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As part of my quest to get better at writing I've decided to actually follow the advice I keep seeing out there - yeah, I know, that's a radical idea and all, but it just might help... So, I found a nearby writer's group and intend to go there next week.
But that leads to my question. What to expect?
Maybe each one is different and I need to go to see, but figured I'd see if anyone else here has ever just jumped into one of these and what it's like. As a newcomer, I wasn't planning to bring any of my writing, just see how it goes first time. Is that reasonable or expected? And, to be blunt, I'm also unsure how to say that I write tg fiction. I don't know the group, after all, and am, well, a bit shy about it.
Anyway, looking for advice or other peoples' experiences.
Thanks,
Titania
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writing groups
I have been involved with several writing groups over the decades. I never shared a tg story with any of the groups. Most of what I did write were coming of age stories. I found it very helpful to just share stories. One thing I learned was to never tell the group what you were trying to say, but to listen to what they read and felt in your story. I refrained from arguing with people. I wouldn't take any work to the first meeting. Learn who your audience is first. Try to write to that audience in your style.
RobinDiaz
Expect Green Faces
As someone who has delivered quite a few courses to adult learners - basic computing, local history and so on - I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of people I've come across have been a delight to work with. I think you'll find that where literary matters are concerned just about anything goes. You'll be encouraged to bring examples of your work, but no one will mind if you don't. And a simple statement such as 'the truth is, I've been writing quite a lot of transgender fiction' should elicit nothing more threatening than a stimulating discussion.
What else can you expect? Some green faces, when they discover how good your writing is.
Writers are people...
...just like any others. Some will accept you and some will have a hard time of it. I am still in the closet, so the matter does not arise.
I've been attending a writing group for several years, and I'd advise telephoning the leader in advance to find out the format of meetings. For example, there may be a topic of writing for the next meeting, and having your own work will enable you to join in, rather than just sitting there like a lemon.
One of the greatest challenges I had to face was to have others criticise my work, and to criticise theirs. But we all know the sensitivity of this and do so with care. Once through that, what the group has given me above all is the confidence to write more outlandish items, and to continually think about the reader, as I write. The reader doesn't want boring background, they want action. I have to sell my work to the others, and tease them to want to know what's going to happen - otherwise I can see the yawns as I read out my story.
Good luck and enjoy
Writing Groups
One of the issues I've found with writing groups is they are filled with people usually at or oftentimes below my own writing level. They offer heartfelt advice etc but you always have to keep in mind the source. Some of the people in writing groups have become very adept at, you guessed it, being in writing groups. It's very easy to allow some of these people to bring you down--especially if you have a sensitive nature (like I had).
Luckily, I was able to find a BNA (big named author) who took me under his wing and gave me some very real world pointers about writing and editing--the whole writing process as a profession. My suggestion to you, Titania, would be to go to some Cons. Listen to the panels, rub elbows with some BNAs and use that as your springboard and inspiration. Writing groups are good as long as you take the advice from them as readers, not editors, unless they have made their living in the pro market.
Just my .02 :)