Writing Groups in NYC?
May 6, 2015 6:40 AM Subscribe
Looking for a writing group for someone who is about to graduate from college and move back to Manhattan in a few weeks.
He is graduating with a degree in English from a "top-notch" liberal arts college (the point here is that he is used to conforming to very high standards), and his thesis is a long piece of fiction that he would like to continue to work on and turn into a novel.
The ideal group would have (1) participants who are serious about their writing, (2) good writers, and (3) a really good leader. It would also help if at least some of the participants were in his age group.
The second part of this question is: given that he's not going to graduate school (at least not yet), would it still be better to enroll in a non-credit writing course somewhere than join a free-standing writing group? If so, what would be a good school for this and any recommended courses/teachers?
The aim here is to find structure, feedback, and a sense of community to facilitate his writing goals.
All suggestions welcome! Thank you.
He is graduating with a degree in English from a "top-notch" liberal arts college (the point here is that he is used to conforming to very high standards), and his thesis is a long piece of fiction that he would like to continue to work on and turn into a novel.
The ideal group would have (1) participants who are serious about their writing, (2) good writers, and (3) a really good leader. It would also help if at least some of the participants were in his age group.
The second part of this question is: given that he's not going to graduate school (at least not yet), would it still be better to enroll in a non-credit writing course somewhere than join a free-standing writing group? If so, what would be a good school for this and any recommended courses/teachers?
The aim here is to find structure, feedback, and a sense of community to facilitate his writing goals.
All suggestions welcome! Thank you.
Check to see if the 92nd Street Y is holding workshops. And maybe he'd be interested in a summer writers' conference -- if so, look into Bread Loaf and Sweanee.
posted by thursdaystoo at 4:13 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by thursdaystoo at 4:13 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I would say to try both if possible. A writing course would have a professor who may be helpful in networking or writing a grad school rec, and a writers' group may have more helpful feedback. Of course mileage varies, but if one is a bust then the other can help.
I've often had spotty luck looking for groups. What has been a better fit is to get in touch with writers who might be a good feedback partner after I read their work in lit mags. If both of them are in NYC, then that would help facilitate meeting. Another thing that's been helpful is to email writers I like who are also professors and get names/contact info of former students who might be helpful.
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:13 AM on May 6, 2015