The reputation of writing groups has, for some time, been quite negative.

They seem from the outside to be quite impenetrable and filled with judgemental and critical writers that offer no kind of support to new members. I have been a member of many writing groups throughout the years, and so this reputation, in my experience, is quite unfair. Writing groups are no different from any other group - there are good and bad ones - but you should not dismiss the idea of joining one totally just because of one bad experience. Being a writer as a profession can be quite a lonely experience and that is why it is vital for any writer to share ideas with like-minded individuals. Each writing group I have been a member of offered different things to different members, you just have to decide what exactly you are looking for. High quality writing groups, however, will not come looking for you; you have to search them out and try many before you finally find a group that you feel comfortable with. You will receive support, constructive feedback on your work and find a safe place to share ideas and thoughts.   

Before you begin your search for a suitable writing group, however, there are some points to consider before making contact with a group. 

What do you want to gain from being a member of the group? Are you looking for a group to boost your ego, or give you an honest critique of your work? If you genuinely want to improve your craft, then you must avoid the ego stroking groups at all costs. There is always room to improve your work, as even the best-published books will include some errors. You will only learn to become a better writer if you are willing to take constructive feedback from others. There are some groups that will offer feedback and tell you what they liked and didn't like about your work. The best groups, however, are the ones that will not only give you constructive feedback, but offer you solutions to repair the sections of your work that either do not make any sense or could be improved.

For example, when I had just completed the draft of my recent screenplay, I received some great comments from my writing group that totally changed the direction of the script but the result was much better for it. In fact, the changes sparked a great deal of new interest from producers. The dialogue from the lead male character was too feminine and, with the help of the male members of the group, the character became much more authentic. Also, the conflict between the protagonist and her mother became the main focus of the storyline because that toxic relationship affected everything the protagonist thought and was the cause for her to act in such a destructive manner. 

What do you look for in a group? You need to find a group that shares your interest in the genre you specialize in. The members of your chosen group must not only share your passion for your chosen subject, but also understand your work. It is often a huge bonus if the members of your group specialize in certain areas, such as plot and character development or building conflict in the story.  

If you are going to gain the most out of being a member of a writing group, then you must be able to distance yourself from your work and take the critique with positivity. How else are you going to improve?