Weekly Writers’ Feedback GROUPS

As a teacher and a coach, I am dedicated to transforming the culture of writing, moving it away from the stereotype of the solitary, neurotic writer and toward one of connection, support, and collective witness.

In my writing groups, while we focus on refining the craft of writing, what truly matters is that participants find a sanctuary—a place they eagerly anticipate each week. Here, writers don't just have confidence in their abilities; they spend three hours every week celebrating their peers' brilliance and cheering them on.

I firmly believe that the most effective way to enhance one's communication skills in writing is by recognizing and celebrating the strengths in both our own writing and the writing of others.

Gone are the days when writers had to subject themselves to harsh criticism to gain command over their craft.

Instead, we learn and grow through admiration, encouragement, and collective witnessing.While my groups are not explicitly therapeutic, they serve as fertile ground for growth, healing, self-challenge, radical vulnerability, and self-empowerment. Writing is a potent tool, and mastering it requires dedication and effort, but it does not have to occur in abusive or isolating environments.

For over a decade I have seen firsthand how members of my feedback groups blossom, honoring their unique voices, embracing creative risks, and thriving not only in their writing endeavors but also in their lives as a whole. Yes, we are serious about crafting the best stories, poems, and essays possible, but at our core, we are a community—a collective of individuals who support each other and are committed to the journey of becoming more fully and boldly ourselves.

BONUS Feedback Groups Also Offer weekly craft talks with roxan

Roxan has a free-flowing style of teaching that organically addresses the writing group’s questions. Many students have described the feedback sessions as weekly master classes in writing craft.

WEEKLY ZOOM GROUP SESSIONS

We currently offer two Feedback Groups

Tuesdays, 10:00am-1:00pm Pacific Or
Wednesdays 10:00pm-1:00pm Pacific
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FREQUENTLY Asked Questions 

  • Each Weekly Feedback Group has a maximum of 10 participants.

  • We meet once a week for eight weeks from 12:00pm-3:00 pm PST. Before the meeting, writers share their work through a group email. Each writer reads their work aloud and receives feedback from Roxan and other members. Please note that Roxan will give minimal written feedback on your piece as most of her feedback is verbal during the meeting. Group sessions often spark discussions on the craft of writing, which takes up a portion of the class.

  • All writing is done outside of class on your own time. If you’re interested in generative writing workshops, please head over to our Generative Writing Class and sign up!

  • We welcome all genres. We tend to have many memoir writers but also novelists, bloggers, journalists, essayists, and poets. Though Roxan is skilled at teaching multiple genres, she holds a Masters degree in prose. Ellen Bass also mentored her in teaching poetry.

  • 750-1000 words max. Your work must be double spaced in Times New Roman font with 1.5 inch margins.

  • No. The benefit of joining a writing group is it holds you accountable and creates deadlines. Think of this as an incentive to not lose out on money, turn in your work, and attend every meeting. The only exception is if we have an opening and someone enters the session late.

  • Yes! The vibrancy of the writers’ groups is enhanced by having writers working at different levels of experience and skill.

  • No, feedback is only given during class time. Please see our coaching and editing page for more information on working with Roxan one-on-one.

  • No. Members are encouraged to record their feedback sessions on their phones or computers.

  • Yes. The length of the session fosters a tight-knit community that understands your long-term goals and assists you in accomplishing them.

  • We’ll make an exception if pausing your membership is due to a health issue or family emergency. In your absence, your space will be given to someone on our waiting list for the remainder of the session. We’ll offer the spot to you again before the next session begins. You can let us know at that time if you’d like to continue. If you need to miss out on sessions for other reasons, you can decide if you’d like to keep your spot or give it to someone on the waiting list. We recommend thinking this through as spaces don’t become available often. We do not offer refunds.

  • Writers aren’t expected to give other participants any written or verbal feedback, but if you feel inspired to it’s welcomed so long as your comments are encouraging and do not violate our guidelines. The group is designed for writers to hone their ability to engage with writing in progress to become a better self-editor.

  • Plagiarizing someone else’s writing is a copyright infringement. You writing the piece means you own the rights to it. If someone breaks the law by plagiarizing your writing, you can use a cease and desist or hire an attorney to stop the culprit. In the digital age we have so much proof of when someone wrote something that plagiarism is very rare and very easy to address legally.

  • We do not offer refunds. If you are truly displeased with the group we will do everything in our power to address the issue. We work hard to make sure that every writer who joins a weekly feedback group is a good match for the group and the format. We are happy to address any questions or concerns you may have prior to you joining the group.

  • No. Our payment method is super convenient and accepts all forms of credit and debit cards as well as PayPal. Please let us know if you have any difficulties submitting your payment.

  • Yes. We are currently using Zoom as our class video-conferencing meeting platform. For more information about Zoom, visit: Zoom Tutorials.

  • “Roxan’s writing group is quite simply the best. I fell into one of Roxan’s writing groups quite by accident and felt challenged by the quality of writers and welcomed at once. After writing on my own for three years I’ve been inspired by the positive and helpful culture she’s created and reinvigorated to challenge myself to get the work done!”

    Linda Colwell, MFA

  • “Roxan is a master teacher: she is funny, insightful, and knows her craft. She builds community amongst her students almost as though it's second nature, though I know she gives lots of thought to how to create a warm, welcoming, and creatively exciting environment. Her insights on my work pushed me into new territories in my writing, and I would not be the successful writer I am today without her. You won't regret taking classes with Roxan!”

    Mandie Carol, MFA

  • “Roxan McDonald is an astonishingly talented writer. She is also a gifted teacher – warm, insightful, funny, and smart. I so admire her combination of skills – both writing and teaching – that I have asked her to assist me in teaching workshops. Participants in these workshops consistently tell me how much they appreciate both her teaching and her presence. She’s a gem – and you’ll learn more than you ever imagined!”

    Ellen Bass