Plotters or Pantsers:
Joining a Writing Community and Loving it
By Julie Macken
Greetings, fellow writers
The first meeting of GCWA I attended was in 2024. I loved the vibe immediately and joined with a sense that I would meet good people and learn a lot, and I was right.
Having moved from Sydney in 2023, I was eager to immerse myself in a new writing community as I started on my second book and my first attempt at fiction.
The GCWA meetings have held multiple benefits for me. I learn from the workshops and author talks, gaining valuable insights on all manner of writing and publishing related topics. One early insight, was the discovery of plotters and pantsers. When I approached an experienced author about this concept, he happily admitted to being a pantser. I was thrilled. Like a light had shone on me.
For months, I’d been struggling to plot out ideas for my novel. Creating mind maps and trying to see to the end before I’d even begun. This simple concept set me free. I immediately embraced my pantser journey and I haven’t looked back. In fact, it liberated me completely. After months of what felt like throwing mud at the wall, I can now see not just to the end of my novel, but to a sequel as well. All thanks to what I learned at a GCWA meeting.
It’s also a great place to network and make new friends and writing pals. The meetings are a place to celebrate achievements of members and highlight opportunities for competitions and festivals etc.
The real gold for me though has been attending the GCWA critique groups. Some years ago I published my first book which was non-fiction. So when I attended my first critique group, with a sample of my early attempts at fiction, I was blissfully unaware of what I didn’t know.
My learning methodology generally involves jumping in at the deep end and then figuring it out as I go. Luckily for me the members of each critique group have been so kind and generous with their feedback. And on top of that, I have received really quality feedback, tailored to what my newbie brain could take in each time.
Realizing how much I had to learn, I decided not to overwhelm myself by tackling everything at once. Instead, I often bring pieces focusing on specific elements I'm working on—one session might feature a chapter heavy on world building, the next might explore comedy or character development.
It’s made the learning more fun. For example, world building (how much detail is too much?), character development (when does quirky become annoying?), point of view (showing different or even opposing perspectives), and show don't tell. It's been truly transformative—I can see my writing improve with each session. Even better, attending regularly means watching others develop too. Celebrating each other's progress is genuinely rewarding.
Even if you are a newbie writer, I encourage you to join GCWA and bring along a sample of your writing to a critique group. There are clear guidelines on the website and Facebook page on how to present your work. I have spoken with people who have been a bit shy about attending and they always enjoy it more than they thought they would. It might seem scary to share your work, but it is such an enriching experience and a wonderful opportunity to grow as a writer and also to help others with your feedback.
Another wonderful thing about the critique groups is that often we can’t see what might be obviously missing from our own writing. It might be something quite simple like adding a point of view or making slight changes to a situation or even the timing of an event. When you attend critique groups, you get to do this for others and so it is easier to understand how you can also receive the benefit of other writers’ perspectives. Once you’ve had your head in your work for a while you can lose sight of something important that could be added or changed easily.
Over the years, I have subjected loved ones to my written and creative pursuits. Not the least of which was writing a full-on murder mystery for a weekend away with family and friends for a big birthday celebration. This did go well and was enhanced by my passion for writing sketch comedy … and the fact that they were all such good sports and there was plenty of wine.
However, when it comes to sharing new attempts at fiction, I am so appreciative to utilise the critique groups. My family have suffered enough … haha. Spare your family. Auntie Joan will either say ‘it’s lovely, dear’ or worse ‘it’s a nice story’. Instead, come to critique group and have other writers give you honest and helpful feedback.
Lastly, now I’ve immersed myself into the writing world, it is a massive pleasure to make new friends, have coffee catch ups and talk shop. I sometimes forget myself and talk excitedly about my book to a non-writing friend and before long their eyes glaze over … haha. Do yourself a favour and get around others who love writing too. The quality of conversation I have experienced is beyond what I expected when I joined.
Why not find out for yourself. Come and attend a GCWA meeting and, if you’re already a member and looking for feedback on a sample of your writing, book into a critique group session. I’d love to see you there.