To all writers: I really want to encourage you to join a writing group.
By patgalca
@patgalca (18179)
Orangeville, Ontario
May 22, 2007 10:18pm CST
I have talked before about the writing group I belong to. We meet formally every two weeks. We give positive feedback and motivate each other. We also get together to attend author seminars and workshops.
The greatest experience I have with this group is our now annual day long writing retreat. We did this yesterday. We went to a retreat centre - a large cottage on the banks of a river. It was a beautiful sunny day. Everyone brought something for a potluck lunch. Time flew by. I did more writing there than I have done in the last few months and am motivated to keep going. I lost my way with all of the stuff going on at home with the family, kids activities and such. But a day long retreat has put me back on track and motivated me to keep going, to get my edit of my novel finished, to write more poems, to re-write a short story to perfection.
We are fortunate enough to have a great group of people with a lot of humour. We had a new member with us (been with us about for about 4 sessions) and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. We were also joined by a writer who lived on the premises where we had our retreat. She commented on the great commaraderie we have. She had lots of praise for our work too. I wrote a poem about the scenery there which I talked down but she insisted I email her a copy she loved it so much.
If you've been on any retreat of any kind - like religious retreats - then you know what a high it can give you. And when it comes to something like writing, it is important to motivate you with your work, especially if you have lapsed a bit like I have.
I just had to share with you all what a wonderful experience it was and urge you to find a writing group, or start one. You can make some wonderful friends and prove that you don't have to drink to have fun. LOL!
2 people like this
3 responses
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
23 May 07
I've never been to a writers group that any actual writing was going on, reading & reviewing, but no actual writing. I'm not sure that I could actually write surrounded by other interesting people, about the only time I can write with other people around me is in a resturant situation, the only person to talk to is the waitstaff filling my iced tea & asking if I need anything.
@patgalca (18179)
• Orangeville, Ontario
23 May 07
It is important to read out loud. If only to hear your story yourself. You may catch something you don't catch when reading quietly. I sent a piece of work in referring to a 4-foot sailboat. I didn't catch the error until I read it aloud. Other writers input can be helpful and motivating. And it doesn't hurt to hear what others have to say in their writing.
1 person likes this
@gingisnapz (738)
• United States
23 May 07
That's really great! There are no writing groups in my area, but I would love to start one if I could get enough people to join. A friend of mine tried and it failed, but persistence isn't a bad thing :)
@patgalca (18179)
• Orangeville, Ontario
23 May 07
Our group started with 6 people. We have grown to about 15 now. Not everyone can attend every week so we have allowed the group to grow. We were considering starting a second group but that seemed to turn people away.
We have a flyer on the bulletin board at the library and the local bookstore. Also, we have had some publicity in the newspaper after we donated some books on writing to the library where we have our meetings. We had the newspapers come and take our picture when we did that. From there they opened up a fiction section in one of their magazines. All this exposure has drawn people to us. Some have come and gone, but the ones who are persistent and ambitious stay.
1 person likes this
@nameerf (99)
• United States
24 May 07
I'm involved with an online writing group. It has been so helpful when we have questions or need someone to critique our work. I would love to find someone who could just push me a little each day. I try to talk to my husband but he's only interested in his engineering. I can't wait to start a group of my own. Thank you for all the great ideas.
