1. Careers
About.com
Fiction Writing

How to Form a Writing Group You'll Love

From , former About.com Guide

See More About:
Mystery writer Sandra Balzo published her first novel, Uncommon Grounds, after six years of rejection. What changed in those years? She found a good writing group: "Gary and Ted encouraged me to trust my instincts, so when I went back and rewrote, I didn't do it for the agents or the editors or even the hoped-for reader. I wrote for me," she says. "And darned if Ted and Gary weren't right. The book finally sold." How do you create a writing group that offers this kind of honest advice -- with the encouragement you need to implement it? The articles below offer guidance on starting a group of your own.

1. Find Writers for Your Writing Group.

Balzo found her writing group through an association, the Mystery Writers of America, but there are many ways to assemble a group. See what channels other writers, published and unpublished, have gone through in their search.

2. Decide on a Time and Place.

Once you've found writers, the next step, of course, is to decide where and when you'll be meeting. For some writing groups, these decisions fall into place naturally, but for others, a degree of resourcefulness is required. Consider options, and think about how to handle meeting times.

3. Establish Goals and Ground Rules.

Though this may seem obvious, with writing groups, especially ones in which writers have workshopping experience, it's tempting to just dive in. While nothing has to be set in stone, open up a discussion, even informally, of what people want to accomplish -- and how -- during your first session. Here are some things to consider in that initial meeting.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.