How to Find a Writing Group
How to Find a Writing Group
"My New Age friends claim that they've started groups by just 'putting it out to the universe.' Now, I love this sort of talk; I always picture the universe hearing the call, and flipping breathlessly through its little Rolodex, because these friends have all ended up in flourishing writing groups. So who's to say?”
–– Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird: Some Instruction on Writing & Life
Grace Bialecki is a writer, editor, workshop facilitator, meditation teacher who inspires artists to be present in their lives and with the work. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to learn more about working together.
How to Find a Writing Group Online
An online writing group – also called a writer’s workshop, critique group, or writing club – is an easy way to meet other writers, share your work digitally (often via Google Drive), and receive feedback from miles away. If you join a larger writer’s group, keep in mind that you can also form a smaller group from folks whose work resonates with you. Here are a few places to look for virtual groups:
Eventbrite, search for “writing workshop.”
Inked Voices has dozens of groups based on genre, experience, and style (drop-in vs scheduled).
The Write Time (a workshop for adult writers of all genres, run by me)
Drop-In Writing Circles (online and in-person at Hugo House in Seattle, for example).
Drop-in Classes (online and in-person at Brooklyn Poets, for example).
Ask your writer friends if they’ve heard of anything – never underestimate the power of your network. Or gather a few writers together and start your own.
How to Find an Local or In-Person Writing Group
Prefer to meet in person? Looking for a writing group or writer’s workshop near you? Yes, it’s old-school, but if you’re looking for the support of a local writing group, many libraries and bookstores may already be hosting workshops. Here’s how to figure out what they’re offering:
Ask the librarian, bookseller, or check out their bulletin board for upcoming meetings.
Check their website and see what’s listed under upcoming events.
Follow their social media and see what workshops they may (or may not be) offering.
Audacious step: ask the librarian (or bookseller) if you could start a drop-in writers group and see who shows up.
Start with a Writing Class
You’re guaranteed to find other writers who’re serious about their craft if they’ve signed up for writing classes. Just make sure to choose a topic that fits your genre and the writing you’re hoping to workshop. Here are a few reputable writing organizations to check out:
Hugo House, based in Seattle (online and in-person)
Grubstreet, based in Boston (online and in-person)
The Loft Literary Center, based in Minneapolis (online and in-person)
Sackett Street Writers, based in New York City (online and in-person)
Still looking for a writing group? Or wondering where to find a writer’s workshop? I’ll be starting my next eight-week online group in January 2027. We’re open to all-levels, including beginner writers.
Wait, do I even need a writing group?
Yes, you need deadlines.
You need support — a good writing group will tell you what’s working, as well as what isn’t.
Speaking of which, you need to know if you writing makes sense, is boring, or is trying too hard.
Lastly, what few people realize – editing other people’s writing will make you a better writer.
Bonus Writing Group FAQs
What do I do at my first meeting?
The best approach is to audit the group and not submit your own work. This way, you can listen to how they give/receive feedback and see how it would feel to hear similar comments about your writing. Remember, not all writing groups are created equal, and it’s important that you feel safe and supported by your peers.
On the other hand, some long-running groups may feel too casual. As writers get to know each other, the critique group may feel more like a writer’s club, or a place where folks come to talk, rather than give feedback.
Do I need to join a writing group in my genre?
Again, it depends on the group. If you’re the sole poet in a group of novelists, they may not be the best reader for your taut lines. At the same time, if writers are bringing flash fiction and creative non-fiction, your epic poems might fit right in. If you’re in doubt, check with the other group members and bring a piece in for a test critique.
What’s the difference between a writing workshop and a writer’s group?
These names are interchangeable and often refer to the same type of group. That said, a writing workshop usually means that pieces are read and critiqued, where a writer’s group can be geared toward sharing your writing with others – with less of an emphasis on feedback.
How it started…
Back in the fall of 2019, I was one draft into my second novel and in need of help. I’d ripped down and re-written my first book many times over, and was loathe to repeat that excruciating process. Ongoing feedback would save me from the sickening revelation that I’d spent months writing in the wrong direction.
I wanted a writing group to help break the project into smaller pieces, give accountability and deadlines along the way, offer me constructive feedback, and imbue the gargantuan task of writing a novel with ease and some fun…yet I had no idea how to find one.
