Have advice about working with a writers group?

What are the individual AND group goals. (They aren't the same thing.)

Some folks don't want to write with people who are not writing the same genre, some don't mind.

Meeting frequency? What's the format for the meetings?

I'm in a local group with branches state-wide, though I've only been to the local meetings. There are writers from several different genres and even a journalist. The thing to keep in mind is that I, personally, do not enjoy every genre out there, not do I enjoy every writing style, though my opinion does not dictate what is popular nor successful.
So while you may not enjoy every piece of writing you come across in a group, be considerate, but don't hold back. Also, keep in mind not everyone is going to be a dedicated fan of your genre or writing style. Everyone should try to be objective, but not everyone is. So do your best to be objective, but if someone reviewing your work isn't, let it roll off your back.

The main things I look for in a writer's group, in no particular order and just off the top of my head:

-People that are willing to give--and receive--real constructive criticism. If all someone has to say about a piece is "that was great," they probably didn't read it. Likewise, if someone only wants to hear about how awesome they are, they're wasting their time and everyone else's.

-Diversity. Whether it's people who are from a different background, or in a different place in their lives, or just plain write a different genre, I've found that exposure to perspectives far removed from my own has made me a better writer.

-On the flip side, I need people who get my genre, even if they don't write or read a lot of it themselves. If people are asking me why I'm not using Star Trek technology to resolve the plot of a hard-sf story, or looking down their nose at me for not being as "literary" as they are, it's not a good fit.

-Committed critters. The golden rule of crit groups is crit unto others as you would have them crit unto you. If people are all focus and attention when it's their turn to be workshopped, but off-topic or absent when it's time to return the favor, well, those aren't the kind of people I want to be investing my time in.

These points are pretty much all about people. I've found I can adapt to most group structures and crit systems if the people are worth it. But it's important to know what kind of time commitment you're making when you join a group, and whether or not their crit system is going to be helpful to you (do they go around in a circle and have everyone answer set questions, or is it more of a conversation? Is the person who's work is up for discussion encouraged to speak up or stay silent? Is everyone reading the same thing at once, or is work passed around more informally?).

I like on-line groups better. Everyone can go at their own pace. There are a couple sites out there that are free. I figure, it takes me anywhere between one to three hours to properly critique a 3-4000 word chapter, depending on how well it's written. Trying to fit that in face-to-face is tough; there just isn't enough time.

This is the one I belong to:

http://www.critiquecircle.com/default.asp

Someone posted another one a few days ago (I can't find the thread that was on)

You can also post it on the SYW forum here for feedback.

I belong to a group that meets every 2 weeks. We all write in the same genre, which I find helps a great deal -- though I sometimes write on the margins of that genre, so I struggle with some "formula" feedback I get.

I like the idea of emailing crit work ahead of time (though we don't do that) -- we each read between 5 and 10 pages of our latest WIP and then go around the table and comment. We also jot down notes and hand those over to the reader. We usually have between 4 and 10 people on any given night.

It works pretty well for me. I think the important thing is to find people who can give you what you need, depending on where you are in your writing journey. General plot feedback? Ideas for pitching to agents/editors? Nits for close editing? That sort of thing.

I've been in a critique group for 17 years. (Yes, we're all published now.) We distribute paper copies of work to be critiqued at the end of a meeting and receive critique at the next one, usually two weeks away. (We flex as members' schedules demand.) We don't real aloud, since a gifted reader or an inept one can change how a work is received and perceived.

We all write mystery, suspense, or thrillers. The group split several years ago when half its members wanted to add romance; our small group doesn't read it and both felt unqualified and preferred not to critique it. We do, however, occasionally critique work outside our genres, with the understanding that anyone can defer if she wants to.

We all had the same goal to begin with, paid publication of short stories. We've morphed only slightly to include longer works. We agree that we're too similar and that our group would benefit from members different from us, for input from other perspectives.

Even a small group brings many skill sets to the table beyond the author's. It sounds like you've got one which shows real promise of working for you.

Maryn, who always benefits from hers

Well as many have said, look to see what their goals are. The group I'm part of tries to meet every week. We also don't read things out loud (thank goodness!) and we post our things on a private online forum two weeks before our chapters are supposed to be critiqued (two people are critiqued each session). We also have a word limit (no one wants to read two submissions at 30 pages each). Our group is relatively small but we have a range of professions and experience levels. All of us are still unpublished though one has her ms on submission and has received a few requests for partials and fulls.

My group writes all fantasy...though I'm the only one who doesn't. I know I've been debating looking for a second one, at least online, that has a bit more historical based fiction.

However, that being said, I love mine. They're very helpful and often find things I miss.

Remember though that you don't have to follow all the advice given. I know there's some that I've ignored because it takes away a certain aspect of my story.

My writing group is all SF/F writers with similar goals (publication). We meet weekly. Subs for the week have to be turned in by Sunday (uploaded to our Yahoo Group), and we meet on Thursday. If the group deems the submissions for the week to be too much, the last thing to have been submitted gets bumped to the next week. We have 6 active members at the moment (we've had up to 8 or 9 at a time in the past), 2 of whom have told to pro or semi-pro mags.

In our group, prospective new members are asked to "audition" by turning in 3 pieces over a month and critiquing whatever else comes up during that period. That way we get a chance to see their work, see how they take critique, their general attitude, and also what they have to offer. And of course they get a chance to decide if they think they really want to join, based on what they've seen of us.

In the past, I have sometimes asked the group to take a 2nd look at a short story, but it really depends on how much I feel the piece has changed since they saw it last. For my novel I'm using beta readers.

I love my writers group. I love getting their suggestions and corrections. Just remember though, it's YOUR story. Listen to their advice and weigh it, but in the end, go with what your gut tells you. However, if a number of them are hitting on the same issue as being problematic, you might want to rework that part.

As I'm writing a story, I submitt bits and pieces of it to be critiqued by the entire group. When it comes time for Beta reading, I'll ask about six of them to Beta read the completed manuscript for me. When they've finished, I'll meet with them one-on-one over coffee or tea to get their feedback.