Society & Culture & Entertainment Writing

How to Form a Writers Group, Part 1

Birds of a feather flock together-unless they're writers, in which case they tend to fly solo.
Solitude and independence are revered parts of the writing life, but pecking at the keyboard alone can eventually lead to feelings of disconnection and isolation.
Nobody better understands the struggles and triumphs of writing than other writers, and we can all benefit by forming groups to help each other achieve our goals.
A good writers group not only provides a forum for critique and workshopping, but can also offer networking opportunities, professional partnerships, community building, and access to resources in other areas such as publishing, publicity, book sales, etc.
Established writers groups exist almost everywhere, but don't always welcome new members and won't necessarily offer the kind of experience you're looking for.
If birds of a feather prove difficult to find, form your own group.
This allows you to set the tone and attract like-minded people.
You may have to step outside your comfort zone to make it happen, but the payoff is worth the effort.
Here's how to get started: Define.
What's your group's purpose? What are its goals? Who's in it? Novelists? Poets? Published writers only? A combo? How many members will it have? How often will you meet?Is the group for encouragement only, or will criticism be part of it too? The more detailed your vision, the easier it will be to attract writers with whom you can establish mutually beneficial relationships.
Advertise.
Put your vision out to the world.
Design a flyer that describes your group and speaks specifically to the writers you want to work with.
Post it where writers gather: coffee shops, book stores, libraries, universities, community colleges, writing conferences, etc.
Post an e-version of your flyer in the community groups section of Craigslist ( www.
craigslist.
com
).
People who are interested will find you.
Screen.
Ask for details about what prospective members want from the group.
Get writing samples and any other information you need.
The idea is to create a group in which every member can contribute and thrive.
The more screening you do now, the less likely you are to end up with people who don't share your vision.
Meet.
Coffee shops, community centers, libraries, college campuses, restaurants, bars, private homes, etc.
are all possible venues.
Launch your first meeting by getting to know each other and sharing ideas about how the group will operate.
Every group is a work in progress.
Details about how to offer critique, give support, lead workshops, etc.
will evolve as you go (and I'll address them in part two of this series).
A supportive, collaborative writers group can charge you with energy and inspiration, offer moral support and encouragement, help you brainstorm and problem solve, and provide a touchstone to your artistic growth and development.
When like-minded writers unite around a similar vision and goals, their skills, talents and resources synergize for the benefit of everyone involved.
And when that happens, the sky's the limit.
SHARE
RELATED POSTS on "Society & Culture & Entertainment"
How To Supercharge an Aging Brain
How To Supercharge an Aging Brain
How To Write A Mystery - The Five Senses
How To Write A Mystery - The Five Senses
How to Write a Television Screenplay - Top 5 Tips
How to Write a Television Screenplay - Top 5 Tips
5 Effective Ways to Get the Readers You Want With Article Marketing
5 Effective Ways to Get the Readers You Want With Article Marketing
WritingAGood Story
WritingAGood Story
Book Cover Design - 5 Tips-Incentives For Self Publishing and Being in Charge of Your Book Design
Book Cover Design - 5 Tips-Incentives For Self Publishing and Being in Charge of Your Book Design
Things To Know Before Buying Gym Bags For Women
Things To Know Before Buying Gym Bags For Women
How to Convert an APA to MLA
How to Convert an APA to MLA
Motivational Speakers and benefits of their speech
Motivational Speakers and benefits of their speech
SEO Article Marketing Services - 5 Tips to Set Yours Apart From the Rest
SEO Article Marketing Services - 5 Tips to Set Yours Apart From the Rest
Worldwide Luxury Yacht Charter
Worldwide Luxury Yacht Charter
Choosing Between Freelance Writing Jobs From Home
Choosing Between Freelance Writing Jobs From Home
Skin Tightening By Laser: Younger In Minutes
Skin Tightening By Laser: Younger In Minutes
Writing a Book About What Transformed Your Life
Writing a Book About What Transformed Your Life
First-Person Narrative Techniques
First-Person Narrative Techniques
Do You Want to Be Google's Favorite Article Marketer? Learn How to Put Keywords in Your Articles
Do You Want to Be Google's Favorite Article Marketer? Learn How to Put Keywords in Your Articles
You've Got One - A Richer, Deeper, More Mature-Sounding Speaking Voice
You've Got One - A Richer, Deeper, More Mature-Sounding Speaking Voice
Public Speaking - How To Be Sure You Look And Sound Just Right
Public Speaking - How To Be Sure You Look And Sound Just Right
The Beauty Of Wearing The High-heeled Shoes
The Beauty Of Wearing The High-heeled Shoes
Government Grants for Alaska
Government Grants for Alaska
Business Writing is Not For the Grammatically Impaired
Business Writing is Not For the Grammatically Impaired
Dog Training Collars By Garmin
Dog Training Collars By Garmin
Targeted Article Writing - Latest 4 Practical Methods to Accelerate Your Article Writing
Targeted Article Writing - Latest 4 Practical Methods to Accelerate Your Article Writing

Leave Your Reply

*