MeFi Writer's Group is back

November 13, 2007 6:03 PM

The MeFi Writer's Group has been resurrected yet again...

Greetings all,

I thought the MeFi Writer's Group is a great idea, and have created a Google Group for this purpose. So, come one, come all. The group itself is called MeFi Writer's Group. If you can't find it, mail me and I'll send you an invite.

I'm not placing any restrictions as far as genre. If any of the folks involved with past groups want to post with advice on how to make it work this time, please do.

posted by reenum to MetaFilter-related at 6:03 PM (33 comments total)

Um, maybe if you want people to show up, put in a link to where it is?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:11 PM on November 13, 2007

I'm not placing any restrictions as far as genre.

Sweet. Who wants to read chapters of my dissertation?


*crickets chirp*
posted by felix betachat at 6:36 PM on November 13, 2007

I've only been a member of in-person writing groups organized by companies I trusted. (Or mostly trusted. Or was compensated to trust.) In any case, just wondering how online writing groups work. What is the primary focus? Motivation to hit deadlines? Feedback on material? Sharing of information/opportunities? Something else entirely?
posted by typewriter at 7:00 PM on November 13, 2007

So sorry, here is the link.

MeFi Writer's Group
posted by reenum at 7:35 PM on November 13, 2007

Anyone around here doing that 'national novel writing month'? It would be this month but it hasn't gotten the hype it used to.
posted by delmoi at 7:56 PM on November 13, 2007

Heh, I'm with typewriter.
posted by snsranch at 7:58 PM on November 13, 2007

delmoi, there was a post about NaNoWriMo a little while back.

As for an online group, I'm having a hard time finding time for my real life writing groups, so I'm not sure.
posted by never used baby shoes at 9:07 PM on November 13, 2007

Sign me up, what the heck.
posted by wendell at 10:01 PM on November 13, 2007

Look everybody, Hemingway has a sock puppet!
posted by felix betachat at 10:25 PM on November 13, 2007

I had a lot to say, when this came up last week. As I said before though - big flaming hypocrite, so I'll probably give it a go.
posted by Happy Dave at 3:45 AM on November 14, 2007

I'm doing National Novel Writing Month. That's what got me on this writer's group kick in the first place.
posted by reenum at 5:22 AM on November 14, 2007

I like the idea, but experiences from the last attempt:
1. Everyone wants to write, no one wants to read.
2. Deadlines are essential, but once per week is entirely too often.
3. Some sort of focus or theme or something is also important.

That last is just opinion, really. I don't think the other group tried completely open ended, at least not during my brief participation, but I think the narrartive focus was important.
posted by absalom at 6:14 AM on November 14, 2007

Oh, and please complete NaNo before jumping into another writing project. From my own experience, 50k in 30 days is work enough.
posted by absalom at 6:15 AM on November 14, 2007

The best online writing group I've been a part of had no deadline, but a 3:1 ratio (critiques to submissions). There were a few moderators, but the place mostly self-policed, like Mefi. I think it worked well.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 6:22 AM on November 14, 2007

@Terminal Verbosity: Your suggestion is a good one. I will make that a rule for the group. 3 critiques for every submission you make.

@absalom: Do you think we should have something like a bi-monthly writer's prompt? I think that asking people to write 2500 words twice a month isn't too much to ask. Hell, I'm doing 1667 a day on NaNo and that only takes a couple of hours at most.
posted by reenum at 7:23 AM on November 14, 2007

I agree that some sort of mandated criticism is a great idea. It cropped up in discussions of how to fix the last one, and many people - myself included, to the best of my memory - were against it. Mostly, I was afraid of a lot of "This was great!" type of non-criticism. Still concerned about that, but that's something that can be addressed if the project takes on some sort of success.

The last one did things weekly, which I think was way to frenetic. Constant submissions with no time to digest or discuss. (In my case, I think that was probably a net gain). Prompts may or may not be necessary, but I kind of like general guidelines if only to focus my thoughts and/or to see other people's takes on the same idea.

Honestly, as far as dedicated themes go, I could go either way, but I do think nothing more frequent than bi-monthly. While I think that open ended posts might appeal to the general MeFi philosophy (whatever THAT means!), I think deadlines etc. are necessary to prevent death by procrastination.
posted by absalom at 7:58 AM on November 14, 2007

I could make the themes suggestions for those who are in need of a topic.

I'll make a bi-monthly submission requirement. It should be a good way to get things moving.
posted by reenum at 8:01 AM on November 14, 2007

I will make that a rule for the group. 3 critiques for every submission you make.

