I belong to a local writers group that meets once a month. It’s not for any specific genre (like RWA) or type (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, any writer can join), and it was free. I have been attending for about 18 months.
I’m beginning to wonder if I should continue. I don’t feel like I’m contributing all that much and their disdain at romance (my genre) is insulting at times.
I’ve made some friends there (and they follow this blog), but I really wonder if I’m doing me or anyone else any good by going. Critiquing someone’s work in about 10 minutes is not the way I work. So I really chalk it up to it being my problem, not anyone there (except for the snide remarks every now and again regarding paranormal romance).
So, when do you know it’s time to quit?
6 comments:
That's a tough one. It always suprises me when I run into snobbery against the romance genre. A whole lot of our lives are spent thinking about romance, so I think it's more than okay when our books represent some of that!
Stacy, I didn't realize you were unhappy with the group. I know we have a few members who love to express their genre bias (heck, I kid about sparkly vapires and zommbies but that's a running joke thing between Kimber and I) and we have a few who act as though their opinion is a gift from God, but for the most part I think the people there are really trying to be helpful and supportive. Of course, only you can decide if you're getting anything positive out of the group but I for one hope you stay with us.
If you feel.... bad, unhappy, dumber, frustrated, upset by what others say, weakened, unsure... and these outweigh.... happy, hyped up, strengthed afterwards, smarter, liked, admired.... then you should leaved the group. If the bad stuff outweighs the good stuff it's not a good situation. Especially when people look down their nose at you.
There is something to be said about meeting in person with a writing group but not at the expense of making you feel bad. Is there a way you can take the people you want into another group and meet at a different time and day without disrupting the first group? Then you could leave the first group altogether.
Jemi - Romance will always be my most favorite, it's why I write it. I think even if I attempted a horror book, it would have to have a romance in it, too. I'm a sucker that way.
Thanks for commenting!
Linda - I think the problem I'm having with the group is that we're not grouped by what we like. I was stuck with people who don't read romance and I actually brought something in. And critiquing their work was frustrating. I certainly didn't give them anything they could work with, because their work wasn't anything I would normally read.
I have a month to think about it anyway. Maybe I'll post something on the meet-up site stating I think we should be grouped by genre. It couldn't hurt, could it?
Thanks for commenting!
Anne - I do like meeting other writers in person, when the group is small (because I just don't function well in large groups). I think this one is just getting way too big (over 20 showed up). I now have (hopefully) three critique partners via e-mail. It would be great if we all lived close by, but right now I'll take what I can get.
Thanks for commenting!
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