I have looked around and cannot find a writing group within a reasonably driving distance of my area.
I’ve met with one other woman whom I really like and we are going to start sharing our stories to get a feel for if we are crap or improve on crap.
If I should get the balls and decide to advertise in our local paper, what guidelines would you recommend?
I started a writing group about 20 years ago. I’ve actually dropped out, but the group is still going strong and have had at least three original members who have had novels published (by regular presses, not vanity or POD).
I set up a place and time and sent an announcement to the local paper. We ended up with a very good response (around 20, IIRC). Quite a few dropped out after the first meeting, but we had a core group of 6-8 that came every week, plus others that dropped in from time to time.
You do need a regular meeting place, and it’s better if it’s not in someone’s home (less chance of it becoming a social event). We ended up in a local library branch; they had a meeting room that we could use. From time to time, I’d send another notice to the paper to try to drum up more participant.
We would have everyone read their work (an entire story or novel chapter), then comment. We had an unwritten rule that no one trashes another’s work. If there’s something you find wrong, you certainly should mention that, but comments like, “that really sucks,” does no one any good. My technique was to try to point out positives, then say, "What didn’t work for me is . . . " It’s less threatening that way and the writer is more likely to listen to what you say.
We’d go around the room with comments (though others would jump in if someone hit on a point they agreed with). We had about an hour and a half, but rarely ran over.
Thanks for the suggestions, Reality Chuck.