Genre Unity or Diverse Creativity? Which Critique Group Sparks Your Passion?

Should the members of your writing group work in the same genre as you do?

Joining a critique circle, where you get and give feedback on works-in-progress, can be a game changer. It can boost your creativity, keep you motivated, and inspire you. But choosing the right type of circle often comes down to two options: one that focuses strictly on the single genre that you're working in, or one that embraces various genres and formats.

Each type has its own benefits and challenges. Let’s explore the advantages and drawbacks of each to help you decide which group may be best for your writing journey.

The Beauty of Genre Unity in Your Critique Group

When you join a writing group that concentrates on one genre, you become part of a specialized community. One of the biggest benefits of genre unity is the chance to improve specific aspects of your craft in a focused setting. Writers in your group share similar goals and challenges.

For example, a romance writing group may discuss tropes, character development and pacing, which are crucial for successful storytelling in that genre. Members can provide in-depth feedback based on the nuances of romantic conventions. The group can also focus on genre trends, helping each other to stay on top of developments in the industry as readers' tastes evolve.

However, genre unity also has its downsides. Writers can become trapped in a creative bubble where innovative ideas may be stifled. For example, if a group of amateur sleuth mystery writers only focus on plots with humor, they might miss the opportunity to experiment with elements from other mystery styles or fantasy or even consider other publishing formats. The narrow focus can lead to groupthink, where unique voices blend into a single, conventional sound, limiting individual creativity, reinforcing the status quo and missing out on new developments in reading and writing.

The Joy of a Diverse Critique Group

A writing group made up of various genres presents a rich array of perspectives. This diversity can refresh your writing process. Being exposed to different styles may inspire you to blend genres or adopt techniques that you wouldn’t normally consider. For instance, a historical fiction writer might gain ideas for character development from a speculative fiction peer, or enrich their description and language choices from a buddy who is writing a memoir.

When writers from different backgrounds critique your work, they may highlight your strengths and weaknesses differently than those immersed in your genre. This fresh feedback can be invaluable and give you a broader lens through which to view your writing and help you reach more readers.

Nonetheless, diverse groups face challenges. It can be tough to apply feedback when everyone is writing in completely different styles. For example, advice that works well for mainstream literary fiction might not be useful for a poet. Or someone who is immersed in noir-ish police procedurals may not feel confident providing notes on medical thrillers. This disparity can lead to confusion and even frustration when trying to decide how to give feedback or listening to and selecting feedback that is relevant.

In fact, sometimes the members of this type of circle don't bond well. Individual writers feel disconnected from their writing buddies as their writing goals don’t align.

Finding Your Best Critique Group Fit

Ultimately, the choice between a genre-specific writing group and one that celebrates multiple genres depends on your creative aspirations and learning style.

Drawing on my own experiences, I've been a member of both types of groups. During COVID, when I was revising the first draft of a cozy mystery I had written, I benefited from a mystery-only critique circle. The narrow focus helped me learn more about how to craft a mystery.

But when I was experimenting with short speculative fiction, that narrow focus wasn't right for my work and I needed a different approach. For that material, I learned more from a diverse group that discussed several different fiction genres and formats.

So, here's a tip: Whichever critique circle you feel drawn to, sign up and give the group a probationary period. Track yourself and monitor how your work is going. See if you're thriving or feeling like something's not working for you. You can always step away from the group you're in and try a different circle that might be better suited to your creative needs. (If you have trouble finding a writing group, remember my book, The Write Group, has lots of suggestions.)

No matter which path you choose, the essence of joining a critique circle is about your growth, and feeling encouraged and delighted at sharing your passion for writing. If the group doesn't deliver on those promises, try another circle.

Which type of critique circle would you prefer? Let me know in the comments!