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2 Hacks to Use a Writing Group to Strengthen Your Craft

Writer's picture: J.H. JonesJ.H. Jones
A diverse group of writers engaging in vibrant discussion over notes and story outlines.
Engaged writers sharing feedback and ideas in a collaborative setting.

Let's say you're contemplating joining a group that exchanges manuscripts. Let's also say that you're holding back from jumping in because the thought of sharing your whole work-in-progress, section by section or chapter by chapter, feels uncomfortable.


That's why I'm letting you in on a couple of hacks two authors told me about.


Both authors did not go through their complete manuscripts with their writer groups for a variety of reasons. At the same time, the authors valued putting a few fresh eyes on their works-in-progress. So, here's what they did:


Testing Your Story Outline


The first author is a plotter and likes to outline his novel in detail as part of his process, before writing his first draft. He uses his writing group to test his story outline in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. According to this writer, sharing his outline not only ignites discussion but also opens the door to fresh perspectives.


I know there are many discovery writers out there and not everyone writes a story outline, but if you do, sharing your outline delivers a benefit. You get early input and can adjust, if you hear ideas you like or concerns you need to address, before you spend a lot of time developing your story in a particular direction that won't work.


Consider this: you present your characters, conflicts, and plot points to your group. Feedback from your peers can reveal potential plot holes or suggest intriguing twists you never considered. For example, one member might highlight a character's motivation that feels weak, prompting you to flesh it out better when you write your draft. Another might express confusion about a proposed scene, leading you to introduce a different action when you get to that point in your work-in-progress. Of course, as always, you can cherry pick the commentary you want to listen to and ignore the rest.


The diverse experiences of writing group members enhance this exchange. A group with varied reading backgrounds ensures you get a holistic view of your outline. And when you're ready to write your draft, the different points of view help transform the personal vision you've sketched into a captivating narrative that resonates with readers.


Improving Your Dialogue Skills


The second author said to me that dialogue can make or break a story. So, even though she's written several books, she continues to pay attention to her dialogue. And one effective way she keeps her eye on it is by having members of her writing group read her dialogue sections aloud.


This exercise helps you catch awkward phrasing and identify flaws that are easy to overlook when you read your own material, whether you read silently or out loud, or have an AI voice read your dialogue to you.


As your writing group buddies voice the back-and-forth, listen intently. Does it feel genuine to your characters? Are your characters’ voices distinct and true to their personalities? Does the dialogue exchange move the story forward?


Take a scene where two characters argue about a crucial decision. Hearing it read aloud could reveal a problem, such as, one character sounds too formal during an emotional moment. This insight can guide you in making that character's words more fluid and relatable when you revise your draft.


Not only does listening to your own dialogue help you, but volunteering to read another writer's dialogue is also useful. You get exposure to a writing style different from your own. And you can observe how your buddy constructs dialogue and take note of variations in tone, pacing, and emotional depth.


Without sharing your full manuscript, these are two ways that you can use your writing group to improve your writing skills. If you have other experiences, let me know in the comments!






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