Why Writers Need Writers

As promised .. my own little opus, filled with praise for writing and critique groups. (It’s a few days — er, weeks — late. But trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.)

So you’re a writer. A wanna-be-author. A bonafide literary genius in the works. You’re armed with your trusty notebook and pen, ready to capture great epiphanies of prose at a moment’s notice. You’ve got your laptop whizzing and a hot Grande Mocha Late steaming on a corner table at the local Starbucks. You’ve written your first short story, or perhaps even the chapter of the Next Great Novel. Now what?

I’ll tell you what. This will most likely happen next: you’ll want someone to read your work and tell you how absolutely wonderful it is. You’ll crave praise, praise, praise and you’ll want it now, now, now. “Validate me!” you’ll shout into the universe.

And then you’ll pass your manuscript off to your mom/dad/aunt/best friend to read.

And they’ll tell you it’s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

You’re a literary genius after all. As if you ever doubted yourself.

But what you should really do is curb that itch for instant gratification and march your little fingers over the keyboard of your laptop, and type the words “Writers Group” into your local Google search. Because writers need writers. Only writers really get what it means to throw everything you’ve got onto a blank screen and then blink exhaustion out of your eyes while you try to figure whether or not what you’ve just written is the equivalent of sweet, sweet honey or raw sewage dripping off of your computer screen. And only writers understand what it feels like to agonize over the word, spurious, or a blank page, or a great novel with a fantastic beginning, a gripping end and absolutely no middle.

And, sometimes, you need someone to tell you a paragraph, or chapter, or an entire novel is raw sewage. And that kind of honest critique does not come from your mom. She just doesn’t have it in her. Trust me.

Enter the wonderful cocoon of your Writing Besties. Your writers group. I love mine. Can’t live with out ‘em, actually. (Even you, Marek.) These are the people who you can talk to about writing stuff without them staring back at you with pupils glazed over with ambivalence. These are the people you trust with your words, knowing they’ll tell you honestly what’s good, what’s not, what they love, and what they abhor. And it’s all good. Because you’ll do the same for them. And you’ll all become better writers for it.

After all, it’s kinda difficult to brainstorm with yourself.

And everyone feels good knowing they’re not alone in this great, big world.

How often should you meet? That’s up to you and your group. I’m lucky that my group, The Buffalo Writers Meetup Group, meets at least two weekdays and two weekends every month. And I certainly can’t make the majority of those meetings — but I aim to attend at least one per month, and wish myself at more of them.

I remember my first meeting. It was about four years ago — I’d just started seriously writing fiction and had been looking for some like-minded folks to share tips and get feedback with. Being an introvert, I’d forced myself into going — and reading my work — to the group. It sucked. My fingers quivered and mini swimming pools had formed under my armpits. But then those feelings melted away as members provided constructive, well-placed feedback. They understood what I’d been trying to say, but perhaps (they’d gently mentioned) I might try to say it this way instead. Yes! Yes! It had all been exactly what I’d needed. And continues to be to this very day.

If you’re a writer without a writers group of some sort (virtual or real life), take my suggestion and march your little fanny over to one, pronto. Your best writing is yet to come because of it. And, if you’re already in the good company of a fantastic bunch of writers, I’d love to hear what you like best about your writers group or critique partner. Please share!

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