Yes, I'd love to hear advice on finding an appropriate writing partner or small critique group. I've never searched for anyone, but I would love to have that. I just want someone at a similar level as me...unless you don't think that matters?
Finding a writing partner that's in a similar place in their writing life to you is important. There's a lot we can learn from both people who are just starting out and people who are further along in their careers than us, but I've had the most success in writing partnerships where we're in similar stages when it comes to experience and commitment to writing.
Along with that, there are also a lot of different types of writing partnerships. For me, I put writing partnerships in one of two categories:
1. Critique
2. Personal/Professional Development
I've always found critique partners in the classes I've attended. If someone's work and feedback (it's really important for it to be both!) resonated with me, I always contacted them outside of class and asked if they'd be open to a manuscript exchange. Not everyone has access to educational settings like this, so it's important to mention that I've also found Twitter to be a great, accessible spot to meet likeminded writers.
When it comes to personal/professional development groups, I've also found Twitter to be a great place to meet people. Our group started when one person tweeted that they were looking to start a group chat with BIPOC writers. Eight people responded to their tweet, and they put all of us in a group chat. That was three years ago, and we've been supporting each other's writing lives by sharing professional advice and hanging out in our GC/Discord server together ever since. We don't really exchange work with each other, though that option is on the table. Our priority is mostly just friendship and emotional and professional support. This type of partnership is great when people are at different stages in their writing lives.
I also have another group that I met through a past fellowship. This group has more of a professional structure whereas my other group is more social. With my professional development group, we set writing intentions and meet once a month to discuss how our writing is going and the professional writing problems we're trying to solve. At the end of each call, we set new intentions for the next month. We also have an email thread where we share good news and generally keep in touch.
I'll do a post in the future that goes into more detail about how to foster these relationships. Hope this helps for now!
My hand is aching already, and I haven't even started writing by hand. I am amazed. Also, I read somewhere that E. M. Forster (hey, everybody wrote by hand back then!) wrote 500 words a day and then stopped. I should do so well.
Yes, I'd love to hear advice on finding an appropriate writing partner or small critique group. I've never searched for anyone, but I would love to have that. I just want someone at a similar level as me...unless you don't think that matters?
Finding a writing partner that's in a similar place in their writing life to you is important. There's a lot we can learn from both people who are just starting out and people who are further along in their careers than us, but I've had the most success in writing partnerships where we're in similar stages when it comes to experience and commitment to writing.
Along with that, there are also a lot of different types of writing partnerships. For me, I put writing partnerships in one of two categories:
1. Critique
2. Personal/Professional Development
I've always found critique partners in the classes I've attended. If someone's work and feedback (it's really important for it to be both!) resonated with me, I always contacted them outside of class and asked if they'd be open to a manuscript exchange. Not everyone has access to educational settings like this, so it's important to mention that I've also found Twitter to be a great, accessible spot to meet likeminded writers.
When it comes to personal/professional development groups, I've also found Twitter to be a great place to meet people. Our group started when one person tweeted that they were looking to start a group chat with BIPOC writers. Eight people responded to their tweet, and they put all of us in a group chat. That was three years ago, and we've been supporting each other's writing lives by sharing professional advice and hanging out in our GC/Discord server together ever since. We don't really exchange work with each other, though that option is on the table. Our priority is mostly just friendship and emotional and professional support. This type of partnership is great when people are at different stages in their writing lives.
I also have another group that I met through a past fellowship. This group has more of a professional structure whereas my other group is more social. With my professional development group, we set writing intentions and meet once a month to discuss how our writing is going and the professional writing problems we're trying to solve. At the end of each call, we set new intentions for the next month. We also have an email thread where we share good news and generally keep in touch.
I'll do a post in the future that goes into more detail about how to foster these relationships. Hope this helps for now!
This is very helpful, Kat. I wasn't expecting an immediate answer!
My hand is aching already, and I haven't even started writing by hand. I am amazed. Also, I read somewhere that E. M. Forster (hey, everybody wrote by hand back then!) wrote 500 words a day and then stopped. I should do so well.
This kind of revision is hard on your hands, that's for sure!