 For Authors: November 27, 2013 Issue [#6019] |
  For Authors
This week: The Importance of Writing Groups Edited by: Jeff  
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"Some writers enjoy writing, I am told. Not me. I enjoy having written.
-- George R.R. Martin
Trivia of the Week: James Clavell, best known for his "Asian Saga" series of novels subsequently turned into miniseries (King Rat, Tai-Pan, Shogun, Noble House, Whirlwind, and Gai-Jin) was an accomplished writer in several other areas besides novels. He also wrote the screenplay to the classic film The Great Escape, as well as wrote his own translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING GROUPS
This week, I'd like to talk a little bit about the value of participating in a writing group. I spent a great number of years working solo, completely on my own and without any kind of support group around me. Even though I had a network of people from whom I could solicit feedback, that still left an extraordinary amount of time in between those times where I was utterly alone with my work. And while what we do as writers is - by nature - a primarily solitary endeavor, I found it frustrating to be walking a path and feeling completely alone.
A couple years ago, I joined a few screenwriting groups. Both are online and count among their memberships writers from all across the country and even some international locations. One of the groups is large (100+ writers), and the other is much smaller, with less than 25 members. What I like about these groups is that these members are also writers and experiencing roughly the same process that I am on a daily basis. These groups have become a place where we offer advice, share in the highs and lows, and offer support when needed. It's a place where, even though I write alone, I don't have to feel alone.
What's great about writing groups with more than a half-dozen members is that there are a variety of people working on various things and at various stages. Someone might just be starting on her mystery caper, while another is in the middle of a rewrite of his science fiction epic, while still another may be halfway through a first draft of his or her period romance. Regardless of where each of these writers are in their own work, though, they understand the process and what a writer goes through. So even if they aren't going through exactly the same thing at the same time themselves, they understand what it's like to be stuck in the middle, to have written yourself into a corner, to receive rejection after rejection to your query letters, to be frustrated at not being able to come up with a good concept that excites you. It can be refreshing and relieving to have a support group of people who understand your struggles and may be able to offer advice or at least a shoulder to lean on when you really need to talk to someone.
The internet has made it even easier than ever before to join a writing group. There are groups on Facebook and other social networking sites. Elsewhere online you can find newsgroups, message boards, forums, chat rooms, videoconferencing, and a whole host of other digital ways to meet people with a similar interest. For those who prefer a more traditional setting, writing is a popular enough pastime that one should be able to find (or start) a local group that gets together as often as you like and/or need.
Groups themselves can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are merely social meeting places where people can chat when they're not working. Others encourage you to produce work and share it with the group for peer editing or review sessions. Again, you can find (or create) a group that matches the particular needs you're trying to fill.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of having a writing group. Larger groups make it easier for people to come and go as they please and not everyone necessarily has to show up at the same time to make it work, but smaller groups do have the advantage of being more personal and allowing you to get to know the other members on a deeper level. Whatever the size and whatever the specific subject matter, though, consider joining a writing group if you find yourself missing a social element to your life. Even on a site like Writing.Com, it can be incredibly satisfying to find a smaller group of members who share a common interest with you, whether that's a particular genre, writing form, or set of values.
Not every writer feels the need to socialize and are perfectly happy doing their own thing in their own way day after day. But for those of you who find writing to be a sometimes lonely and isolating pastime, look around at writing groups in your area (whether geographically or in terms of interest) and consider joining one. You may have to try a few out before you find one that really clicks, but it's an incredible feeling to have a group of people who know what you're going through and can be there to support or encourage you when need help, and celebrate with you when you succeed. 
Until next time,
-- Jeff
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I encourage you to check out the following Writing.Com items:
It all began on my 16th birthday. Friends from Frau Schwartz' Academy surrounded me, and a crackling fire stood proud in its spot in the fireplace. I was about to blow out the candles when the front door burst open and the late September wind consumed the flames for me, along with those in the fireplace.
If all seven billion human souls on Earth could hold their breaths at the same time, it would have been at the moment the alien craft that had been tracked for months had finally slipped into orbit over our planet. The panic that had gripped nations around the globe for weeks quieted as the ship drew nearer. An eerie hush fell over the world as billions of frightened and anxious pairs of eyes squinted at the heavens, hoping for a glimpse of either their brave new future or their immediate demise.
She watched him from her perch high in the tree. A young human male, bent at the waist, searched the ground for signs of her passing. He ever so slowly made his way towards the tree she hid in, shuffling through the fallen leaves, looking for the smallest sign.
Humans were not supposed to be so adept at following a trial, especially her trail. That is what she had been told anyway.
Studying him as he attempted to pick up the trail, she knew that she should be far away by now. Being faster, stronger, and better suited for forest living she could have, should be, at least a mile from her current location. But he fascinated her.
Humans were supposed to be primitive, slow, and, essentially, ill equipped to be of any threat to her while she completed her mission. Yet, this one managed to get dangerously close before she realized that he was there.
Santa was in a hurry as he headed for the kitchen where the aroma of fresh baked Gingerbread Men cookies were going into the oven, coming out of the oven, or were getting frosted and decorated by Mrs. Claus.
Mrs. Claus looked up from her decorating as Santa came into the kitchen. Raisin eyes, licorice eyebrows and mouth, a candy cherry nose and rosy red frosting cheeks met Santa’s perusal. They were almost complete, all that needed doing was to put snowflakes in every color frosting on their bellies and trim the hands and feet with white frosting.
There's an old saying that goes along the lines of "When it rains it pours". This is certainly true and in some cases more so than others. My life, for example, would have about twenty feet of annual precipitation, were the proverbial rain physical.
I'll share a tale and maybe you'll get the drift.
It all started inauspiciously enough; I had decided to take a leisurely jaunt to the rural outskirts of my town to visit the kinfolk. The day had been brisk with overcast skies and as twilight began to settle over the countryside, a few rogue snowflakes appeared drifting lazily to earth. My folks- with their typical good-natured concern- suggested that I may want to head back to town before the weather turned too inclement to travel. Considering my visit had been wrapping up anyway, I naturally agreed.
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Feedback on my last newsletter about different ways writers can utilize NaNoWriMo:
bonzo1964 writes, "I've begun a book of Inspirational Verses (My own), and prayers. Does this sound like something I could do under NaNoWriMo or does it have to be a story? This is something I've been encouraged by many to do and I was wondering if this might be acceptable?"
NaNoWriMo is traditionally an exercise for writing a fictional novel, or at least one continuous piece of writing rather than individual verses and poems, but there's no reason why you can't simply join in the fun and do your own thing while others are officially participating in NaNoWriMo. I think starting and finishing any lengthy work over the course of a month is daunting, so there's nothing wrong with finding support and camaraderie during the same period of time!
Jacqueline  writes, "50,000 words? I have trouble with writing 2,000 word for a assignment. I don't know if I could every write 50,000 words."
I've tried NaNoWriMo for a few years now, and not always successfully. It's definitely a challenge, that's for sure!
DB Cooper  writes, "I will NEVER understand how novelists pull it off. I would be lucky to get out one fourth of a novel."
Sadly, I think that's about all I'm going to be able to complete myself this year. It's been a tough one!
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