How to Join My
Free Zoom Writers' Group
How my free writers' group works
If you’re interested in joining my free Writers Roundtable Critique (WRC), before you do so, please read the following information and guidelines to understand expectations and how the group works.
What we are not
These are not workshops, coaching, or encouragement sessions to motivate you as a writer. Writers write, so I don’t assign prompts. I assume you’re focused on a project, and sharing that project with the group will be very helpful to you.
While these sessions are not specifically designed to build an online community, you might establish connections with other writers, perhaps developing a network of beta readers.
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What is expected of group members
For a group to be successful, it needs to function within a minimally defined structure. This is a moderated group, and I make sure everyone has their chance to offer input. While you may present any subject matter or genre, I moderate what specific content is presented to the group. Here are the content and participation guidelines.
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What the Writers’ Roundtable Critique Group Does
The WRC is a read-and-critique format. One writer reads a short piece to the other writers followed by a roundtable critique of the piece. The goal is to help you write better through better critique and editing—not debating the content.
Meeting length is two hours each week. Up to three writers (presenters) will each read a maximum of 1,500 words or about 10 minutes of reading time, followed by roughly 30 minutes of group critique.
Critique will focus on how well the writing expresses the intent—not the content. We critique and discuss the structure of your writing with an eye on developmental editing considerations.
This is an open group with a public audience. While any subject matter or genre is acceptable, please gauge your content to the audience. We critique fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, scripts, and posts.
What you write about is up to you. I will moderate content in the best interest of the group members based on the following guidelines for writers.​
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No gratuitous violence: If your character gleefully tortures and murders victims in graphic detail, you’ll need to share different material. However, if someone’s murdered or gets hurt in an accident, contextual rage, gore and descriptive violence would be expected and accepted.
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No disparaging content: Don’t share content disparaging anyone based on racial, sexual, gender, political, or religious bias. For example, a story focused on hating a particular race is unacceptable. However, you may present a character or situation that’s racially motivated. The group’s focus is on the craft of writing. Politics and other social issues are not the group’s concerns.
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Sexual content: No pornography. However, sexual content in the context of the characters or situations in your work may be acceptable—if it doesn’t reach gratuitous levels. Again, keep in mind your audience when reading sexual content.
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Language: Let context be your guide. If your character or situation warrants foul or offensive language, that’s acceptable. However, the narrator should avoid gratuitous offensive language for its own sake.
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​Likewise, anyone considering joining the WRC should expect that adult subjects including violence, language, and sexual content may be read and discussed in the group.
How the Writers’ Roundtable Critique Group Operates
The WRC is a weekly two-hour Zoom meeting. A recurring meeting ID and password will be made available for any writer to join. Based on experience, the maximum practical group size is ten participants. Therefore, there will be ten seats at the roundtable for active participants.
Being an open meeting, seats at the table are based on the writer’s Zoom meeting login order. The first ten will get a seat at the table. If there are more than ten people logged into the meeting, they may watch and listen but cannot participate in the critique—they are the silent audience.
Anytime a participant leaves the table before the meeting is over, the audience member next in line will get that vacant seat at the table, becoming a participant.
If you wish to have a seat at the table, I suggest you login to the meeting before the scheduled start time.
If a writer wants to share their work with the group, they will email me their piece. As with seats at the table, sharing your work is on a first come first read order. Each week there may be up to three presenters at the table.
During the Zoom meeting using the presenter view, the presenter shares their MS Word, Adobe Acrobat, or Google Docs window with the Zoom audience. Group members will be able to follow along with the reading. There will be no distributed copies in the free WRC group.
I will notify the selected presenters by email when it’s their turn to read to the group. I will also notify backup readers in case a scheduled presenter doesn’t show up. If there’s no presenter, I’ll present writing for critique.
During the read-and-critique segments I’ll call on each participant to offer their critique. Critique length of each piece will be determined by the number of participants at the table.
I run the Zoom meeting and will control who is admitted to the roundtable. Participants have their microphones and cameras on. Audience members can have their camera on, but their microphones will remain muted. I reserve the right to remove and/or block anyone who is rude and/or violates the above guidelines.​​​
Group Interactions
I expect everyone will be polite and respectful. Treat the other members as you would expect to be treated. The unique perspective of the writers is just one reason the group is so valuable. Please consider the following:
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Constructive criticism only: Don’t say, “I don’t like it,” without citing an example and suggestions. Try and cite something you liked and why. Keep an open mind and listen to how the piece is written, not necessarily what it’s about. Don’t say, “I don’t read sci-fi, so I have no opinion.” It’s not the subject but the writing we critique.
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Don’t feel you have to say everything you notice: Leave something for the other participants to critique. During each critique, focus on the several points that are most important. With three to five minutes per person keep comments pithy.
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Leave your ego at the door: Don’t take it personally if sharing your creative work and opinions they’re not received as expected. Avoid being defensive. It may prevent hearing valuable input intended to help you write better..
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It's your story
Given the group members have different opinions, the feedback can be all over the place. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the critique and you may want to throw up your hands. Don't. In the end it's your story and you'll choose what critique to accept and what to ignore.
I work to keep the discussion flowing and make sure everyone is heard. While the object is to improve your critiquing and editing skills while getting input on your writing, having fun being able to talk with other writers is a big part of free WRC group. If this format sounds right for you, please select one of the buttons below. By selecting either option, you agree to the terms and guidelines listed above.