If it weren’t for my writing group, my work wouldn’t be what it is now.

Yet if I had brought my earliest, unedited chapters to them like a seller of unripened seeds, neither I nor my work would be what we are today.

Laying The Groundwork

I was on the third iteration of The Emissaries From Ebron, my debut epic fantasy novel, and was in the stages of rewriting it after receiving constructive criticism from paid editors I had hired from Fiverr when I found my writing group.

A few months prior I carefully formatted my manuscript as per the industry standards, and was confident my story worked. I spent a considerable sum of my month’s wage on finding three or four editors, and then waited for the feedback to trickle through. Some feedback was encouraging; others less so. Yet through it all I was given gold dust. I compiled the results and highlighted what needed to be fixed.

The most glaring issue of all was that my main character had no particular drive or skill that he could offer to his companions. In a way, that was the point: Auden Winslow was designed to be an ordinary man thrust into an extraordinary situation, like Bilbo Baggins thrust into the quest of journeying to Erebor at the behest of Gandalf, or Frodo when the Ringwraiths appear in quintessential English countryside hunting the One Ring. But because of this I gave him no drama. No conflict. He was an outsider amongst a company of men on a quest, and was treated as such throughout.

This forced me to confront a central question of the craft. Some masters, like Lee Child, claim character is king. Others insist that conflict reigns supreme. But why must they be warring factions? The truth is that they are two sides of the same coin: the most powerful storytelling emerges when the two unite: conflict born from character.

I had a fix in mind with the memorable quote from the poet Robert Frost:

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.”

- Robert Frost

I was going to ruin Auden Winslow’s life. And not only that: I was going to make his trauma the central conflict of the entire tale. It was going to impact every decision and every conversation he was going to have. All I needed now was a new audience to test it on.

The Scattering of The Seeds

Now, this wasn’t the dream of the Inklings being founded by astute scholars in the Eagle & Child pub in Oxford in the 1930s. Yet even the most humble beginnings can yield extraordinary fruit, as I discovered when I posted a simple request on Reddit asking if other like-minded authors were willing to give and receive critiques in exchange.

Like the gentle babbling of a brook in a slow waking wood, the replies came. Days later we found ourselves on a Discord server with a simple plan: each of the four members would take turns posting their latest chapter once a month, up to eight thousand words each. This created a fair economy: each member would give three critiques and, in turn, receive three for their own work.

Our fledgling group, however, struggled to find its rhythm. Like a garden bed unplanned and uncultivated, it lacked the structure needed for real growth. Members were at vastly different stages: some nurturing half-grown novels, others scattering short stories like seeds. Without consistent tending, commitment sadly withered. A first draft is a tender seedling; it requires a carefully prepared environment to have even a chance of surviving. I realised that our chaotic, come-and-go culture was fit only for the hardiest of plants. Thankfully, my own work, as well as the work of three others, were mature enough, having deep roots that had already weathered several storms of revision.

Thus from the ashes of the former arose the new writing group, and these newfound friends prompted me to think more about my work than any paid editor did. If it wasn’t for them, The Emissaries From Ebron would not be where it is today; and I am grateful we have remained good friends for the past three years, sharing this otherwise solitary journey together.

Even among the four of us, different seasons of creativity meant different needs. Sometimes I found myself sharing tentative first chapters when inspiration flagged, hoping for encouragement much like all growing things thirsting after water amid the throes of summer heat. At others I’ve required pruning advice for overgrown manuscripts and scenes.

Through these varied needs, we discovered something more valuable than uniformity and perfection: we have the structure to be consistent, the understanding to be compassionate, and the open forum to speak our hearts regarding our journeys. These are the right conditions for work and companionship to grow and flourish and become a source of shared joy for years.

Cultivating Your Own Garden

Four writers in a group is the maximum I would suggest. Think of it like the seasons, which themselves have a natural rhythm: each distinct voice has its time to be heard: each manuscript receives the attention it needs to grow.

If you are to search for a writing group, be patient in finding your members. It can be a frustrating experience that tests even the most patient of people, but provided you treat one another with professionalism and respect, you will cultivate a culture in which your work and relationships will nourish one another and thrive. Whether you meet fellow writers at the local café, through college, or via social media, your experience will inevitably vary. But the same rules will apply. Rest assured - there are always kindred spirits to be found, like rare flowers growing wild in the most unexpected of places. You only need exercise patience in finding them.

This patience shouldn’t wane once you’ve found your group. Continue to exercise it, as well as an understanding of where people are in life. Never forget that the rhythms of life never stop, even for a moment. People get married. People have children. People move. People become ill. People, sadly, die. Be understanding. Be patient. If they have neither submitted their work nor a critique for a little while, provided they’ve given sufficient reason (and they themselves haven’t died), there shouldn’t be a problem - unless it becomes a substantial pattern. Then perhaps offer a word of encouragement or ask how you can help.

And this encouragement shouldn’t be reserved for times of crisis, either. Be encouraging - always. It is the duty of every scholar of any craft, not only the writing craft, to build upon others’ work, and to never tear it down. A critique should be professional and clear, not heaping praise undeservedly, nor being overly harsh in the write-up or inline-comments. It’s a simple rule: treat others how you wish to be treated. What’s the style of critique you would like to receive? If something isn’t working in someone’s manuscript, evaluate and explain why, and go as far as offering suggestions on how to fix it for you, the Reader.

But perhaps most importantly of all: have fun. The writing career is a solitary one. Working alone can sound like a welcome retreat for fellow introverts away from all the business and noise of the modern machine-driven life, but we are stronger together. The members of your writing group will not only be your colleagues - they’ll also be your long-term friends. The Inklings met in a pub. They ate and drank and laughed and read aloud together. Share your highs as well as your lows. Don’t be overly pretentious and think you’re the next coming of one of the Greats. Ask questions, make jokes, and keep the encouraging conversations of the craft flowing. In so doing, you’ll keep your fellows on an even keel, but more importantly - they’ll keep you honest with your own work and progress as well.

The Greenhouse Effect

As with a fruit tree, and like with a manuscript, a writing group needs constructive criticism to improve, grow, mature, and bear fruit enjoyable for years. Sometimes that includes a little pruning here and there - painful at the time, but necessary to flourish. Imperatively, the group must be a cultivated culture in which first drafts can not only grow but thrive. A writer doesn’t live from one book alone; the sole purpose of each book is to sell the next. A writing group is like a greenhouse built with friends - after the building, we only need to nurture the seedlings, feed, grow, prune, plant out and enjoy for the summer, and prepare for next year’s growth.