That sounds like hell and gets to the heart of writing group problems. People generally want feedback on *their* stuff, not so much reading other peoples stuff, especially if they've read the author's previous writing and don't like it. Then it's just chores and people are dashing off comments just to get their chores over with.

Maybe you could let the stories be on the general web, so ANYONE could comment on the stories. If it's populated by Mefi peeps you could do a weekly or bi monthly MetaTalk post letting people know that new writings are up and inviting the Mefi community at large to read and comment on the story.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:06 AM on November 14, 2007

Whatever you decide, I'd say don't rush into it. Slow down. Drink some coffee. Take a deep breath. Let the thread and discussion develop. Brainstorm and outline your ideas about rules and how you want to do it, then set out implimenting the ideas.

BB has an interesting idea, insofar as making it an un-official official site, like MeCa, that is affiliated but independent and freestanding.
posted by absalom at 8:19 AM on November 14, 2007

I still it think it would be good to have members have to do so critiquing but not make it a hard and fast rule. 2 or 3 stories a month and encourage more thoughtful critiques.

This means you, or someone, would have to be "the heavy" at times and say Hey, BB, you're not doing many critiques, could take a look at few stories and offer you opinion"

But I like the making a regular Metatalk post idea, as long as it's kept to 2 or 3 a month at most.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:28 AM on November 14, 2007

...still pending.... Unsign me up at once
could make the themes suggestions for those who are in need of a topic.

god unsign me at once...frikking amatuer hour
posted by clavdivs at 8:42 AM on November 14, 2007

Keep the ideas coming. I'll have to take them all into account.

Do you think people might have an issue with their writing being up for anyone to see?
posted by reenum at 8:43 AM on November 14, 2007

Sorry you feel that way, clavdivs. Most of us are amateurs, and I'm just trying to facilitate people actually writing, instead of just thinking about it.
posted by reenum at 8:45 AM on November 14, 2007

god unsign me at once...frikking amatuer hour

me too i only want to work with great writurs
posted by brain_drain at 8:53 AM on November 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

Aw crap, I misread it as Notional Novel Writing Month.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:58 AM on November 14, 2007

Do you think people might have an issue with their writing being up for anyone to see?

Either they want feedback or they don't.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:07 AM on November 14, 2007

Good one, brain_drain. :)
posted by reenum at 9:23 AM on November 14, 2007

@Brandon: I like your idea of 2 to 3 stories a month. That definitely makes it easier to keep on top of who needs to get some critiques out.

This will be a change I will consider. I want to leave this thread open through Friday, so I can get as many constructive suggestions as possible. Then, I can get to the business of actually structuring the group in a way that will be useful to everyone.
posted by reenum at 9:25 AM on November 14, 2007

All IMHO, of course:

Absolutely hardwire a 1/3 ratio. In fact, make it more fascist and make a feedback minimum word limit of 200 words (otherwise it's really just a comment). The group aspect is about using feedback to improve, not getting an audience - that's what spammail address lists are for. It also helps to have this settled upfront so people know what they're committing to. And it will take a comittment - otherwise it's the death of 1000 other ways to procrastinate with a keyboard (see previous attempt) . I'd rather have four committed people than twenty folks who show up once every three months. Sometimes stability is better than raw numbers.

Also - keep it private as it kills the issue of later publication rights etc before it can become a problem. Plus - if feedback leads to a rewrite, you don't necessarily want the first draft floating around the internets.

Biweekly subs works for me.

Clavdivs is a big meany who should shut his piehole.
posted by Sparx at 9:33 AM on November 14, 2007

writing.metafilter.com

50% content, 50% comments, 50% snark, 100% stuff!
posted by blue_beetle at 10:19 AM on November 14, 2007

As far as everyone being able to see it: doesn't that mean you can't get it published anywhere else?
posted by Hypocrite_Lecteur at 11:55 AM on November 14, 2007

I'm going to pass, but good luck!
posted by typewriter at 7:06 AM on November 15, 2007

@typewriter: I'm sorry I didn't respond to your earlier post. As I envision it, the writer's group we have created will be a place where each member can get meaningful critiques that will then help that person improve his/her writing.

I'm not really interested in it being a place for casual posting of stories. I know we'll have some attrition, but hopefully we can keep a solid core of people in the group. I'd ideally like there to be 15-20 dedicated writers in there.

Even though you don't want to do it now, if you ever change your mind, you are more than welcome.
posted by reenum at 4:26 PM on November 15, 2007