Or it can be a nightmare. The trick lies in making sure the group is a writer's group, not an excuse for a coffee break. Before forming a group, think about what you need as a writer and how to get it. Following are a few general guidelines, gleaned from experiences good and bad. First, keep small.
Large groups tend to break into smaller groups anyway, so keep small from the start.
Then you won't feel left out. In larger groups, the sheer weight of all the poems, essays, and stories or chapters to read can prove a burden. Keep it small. Second, be sure to find writers with the same interests as yourself. Valid, insightful criticism is the reason for a writer's group.