Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird
Chapters 18 & 19
Behind most successful authors there is a writing group (at least according to their novel’s acknowledgment section). But how does one find a writing group, and how do you get the most of out of one once you’re in?
In todays episode, we discuss the chapters “Writing Groups” and “Someone to Read your Drafts” from Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird. We also recall some WTF moments from our own writing workshops and address the dangers of toxic beta readers.
Want to hear more of our exercise workshop? We post the bonus podcast, SnarkNotes, and detailed write up of the exercises on our Words to Write by Patreon account.
The Words to Write by Process Group
Like Kim said in this episode: finding the right writing group is a lot like dating. You keep looking until you don’t have to look anymore.
On the podcast, we discussed our Words to Write by Process Group. While it’s not a workshop/critique session, we welcome all writers to gather and discuss any issues they are having in their writing pursuits (and it’s free). As we mentioned on the podcast, we promised to share our writer resource list here.
Writing Groups
Sitting down to write is all well and good, but at some point you’ll have to get someone to read that draft. In “Writing Groups,” Lamott laments and digresses (boy does she) about the sometimes empowering yet often times fickle, rude, and demoralizing Writing Workshop.
- Find some other writers either in class or online to submit work to each other every few weeks
- Turn in work on time and give each other feedback
- Optional: take turns destroying a draft with a baseball bat in a non-descript field of shattered dreams
- Group promptly disperses never to submit work or return to critique any.
What Not to Say in a Workshop
Lamott warns us with a story about a horrific workshop during which a person gave a critique that was TOO brutal to be effective. Next time you think of telling someone the plain honest TRUTH of someone’s work, just remember:
After sharing some horror stories on the podcast about workshops gone bad (here’s looking at you, Voldemort), we decided the best course: if you don’t know what to say about someone’s draft, then just say two nice things.
In other words, don’t be a jerk. Mean feedback will not transform a shitty draft into a good one. Destroying someone is not how skill acquisition works.
Someone to Read your Drafts
There’s another level of Hell down the hall from the writer’s workshop: Critique Partners. Similar to Beta Readers, Critique Partners will read a whole manuscript and give it a good kick in the teeth…I mean, your partner will read it carefully and offer advice. Finding one is a lot like trying to find workshop partners, only now you’re looking for someone with the stamina to read through and critique a whole manuscript.
Lamott likens certain partners as the trolls of the writing world. They destroy you in the nicest way possible. Yes, your Critique partner is supposed to help you. No, they are not there to throw it in the fire with a smile. But that’s not what writing’s about.
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