Comments on: On writing groups and how I’m trying again

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:57:43 +0000

I’ve tried a bunch of sites and made my home at http://www.TheNextBigWriter.com. It has the most serious authors of the groups I’ve participated in and is still the most fun.

They also run some fun writing contests.

Phil

By: amanda

amanda — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:05:29 +0000

Thanks for the tip Clark, I’ll have a look at it!

By: Clark

Clark — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:49:34 +0000

Just ran across your post and had to weigh in. In the past, I’ve had mixed success with online writing groups, but recently some friends and I have undertaken to build a site for facilitating online writing groups and so far it’s going really well. It’s located at http://www.reviewfuse.com.

You can upload your work and get reviews from peers. We provide helpful reviewing frameworks and inline commenting to make reviewing enjoyable and easy. You can even create you own private group if you only want to interact with just your friends or people who share similar interests. Plus, it’s free!

If you want to check it out, I’d love to hear any feedback you have for us.

Oh, and if you really don’t like our site, you can also check out a few others:
CritiqueCircle (this is my favorite of the non-Review Fuse sites)
FanStory
TheNextBigWriter
Gather (this one isn’t specifically for writing groups, but several groups use it for that)

Now I’m on my way to check out Authonomy since that’s a new one to me.

Good luck!

By: amanda

amanda — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:27:18 +0000

Thanks Lizard! Good luck with your writing group. The idea of doing it face-to-face is still a bit too freaky for me, so I’m trying online instead. But I hope you are braver than me and end up getting lots out of it.

By: Lizard

Lizard — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:23:28 +0000

I like your blog, too.

I’m kind of joining a writing group. I’ve made it to exactly one meeting, but was too scared to say anything. But they do seem like a good group full of encouraging people and some of their work is really good, so hopefully I make it back.

By: amanda

amanda — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:45:22 +0000

@ Elaine, thanks for the tip on Authonomy, it sounds interesting and the rumour (I love how you spell that my way!) that some VIPs might run their eyes across it is intriguing. Will check it out!

@ QRW, I have a good feeling you’ll make this group great. I don’t feel intimidated because of the people, just because of myself! Dumb, hey

@ Melissa, ooh I’m jealous, I wish I could go back to my teenage years and choose to study writing at college. My teachers told me I was “too smart” to be either a teacher or a writer so I studied mathematics. Blah … Anyway my original ideas were right because now I’m working as a teacher and a writer!

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:21:12 +0000

If there’s one thing I miss about college (and actually, there are lots of things I miss), it is the writing workshops and classes where we shared work and then gave or received critiques. It’s truly one of the best ways that a writer can grow, receiving feedback like that. I only wish I knew how valuable it was at the time because I recall taking it for granted and of course, I always hated having to read my work out loud!

By: QuietRebelWriter

QuietRebelWriter — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:39:53 +0000

Yay! So glad to have you onboard, Amanda. And no need to feel intimidated. That’s the hallmark of a crappy group. I am all about making this group what we want and need, without asshats and asshattery. So I hope you dig, and I hope all your readers will check it out!

By: Elaine Saunders

Elaine Saunders — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:22:10 +0000

Have you heard of Authonomy.com? It's a social networking site for writers opened recently by Harper Collins. It's possible to upload work to your profile, join in discussions and comment on other authors. Rumour has it that publishers and agents will also be keeping their eyes on the site and famous authors are involved giving advice and tips. There's also something similar called the Red Room although I don't think it has the publisher tie in. Elaine Saunders Author: A Book About Pub Names Fiction Writing Exercises Complete Text It’s A Book About….blog

By: amanda

amanda — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:44:09 +0000

Don’t get too excited Kate, maybe my fiction is terrible and it’s only my blogging that’s halfway readable!!!! I’m so nervous about letting people read my fiction, you’re much braver about that than me.