, as with any subject, have to learn to accept negative comments and to use them as a springboard, feedback should be built on positives and follow a pattern of ‘the good, the bad and final target for improvement’, or as I have heard it called: the shit sandwich— not the most gastronomically pleasing metaphor but one which offers a blueprint for successful constructive criticism.
Writing groups are vital. Luckily I’ve found a new excellent example. It’s great to meet like-minded people and to find encouragement and inspiration as well as establish new friends, (though I still miss the ‘cosiness’ and friendships of the old crowd). Before you join a group though, it may be a good idea to check out the policy on the giving and receiving of feedback before you read aloud your work and ‘bare your soul’.
Happy Writing.

December 2, 2016 by lindaannebaker Leave a comment