Join a Group at the Writers' Loft
Groups have always been the backbone of the Loft
Ever since Josh Funk, Pam Vaughan, and a few others gathered to talk about what type of employment a father dragon would realistically do (omg, I love PBs!), creating the first PB crit group, groups have been a staple at the Loft.
How do I get involved?
(It just takes one click.)
It's free to be involved in a group at the Loft (we do ask you throw in a $10 donation to help us defray the costs of zoom and other tools we use) and you don't have to have a membership.
Why? We never want lack of resources to keep someone from their writing or illustrating dreams.
We'd make everything free at the Loft if we could--and all the dues that we pull in goes to keeping the Loft running. (Email the Loft if there's ever a workshop or class you'd like to take but the cost makes it out of reach--we have a number of Founder scholarships!) (writersloftma(at)gmail(dot)com)
So, how do you get involved with a group?
Click below!
Established Groups at the Loft
Join these groups and hit the ground running! These groups run virtually, and you'll find info in your WL dashboard after you join! Expect an email from a group leader within a few days! Email writersloftma(at)gmail(dot)com for more info!
Picture Book Crit Group
Join established PB authors alongside newbies to discuss and critique all things Picture Book! You'll receive an email from the group leader with more info!
Spec Fict Variety Hour
Join this enthusiastic group and read spec fic short stories, engage in spirited discussion, and enjoy presentations digging into the fun of spec fic! Meets once a month.
Stitch and Pitch
Grab that yarn or other creative project and come talk about writing and illustrating and creating! Meets once a month.
Kidlit Book Club
Read a prescribed kidlit book and then join us to discuss! All Welcome. This group meets on the third Monday of each month, at 7:30pm ET.
Groups We're Actively Building at the Loft
Click to get on the list for these groups, and you'll be a part of these groups from the ground up! Please also send us an email (writersloftma(at)gmail(dot)com) if you're interested in leading any of these groups!
Also email us if you have an idea for a new group! We're happy to start one!
YOU ARE WELCOME AT THE LOFT! Join us today!
YA Crit Group
The YA group was a favorite at the Loft a number of years ago! Help us bring back this group by clicking through and letting us know you're interested!
MG (and Tween) Crit Group
The Middle Grade crit group was another fan favorite group that we're bringing back! If you are a MG or Tween writer, join up and we'll send you an email when we're starting!
Chapter Book Crit Group
Chapter Books are such a fun age group to write in. With very specific word choice, let's start a group tailored to this type of writing! We'll chat mechanics and best practises.
Romance Group
We'll chat everything from tropes and crafts to newsletter lists and publishing trends. Join us in building a Romance Writers group at the Loft!
Poetry Group
Let's chat inspiration, types of poems, and more! Join up if you are a fan of writing poetry! Maybe we'll have prompts and challenges!
Verse Novels Group
It's not poetry, it's not prose. Join us as we discuss all things verse novels and all the intricate ins and outs of writing a novel in verse!
Graphic Novels Group
Illustrators and writers unite! Join this group if you want to know more about writing the script or creating the panels for graphic novels!
Illustrator Group
All artists welcome! Discuss all things illustrating, including getting on the radar for publishing houses, and learning new techniques.
Teen and Young Writers Group
Are you a young writer or illustrator, looking to find a safe space to discuss books, writing, and art? Join us! In the past, this has been a vibrant, diverse group!
Frequently Asked Questions about Loft Groups:
- What happens once I click Join Now or Get on the List? Once you complete signing up, log into www.thewritersloft.org and you'll see the group on your dashboard. You'll either receive an email from the group leaders or be able to access the live link from your dashboard!
- Are the Loft Groups in person or online? Since the pandemic, all groups are virtual and meet over zoom or Kajabi virtual link.
- I'd like a group I don't see listed. What should I do? Just email the loft (writersloftms(at)gmail(dot)com). We'll add it to this page and start it once there's enough interest!
- When will the groups being built at the Loft start meeting? It depends on interest. Once we have four or more people on the list, we'll start the process of finding a group leaders (we'd love it if you'd volunteer) and surveying those involved to find the perfect meeting time.
- If I'm interested in multiple groups, how many should I join? Join all the groups you're interested in. Even if you can't meet when the group is meeting, you'll stay on the email lists and get information about upcoming meetings.
- I'm local to the Loft and interested in meeting writers in person. Will there be groups meeting in person in the future? We would love for some groups to meet in person at the Loft in Hudson, MA. Email us and let us know you're interested in this as well, and we'll see what kind of interest there is with others! Before the pandemic, every event at the Loft was in person. While we're so happy to broaden the reach of the Loft, we would love to offer in-person groups again soon!
- I'd like to come to a group and try it out before submitting a ms for critiques and what not. Is there any pressure to speak up at these groups? Each group is different, but if you'd like to be a fly on the wall and get accustomed to a group before fully participating, please do. Please do note the different group guidelines and behave professionally at any Loft group. But, generally speaking, the Loft is a judgement free zone, and we meet you where you are!
Once you click through to the group(s) of your choice, you're in! You also now have access to the free section of our community corner:
We're building our private, online community right now. It's a safe place to talk creating, with no distractions
