Submitting your work to a writing group for the first time can be a daunting experience. At Manchester Speculative Fiction, we’ve helped many writers take this important step. Here are some tips to help you navigate your first submission with confidence.
Understanding Common Misconceptions
Beginning writers are often quite naïve. It’s not surprising. A fresh-faced, beginning writer can’t possibly have the experience of a grizzled veteran. Here’s a few of the myths we often see:
The Myth of Overnight Success
Many new writers have unrealistic expectations of how easy it is to write and publish a novel. The media fuel these ideas by writing stories about newly discovered geniuses gaining seven-figure advances for their first novel.
These stories are rarely based on reality. The truth is, most successful writers put in years of hard work before achieving their success.
See this post about the Myths and Reality of Publishing for more on just how tough a business publishing is.
The Fear of Idea Theft
Beginning writers often have two related misapprehensions:
- Being a writer is mostly about having a great idea for a novel
- People are going to steal their great idea unless they protect it carefully by, for example, not telling it to anyone.
However, this fear is unfounded. Here’s why:
- Other writers are focused on their own ideas.
- Writing groups (and the entire publishing industry) have a strong ethical code against plagiarism.
- Copyright protection is automatic and free in almost every country in the world.
Remember, there’s no shortage of great story ideas; it’s actually writing them that’s difficult.
Preparing for Feedback
The Reality Check
Beginning writers might not have shown their writing to anyone at all. Or maybe they showed it to their friends and family, who were naturally very positive, because that’s their job.
So they submit their writing to a writing group, expecting unstinting praise.
What they actually get is a reality check.
Although the critique group has nice things to say about their writing, they also spot some mistakes, have questions about the plot, wonder how strong the characters are, etc. etc.
In other words, they critique the story, which is, after all, what they’re supposed to be doing…
Responding to Critique
How you respond to feedback will significantly affect your writing journey. Here are three common reactions:
- Defensive: “Well, look, obviously you just didn’t get it. My story went over your heads because I’m a genius and you’re all idiots!”
- Constructive: “Hey, thanks, lots of great ideas there. Now I’ll go away and edit the story to make it even better. Cheers!”
- Defeatist: “I knew my story was awful. I’m such a terrible writer. I should just give up. I’ll never make it. You’ve shattered my dreams of being an author!”
Which of those responses is likely to result in a better story? More importantly, which attitude are you going to adopt?
For more detailed advice on handling critique, check out our article Tips for Having Your Writing Critiqued.
Preparing Your Submission
Formatting
- If you follow the formatting guidelines provided by the group, your submission will be easier to read and so your feedback will be more useful.
- Our guidelines are here: Manuscript formatting
Check Carefully
If you submit work with spelling and grammar errors, then the feedback you get will be about those mistakes, and the readers won’t be able to engage with the story properly.
So, take your time and check your work carefully before submitting. This will allow your readers to focus on your story rather than surface-level errors.
What to Expect During the Meeting
The Critique Process
- We use the Milford System.
- Group members offer their feedback, one at a time. Everybody gets their turn to speak and respects the other attendees’ turn.
- You’ll have a chance to respond afterwards. Make notes of any questions you want to ask.
Tips for a Positive Experience
- Be open-minded: Approach feedback with a constructive attitude and a willingness to learn.
- Take notes: During the critique session, write down comments for later reflection.
- Ask questions at the end: If some of the feedback wasn’t clear, ask for an explanation.
- Celebrate the step: Submitting your work is an enormous step towards being a successful writer. Be proud of yourself!
Join Manchester Speculative Fiction
Ready to take the plunge? We’d love to welcome you to our writing group if you write stories that meet our definition of speculative fiction.
If you have questions about submitting to a writing group for the first time, or you’d like to come along to the Manchester Speculative Fiction group, please contact us.
