So, I'm to the point that I think it would be more healthy for me to interact with other actual writers. Instead of the pseudo-writer at work, who is too busy with work/school/parenting but always has an opinion that either relates to Twilight or Hunger Games. And I love the Hunger Games. But there is more to read out there..
The problem I'm running into is that I, also, have little time. I have even less money. All the writing groups that are Google-able are card carrying, fee charging, 25+ miles away.
Does anyone belong to online writing groups? It seems ideal, but I'm wary for several reasons, the most innocent being that websites rise and fall faster than my bank balance. I've already been burned this year by a project where I was told that my ideas would be awesome, until I actually started submitting them.
Please "consult and advise" at will.
We all belong to an online writing group...? I landed here because I was in the same boat you are in. I belonged to a fantastic group on the East Coast, then moved a few times and can't find anything near me. If you just want cammaraderie, you're here already, great start. If you want people to read/critique your work in exchange for the same--you're here again!! You just have to join the workshop, which, yes, there is a fee--but it is worth it, because you have access to it whenever you have time, whether that be 3 am on a Wednesday or noon on a Satruday afternoon. And it's pretty cheap, I'd say. I think it's $45 for 6 months? Or you can pay monthly, which is $9. I've spent (way) more on Starbucks in a day.
You know, here's the thing about free--anyone can join and anyone will. IME, if you are really trying to make it work, you want to show your writing to people who are really trying to make it work. There are thousands of free online "writing" groups--and that's cool for someone who writes for fun, but if you want good, quality reviews, you want people who are invested enough to invest a few bucks a month. I like the workshop here because I don't worry about getting shitty reviews or people lifting my work--this is a group of people who act professionally in the workshop and wouldn't risk their integrity lifting someone else's work.
A free group? You're opening yourself up to receive critiques from anyone with an internet connection that may or may not be serious about writing and may or may not be a troll.
And, I always forget to mention, when you join the workshop here you get access to Chuck's 36 amazing essays which include exercises and assignments. Basically, you're getting a free "class" from Chuck P. I think it's worth the fee ten times over, if for nothing else, than knowing the people critiquing my work care enough about theirs to pay the fee (not saying you don't, just saying there are a lot of trolls on the web).
Critique Circle is free, and worth every penny.
Write Club is a year long group that is made up of members of The Velvet, The Cult, LitReactor. It's free, registration is in November, and if it is your first year in Write Club, you HAVE to write. The 20 to 30 or so members are assigned a group, unless you have one or two preferences of people you want to work with. We stay on each other's asses about writing and reviewing. Mostly everyone there is published whether in short stories/novellas/novels. For some, it is the only outlet to get a review of their work. You can only get what you put into it. Sorry I've not included any link, it would be pointless to go there now, because it is 100% private.
I appreciate the the feedback. And I also understand what you are saying, SparrowStark, but I thought it good taste to leave out all the details of my personal financial situation.
I had been trying to make a decision regarding what little windfall is going to come my way. And I will take the suggestion to join the pay part of the site.
However, it is not a financial situation I will be in for very long. So, I will be in the same boat when this is gone.
I'm also in the position that most in-person clubs are in the heart of the metro area (at least 30 minutes or more away) which not only my financial position, but personal family position, doesn't support right now. And it's something that I think I need at this stage, in addition to what can be offered, no matter which pay site I choose.
The spirit to keep writing and getting the time is a fight right now, I'm sure a majority of us know something about that.
I look forward to seeing everyone on the threads, and will enjoy the feedback!
I have the exact same problem. I used to have a great critque group, and we were all really great friends. I ruined that with a romantic relationship with one of our members. That ended, and I lost them all. Now, I can't find anyone. I even tried Craigslist, but the grammar in the responses were atrocious. Most people around here don't even read.
I would love to be able to have a local critique group. I've tried so many times it's pathetic. The local writers guild caters to romance writers who are just starting out, and it's scary. Worse still, my noirish, horrorific, pseudo-science-fiction stories generally are too radical from anything they've ever read, which means they rarely tread to far from the bestseller lists. Then having to sit through a meeting with someone who recently discovered Dan Brown makes me want to just get up and leave.
The local writers guild caters to romance writers who are just starting out, and it's scary. Worse still, my noirish, horrorific, pseudo-science-fiction stories generally are too radical from anything they've ever read, which means they rarely tread to far from the bestseller lists.
Heh. If I showed up, they'd probably call the police. That's a hurt feeling session waiting to happen.
Man, I understand being broke. I've been broke. I've been sleeping on friend's couch, riding a Wal-Mart bike for transportation broke, and I know $9 a month would have seemed insurmountable at that point. I don't know, I had my cool, meet in person once a month writer's group then and we kept in touch via YahooGroups in the meantime (is that a thing anymore?) and they didn't care when I showed up soaked in sweat from cycling ten miles to get there.
I guess in your shoes I would a)stick around here. Even if you can't workshop, we're awesome. It will at least help you connect with other writers and talk things out. b)find a forum with a free workshop and hope for the best. Get to know the forum and the people who post there before submitting anything and go with your gut. I wish you the best of luck. I hate when money holds me back from things I want (need) and I've been in the just enough money to (not really) scrape by stage more than once.