Written by Megan Ryan

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I wondered if I was going to be welcome at a writing group as an editor who doesn’t do much writing. My occasional blog posts didn’t feel like much compared to writing a novel, Bible study, articles, or devotions. But after focusing on online connections for freelance editing, I wanted to get to know the nearby writing community better and use my expertise to help local authors. So I decided to try joining a writing group more than a year ago. While I hope I have been helpful to other attendees, I have also grown through the process. Here are some of the things I’ve learned:

1. It can take some time to find the right group.

The writing group I am currently a part of was not the first one I attended. I first tried one that met at my local library. While there were clearly some regulars, anyone could drop in to any meeting. This group also wanted everyone to bring some writing to share almost every time they attended. I got a pass my first week, but it was clear I couldn’t just keep showing up to help others with their writing.

So when I learned about a local group for Christian writers that met at a better time for me, I decided to try it out. This group has been a good fit. Most of the members have been together for many years, but they made me feel welcome. It’s great when I have some writing to share, but it’s fine for me to join in the fellowship and critiquing when I don’t.

You may have to try more than one or two groups before you find the one that is the best fit for you. Besides the meeting time, group rules, and general vibe, you might also want to consider what kind of experience the other members have and what type of writing they do.

2. It’s hard to share your writing.

The reason the group at the library wanted everyone to bring writing to share was so everyone took a turn being vulnerable. I didn’t quite understand that during the meetings I attended. But once I brought more writing to my current group, I could comprehend it better. It is nerve wracking to hear someone else read your writing (or know others are silently reading it) and wait to find out what they think!

I knew it could be difficult for authors to surrender their work to an editor, but experiencing critique myself has given me a deeper understanding of the vulnerability involved. I hope I’ve transferred that awareness into my work with clients as well.

Having some anxiety about sharing your work is normal, even if you’ve found a great group. But if you consistently leave your critique group feeling worse about your writing, you may need to keep looking for a group you can trust to be both truthful and gracious.

3. Giving a balance of positive and negative is important.

The group I attend uses a sandwich method of feedback: Start with something positive about the writing. Share some things that may need work. Finish with something positive.

This is a familiar concept to many, but it’s been good for me to practice using it in real-time conversation rather than in a manuscript file or client email. And as the one getting feedback, I appreciate hearing about the things that are working.

Because sharing writing is such a vulnerable act, it is essential your feedback affirms what the other writer is doing well. No one’s writing will be perfect, but it’s unlikely to be all bad either. Hearing the good things motivates us to revisit the not-as-good things.

4. Multiple perspectives bring depth to feedback.

Having a single critique partner can be valuable, but I’ve learned in my group how helpful it can be to have feedback from multiple people who’ve heard or read the other comments. There have been several times in our group where one member points out an issue in a piece and then someone else is able to propose a solution when it’s their turn to critique.

Other times, I have been looking more at the fine details of a text until another member brings up a structural issue they noticed. Then I can go back and look at it from a different angle to enhance my feedback as well.

If you’ve been working mostly with a single critique partner, you may want to consider expanding to a regular group. Or inviting more people to join you on occasion. Hearing a few other people talking about your work and bouncing ideas off each other can be so helpful.

Conclusion

I went into the writing group experience hoping I could help authors, and I think I have. But I didn’t expect to find as many lessons for myself—or as much community as I have found.

If you want to grow as both a writer and an editor, I recommend you look for a writing group you can join. You can even start one of your own. I believe when you find the right one, you’ll be blessed by the support and improve your communication skills. If you are a member of a writing group, share how it’s helped your editing or writing in the comments.

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