The Hustle: How to Start a Writers Group
Kim Hoyos is a queer Latina filmmaker based in Los Angeles and originally from the garden state. Passionate about representation in media, Kim strives to create spaces on screen and behind the camera for women, BIPOC folks, and the LGBTQ+ community. She’s explored her creativity with directing, writing, and producing her own short films available for online viewing as well as producing and editing digital videos for brands including mitu, The Mujerista, Aloe App, Adolescent Content, and more. With experience across late night television, social impact, online community building, and video production through positions at NBC, MTV, Greenpoint Pictures, GirlGaze, and others - Kim has a multifaceted background in storytelling. In this edition of the Hustle, she breaks down tips and strategies for starting and maintaining a successful writers’ group. Whether you're looking to join an existing group or start one from scratch, we hope this article will help you on your writing journey! You can follow Kim on Instagram!
Whether you're a seasoned writer looking for a community of like-minded individuals or a beginner seeking guidance and support, a writers’ group can be a great resource. Starting a writers’ group can be intimidating, but it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Photo by cottonbro studio
Know your intended purpose
Before starting your group, take some time to reflect on your own writing. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you hope to gain from the group? It is important to have a clear idea of what you are hoping to accomplish with a writer’s group. Are you looking to provide support and feedback for each other's work? Are you looking to learn new writing techniques and improve your skills? Or do you just need a set “write in” time with others for accountability? Having a clear purpose (or multiple) in mind for the writer’s group will help you to attract the right people and create a cohesive and productive group that thrives individually and together. There are several different types of writers groups, including critique groups, support groups, and workshops, so knowing YOUR purpose will help guide you to the right type of group formation.
Find your people
Once you know what type of group you want to create, it's time to start finding members. Look for people who share your interests and goals, and who are at a similar level of experience. This is key because you’ll want to feel that you can be challenged and share ideas that propel your work (and that of others) forward but you don’t want the weight of feeling like you’re teaching others how to improve at the sake of your own writing. But don’t feel like you have to limit group members to friends or the folks you know. You can try spreading the news of your writers’ group online (TLL comments and our FB group are a great places to find people), at local writing meet-ups, and through word of mouth to find others that are looking for the same thing .. I formed my writers group by tweeting out that I was looking to meet writers, and after a few random video calls to meet people, I started to ask individuals to join in. Now we’re 2 years into our group!
Limit group size
It is important to keep your group small, as larger groups can be difficult to manage and can make it harder for everyone to get the support and feedback they need. This may differ for each group depending on the type, but for criticism and workshop groups, it’s best to aim for a group of 4-6 people. Whether virtually or in person, this is a comfortable size group to have conversations without anyone feeling left out.
Build a safe zone
Remember, your group should be a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their work and giving and receiving feedback. Establish that open and honest communication goes hand in hand with respect and courtesy when speaking to each other. Writing is a sensitive medium that people often use to share personal stories - be prepared for folks to bring various topics and themes to the group. Also this goes without saying, but what happens in the group should usually stay within the group.
Add some structure
Decide on the frequency of your meetings, and stick to a regular schedule. This will help keep the group focused and will ensure that everyone has enough time to work on their writing between meetings. It may not be the most creative tip but outlining specifics like how long the group will meet for are important for scheduling purposes and will allow all of the writers in the group to accurately plan their time. Structure also defines how frequently folks present their work in the group, where and how the group will meet, and how each individual session will go. If this is decided on as a group, then it’s easier for everyone to continue to follow through on the commitment.
Communication is key
Good communication is essential for a successful writers group. Make sure that everyone knows how to contact each other and how the group will share work with each other. Staying organized with calendar invites and follow up emails are easy ways to keep communication simple. Communication is also related to how we provide notes, which is a key part of any writers group. When giving feedback, try to be constructive and specific, and focus on what is working well as well as areas for improvement. It's also important to remember that everyone has their own writing style and it's not your job to try to change that. The goal of feedback is to help the writer improve and grow, so remember to be kind, respectful, encouraging and helpful when offering feedback in a writers group.
Keep it fun
Writing can be a solitary and sometimes frustrating process, so it's important to make your group an enjoyable space. Don't be afraid to try new things and make mistakes along the way – that's all part of the process. If you’re not breaking through with your scripts, don't be afraid to try new writing prompts or activities to keep things fresh and engaging. See what else others in the group can benefit from, and maybe deviate from your usual structure. Your writing group should not stress you out but help motivate you to continue growing.
Remember that starting a writers group is not about perfection or creating a “super group” of writers, it's about finding a community of like-minded individuals who can support and inspire each other in their writing journey. So go out there, start your writers group, and watch as your writing skills and confidence grow and thrive with the support of your fellow writers. Happy writing!