writing groups

September 13, 2020 5:40 AM

I desperately need one. We live in a pandemic. Help.

I need a writing group, badly. I need eyeballs on my work, I need people not afraid to give open and honest (but kind) feedback. I don't have this. I have been leaning heavily on my best friend, also a writer, to help me revise pieces but she's a Professor and her college has just resumed classes and she no longer has time. Are there any online reading groups that are worth joining? I googled and the results were overwhelming. I would also prefer a writing group that is compromised of or sensitive to BIPOC issues, how would I find that?

does anyone here on Metafilter want to start a writing group with me?

Thanks in advance.

posted by nayantara to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Is it prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction?
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 5:41 AM on September 13, 2020

Best answer: If it's a struggle finding something that encompasses the elements you're seeking, I'd love to start a group with you! I'm also wishing for a regular, virtual, BIPOC + QTPOC friendly writing group.
posted by travelingthyme at 5:46 AM on September 13, 2020 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'm also wishing for a regular, virtual, BIPOC + QTPOC friendly writing group.

I am a queer essayist and memoirist who has also been longing for a writing group. I am white but have made a strong effort over many years to be educated about people and communities of color, and to be anti-racist.

Otherwise I await people's answers about how to find a good writing online writing group.
posted by Orlop at 7:09 AM on September 13, 2020

Best answer: If you start one, I’d like to join. :)
posted by redlines at 7:41 AM on September 13, 2020

You want Discord. There's tons of writing groups there of varying sizes and focuses (you can search on Disboard to find one that fits your needs). I'm in a writing server that I think would be a good fit, though they don't let you share your writing immediately--you need to earn that by participating in the community first. I can send you (or anyone else) an invite to that server if you MeMail me, I don't think it's public on Disboard.
posted by brook horse at 7:45 AM on September 13, 2020 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions folks! I primarily write nonfiction/memoir but I dabble in short fiction as well.

travelingthyme, Orlop, redlines... let's do this! I'll send you all a memail once I have some lunch. :D
posted by nayantara at 9:58 AM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Memail me too, please! I'm a female writer of color working on a novel and I would love to find a writing group. Discord works well for this - there are options for timed sprints, themed channels, etc.
posted by wintersonata9 at 12:00 PM on September 13, 2020

Best answer: I'd like to join your writing group too! I'm a BIPOC writer. Also, my friend shared with me this link of a weekly Monday BIPOC virtual writing community.
posted by bubble tea time at 1:57 PM on September 13, 2020

Response by poster: Check your MeMail everyone! :)
posted by nayantara at 3:27 PM on September 13, 2020

The Internet Writing Workshop. Email based, so all you need is an email account to participate, wonderful people, and minimal required participation rules (but if you want feedback, you gotta give feedback). They have a non-fiction mailing list that seems to have heavy memoir traffic. At least worth a look. A number of published authors have passed their work through the IWW.
posted by lhauser at 8:24 PM on September 13, 2020