What exactly is the purpose of the Group Forums on WriteWords? Should I join one of the Group Forums and post my questions there?

Thank you
Azel

Azel, I'm fairly new too, but I'd say the group forums are mostly for people who've joined those groups to talk about anything specific to their group, or if they want to talk about a writing issue but would prefer to do so in a smaller group or with people who've been reading their work in the group.

However, if you want more people to answer, or want a more diverse group of people to comment, and have (for instance) a question on technique, you'd be better posting in the technique forum.

Deb

Hi

I think joining one or two forum groups allows me to meet more writers who may not be so active in the general forums. For me this allows more interaction on a smaller scale. This site is huge. In a group, I don't feel so overwhelmed! Besides I am exposed to more stories/uploads on group forums and I continue to read and comment on some pretty amazing stories that are not necessarily in the Intro your Work forum.

The downside is that groups may tend to hibernate every so often.

But on the upside, once awake, a group could be quite stimulating and fun. So I suppose it depends largely on the group members being active as well as on site and group hosts taking an interest in their group.

I've also met some pretty fab writers.

I hope this helps.

Jen
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Erm, the groups are in specific genres, so if that is your chosen genre, you can join and talk over your writing with other like minded people who also write in that genre. Also you get your work critiqued and can comment on other peoples work too.

Sorry, I thought the group thing was pretty obvious?!

Katerina

Well I'm still confused as to the difference between Fiction and Novel groups! But then that's just me!

Jen
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You think that's bad, Jen, you should try Childrens v's Teen v's YA fiction

<Added>

Azel, joining in on the Lounge threads is a good way to meet people, and you'll probably find yourself bumping into the same crowd of faces on several boards.
It may not be advisable to join several Forums at once because you will be expected to do your share of reviewing other members work which takes time, but try hopping across forums until you find one that suits you best.

- Naomi

Chicklit AND Contemporary Fiction.

I understand chicklit but say your novel is not chicklit but contemporary fiction [that I take to mean fiction from the view point of a gnat say, set in the 21st century] could one join?

And Women's fiction that I always thought chicklit is a part of? As in a work of fiction from a woman's point of view whether contemporary, historical or whatever.

Now please don't beat me if I got that all wrong! I apologise now in advance.


Jen
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confused as to the difference between Fiction and Novel groups

Jen, I'd assumed the novel groups were for people specifically writing a novel atm, and the fiction groups were more for people who are generally writing fiction, which may be short stories or novels or bit of both.

If this isn't right then I have no idea...

Deb

<Added>

I completely agree with your issue over chick lit and contemporary versus women's fiction. I would personally have put women's fiction with chick lit, if they were not all to be separate, and would have put contemporary separately from either, since the first two seem to have much more in common than the last.

Obviously much chick lit and women's fiction is contemporary, but I'd have said contemporary was suitable if you don't fall into any of the more obvious genres and if, obviously, your novel is contemporary.

So it seems a bit weird to me too!

Deb

By the way, Azel, not that it matters a jot really and no-one minds, but ideally your question would have fitted well into the Newcomers' forum and not into the Technique forum. Am only saying this to try to be helpful for the future!

Deb

I like the Beginners. It does what it says on the tin!

Jen
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Chick lit is pure chick lit whereas Women's Fiction covers a broader spectrum of books aimed at women readers - including historical and contemporary. I think chick lit has a much more humorous angle, and not all of the books in WF are like that, so that is the main difference.

The best thing to do, though, is to simpler join a group and see if it works for you, it is easy enough to change.

Regardless of genre, i think the most important thing to do is find a group of people whom you trust and who 'get' your work.

Go for it, Azel, a lot of us have chopped and changed, i'm sure you'll find one you like.

Casey

Thanks for clearing that up for me Casey! And yes, good advice there, Azel! Join away and have fun.

Jen
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Should I clarify?

Should I join one of the Group Forums and post my questions there?

It depends on your question. Basically, it’s OK to post any question anywhere. This is a pretty laid-back site and no-one is going to blast someone out of the water for posting in the ‘wrong’ forum, but choosing the ‘correct’ forum can give other people an idea what your post is about, and help others searching the forums for a particular topic. Ideally this particular question would have gone into the Newcomers thread, because that's where new members would be looking for info.

the group forums are mostly for people who've joined those groups to talk about anything specific to their group, or if they want to talk about a writing issue but would prefer to do so in a smaller group or with people who've been reading their work in the group.

Absolutely right – but they’re not exclusive to the group members; anyone can join in any group forum if they feel they have something to add to the discussion.

the difference between Fiction and Novel groups!

Fiction covers all fiction; flash, short stories, novellas, novels, etc.
Novels are… er… just novels

chicklit/women's fiction/contemporary
Chicklit is both contemporary and women’s fiction
Women’s fiction can be chicklit and contemporary, but can also be historical, romance, bodice-ripper (*spit*), greylit, basically anything that appeals mainly to women of any age.
Contemporary can be all of the above, plus stuff aimed at men; crime, thriller, etc… god, I hate these gender divisions. Presumably there’s a third gender lurking in the shadows reading ‘literary fiction’…

Think I'm confused now…

Dee

Presumably there’s a third gender lurking in the shadows reading ‘literary fiction’…

Lol, Dee.

And thank you for the breakdown, I've been wondering where to stick my dick-lit after nanowrimo. 'Contemporary' will do nicely.

- NaomiM

Dick lit? That's a new one on me...

Maybe I'm just very naive..... :O

Deb