Several articles on this site offer excellent advice about attending writers’ groups. This article doesn’t duplicate that information. Rather, it offers a suggestion for those who can’t find a suitable group to attend—start your own. Founding a group may be time consuming and labor intensive, but it’s well worth the effort.

For those who aren’t familiar with writers’ groups, they’re a fine way to get your writing critiqued for free. These face-to-face meetings typically occur weekly or every other week. (As of this writing, late 2020, meetings are held virtually, of course.) They consist of writers reading their stories out loud, usually for about 10 minutes. Everyone else then critiques the story.

A couple of friends and I started a group several years ago, and here is advice for starting your own:

1. Choose how to invite writers

Writers’ groups generally consist of a wide range of talent: published writers, newbies who show aptitude, and some whose talents may lie elsewhere. If that’s what you’re looking for, fine. But if you want only skilled writers, don’t cast a wide net; you’re going to get some people in the third category above. If you’re willing to let anyone in, try meetup.com or Facebook to solicit writers. If you want to limit members to those with a certain talent level, ask those in your circle of acquaintances and other writers’ groups you’re a member of.

2. Select where to meet

Libraries often offer free space, although they may close too early for an evening meeting. A private home may also work. I’d discourage meeting at a restaurant because customers are expected to buy something, and the expense may keep some from attending. (Again, virtual meetings currently are the only sensible and safe choice. You can use Zoom, Google Meet, WebEx, or similar software.)

3. Decide how members sign up for meetings

We created a Facebook page for this purpose. We also list the meeting location there. Encourage your members to sign up if they’re coming and cancel if they can’t make it. Everyone deserves to know how many people to expect.

4. Develop guidelines

It’s beyond the scope of this article to say what your guidelines should be. But here are a few issues you’ll need to address:

     What is the length of reading time?

     Should members bring hard copies? (Again, as of this writing it’s an irrelevant point because we only meet virtually. It works well to have writers email their copies to each other so each member can follow along on their own computer. Or the host can share his or her screen and display a copy.)

     Can first-time visitors read? Many groups prohibit this practice, reasoning that new attendees should get the lay of the land before being permitted to read.

     What is your policy regarding pornography and erotica?

      Is there a procedure for replying to critiques? Are readers allowed to respond?

5. Here are a few miscellaneous points:

Unless you go through a site such as meetup.com that charges fees, there’s no need to require payment from members.

You can specify requirements, such as “Each attendee must be at least partway through their first book.” Still, that won’t screen out everyone who may not be a productive member.

Looking ahead to when groups can meet in person again, it’s common for snacks to be served. The host can provide them, attendees can bring some or a combination of both.

I’ve been a member of three writers’ groups. The one my friends and I started is the most useful. So if you can’t find a writers’ group, or aren’t satisfied with the one you’re in, start your own.