Читать книгу About Writing and How to Publish - Cathy Glass, Cathy Glass - Страница 17

Most towns have at least one local writing group. They usually meet weekly in an informal setting, such as a room over a pub, a corner of a café or a member’s home. These groups are not usually tutor-led as writing courses are, but consist mainly of fledgling writers such as yourself, and offer the opportunity for members to read their work and receive feedback from the other members. Those attending are often unpublished authors, or have a little experience of being published or (increasingly) are self-published, which is worth remembering when you are considering their opinions on your work. Writing groups vary in their success. Some are well established and chaired effectively, and their members offer constructive criticism on work presented to the group, while others can be quite destructive, with opinions being egotistical and even vicious. If you feel uncomfortable in a group, or that the criticism offered on your work isn’t helpful, then leave the group and find another one. There are plenty. Writing groups advertise on the internet, on notice boards in local libraries, colleges and community centres, and in local magazines and newspapers.

Online writing communities

These are website-based and offer members the chance to post and share their work with other members online. There are many of these groups – thousands – large and small, with some more established and sophisticated than others. A few are hosted by publishing companies who also run writing competitions and will consider the work of some of the members. These chosen few are usually selected by other members through a voting system of positive reviews of the piece of work posted. Some of those selected are also published.

Writing can be a very lonely experience, especially when you first start, and these online writing communities can be morale-boosting and supportive, as well as offering feedback on your work. As with any writing group, you should give your opinions on other members’ works kindly, politely and considerately, and receive their opinions on your work dispassionately, professionally and objectively. Because of the anonymity the internet allows, reviews online can sometimes become very personal and even vindictive. As with a local writing group, if you feel uncomfortable about the way you are treated in one of these online writing communities, or that the criticism posted about your work isn’t helpful, then leave by closing your account, and go elsewhere. Writing and sharing your work should be fun.