Tips for Writers: Groupthink

There is a certain comfort in familiarity, a sense of togetherness in a group you’ve known for years, and an understandable need to belong. Yet for writers, there is a danger in sticking close to one group of peers for too long, a danger I will call groupthink.

Have you ever noticed how groups tend to homogenize after a time? It starts out subtly, with certain in-jokes that consistently make the group laugh, then perhaps it moves on to turns of phrase or ways of talking that the group has in common. Eventually, the group members begin to share many of the same ideas, especially those related to the group’s core purpose.

A group of writers is no different. After a time, you may find yourself writing, not for yourself or for the larger public audience, but for this group. You know what they like, and what they dislike. You know what turns of phrase will make them laugh, or cry. You may even know that one member will disagree with something you chose to do, but you’re going to do it anyway.

So, here’s the question: If you already know what your peers are going to say about your writing, why send it to them for critique? You may as well critique it yourself. Maybe they’ll catch typos, but are you looking for an editor, or are you looking for a real chance to take your writing to the next level?

I’ve heard it said that writing groups shouldn’t last any longer than a year, and after that, they’ve served their purpose. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I do know that a writer who wants to become a better writer needs to be constantly on the lookout for fresh sources of inspiration. Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective, one you haven’t considered before, because it’s not part of your current groupthink.

It is a common fallacy to believe that all people tend to be like the ones you know. The more you challenge that belief, the more truly yourself you will become, and that will shine through your writing.