What really happens behind the scenes of a thriving writing group? In this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast, hosts Al and Aki, with returning guest co-host Edward Gauvin, sit down with author Brian Petkash (Mistakes by the Lake, upcoming tentatively titled The B-Sides) and Nicole Caron, founder of Brian’s long-running writing group and a writing professor at Ringling College of Art and Design, where she leads the First-Year Writing Program.
Together, they pull back the curtain on how writing groups form, what makes them work, what can quietly break them, and surprising things you might not know—like when it’s okay to kick someone out or why blank pages might be your boldest storytelling move.
The conversation dives deep into:
How to find your people at writing workshops like Writers in Paradise in Florida
The perfect size for a writing group
Why you might not want a group that always says your writing is great
The unspoken rules and hidden dynamics that make a writing group successful (or not)
The power of reading each other’s full manuscripts—and why this might be better than hiring a developmental editor
We also give a well-deserved shoutout to poet and novelist Gloria Muñoz, author of Danzirly and This Is the Year, and explore the essential feedback loop between craft, community, and accountability.
Whether you’re in a writing group, thinking about starting one, or wondering if they’re even worth it—this episode spills everything.
https://brianpetkash.com/bio/
https://www.nicolecaron.com/
Keywords: Writing groups, how to start a writing group, Writers in Paradise, writing workshops, Brian Petkash, Mistakes by the Lake, Nicole Caron, Edward Gauvin, Gloria Muñoz, Danzirly, This Is the Year, Paul Wilborn, Cigar City, Eleanor Eichenbaum, Ringling College of Art and Design, writing feedback, developmental editing, writing accountability, manuscript reviews, writing group tips, writing group pros and cons, author community, Brian Wedlake.
Enigma by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
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