NaNoWriMo Series: Writing Tip #18

I'm probably the last person who should be giving advice about this topic, as I'm not very successful with participating in the writing groups/communities that I've joined/made, but it is still something that I aspire to start. Why? Well, when you're writing in the void of your own mind/room and are the ONLY writer in the house, you tend to have very few outlets to ask for feedback. Sure, you can always ask your best friend or your mom, but are they going to dive into the deeper questions of character development, setting, or grammar mistakes? Are they going to poke holes at the bigger picture? Probably not.

Believe me, I value the feedback of my squad and use their feedback to propel my writing from a consumer point of view. But nothing beats having a fellow writer pull your work apart with the knowledge they're only trying to make you better. I miss the days when I had access to my favorite Creative Writing teacher (sup Mr. Losa), mentors that I unintentionally annoyed into ghosting me, and fellow writing peers who would consistently rip me a new one about setting, dialogue, and whatever else they felt like pointing out back then. So, I encourage you to join any and all writing groups you can find until you find your people. I'm currently trying to start one on here, so feel free to join it and make a friend to share your work with. I'd love to do weekly feedback circles once we have enough people, but only time will tell when that will be. Until then, ask yourself a few of these questions to get you prepped for finding your people:

1. What would be the top benefit that you would want to obtain from joining a writing group?

2. Are you looking for one person to give you feedback or many?

3. Do you like associating with others when it comes to your written works? Why or why not?

4. Do you feel that you are at the place in your writing journey to even joining a group? Why or why not?

If you want to learn more NaNoWriMo tips, check out the 30 Days of Tips that will unfold this month. Can't wait? Then check out my mini-course on The Basics of Storytelling that's available for $1. I look forward to seeing you in whatever form I appear. Until next time.

About the Author

Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.