When people ask what I do for a living, I’ve learned to say I’m a content writer, and if they give me a blank look, I add, “I write for publications, websites, and corporate social media … marketing writing.” If I just say I’m a writer, the inevitable next question is, “Oh! You write books?”
So it is not surprising that I’d never been to a writers’ group. But that changed this past weekend, when I attended one at Books-A-Million in Casselberry, Florida. I went as a guest of a friend who writes memoirs and short stories. One member of the group is writing a murder-mystery novel. Another writes about travel and mostly nonfiction. And another member focuses more on entertaining and humorous fiction.
These writers don’t always know when (or if) their pieces will be published, thus writing group critiques are important for both editing and conceptualizing. The more sets of eyes that see a piece of writing, the better, with the craft of writing being more front and center.
As a writer for hire, when I get an assignment, I already know where the piece is going: whether it is a corporate newsletter, press release or business journal. I know my article or blog entry will be edited by at least one person. I know the story the client is looking to tell, how they like their brand portrayed, and key words that should be incorporated.
The writers’ critique group was a great opportunity however, to revisit the foundations of writing and witness how great phrases come together, sometimes collaboratively; to see how objective reviews of work can vary, depending on other people’s insights and perspectives; and how the struggles writers face are always better when shared.