10 Benefits of Joining a Writing Group
If you want to be a successful writer, joining a writing group can be of benefit to you.
I have been a member of a writing group for three years. When I joined the group there were six members. We have grown to fifteen in number, though not everyone attends every meeting. We average 8-10 participants every two weeks. I never miss a meeting if I can help it. I schedule my life around these formal sessions where we write from prompts and share our work. We choose to focus on positive feedback. Full critiquing can be done outside the group at a separate meeting or through email.
The benefits I have gleaned from this group are plentiful.
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Discipline and Motivation.
If I don’t get any writing done at home, at least I know I will at writing group. What I write from the prompts spurs on my muse and makes me strive to write more. I have actually created a whole novel from what I have written from prompts.
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Reading Aloud.
You can better hear your work when you read it aloud. You can read something to yourself over and over again and not see that typo turning a 40-foot sailboat into a 4-foot sailboat. In reading aloud you hear whether the words flow. Reading aloud also prepares you for that book launch you hope to have one day where you will have to speak in front of people, and that includes reading from your book.
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Input From Other Writers.
Comments and suggestions from others can be invaluable. You don’t necessarily need to follow their advice, but it gives you something else to think about. I recently gave my manuscript to one of my group members. She pointed out some discrepancies as well as several questions left unanswered. When you have been working on a novel for a couple of years, you may not notice these things. It is even better if you have a grammar expert in the group.
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Learning and Growing as a Writer.
Some members in our group had never written a poem in their life. One poetry session brought to life the poet hidden within. I never thought I could write short stories; I learned that I can and am actually good at it – good enough to have one published in a local magazine.
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Connections.
We have a few published authors in our group. They are able to steer us in the right direction when it comes to being published. They do not hesitate to share their experiences with us – the good and the bad. They also make great recommendations.
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Time.
When you attend a writing group you are making time to write. There are many distractions at home, on the internet, and in life in general. I go to my writing group and leave behind the bickering children, ringing phone, emails, and the ever-present laundry.
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Opportunities.
Since I joined the writing group I have been made aware and taken advantage of many opportunities that I would never have found on my own. We had a short story author come to our group to do a workshop. We studied other authors’ works, wrote our own shorts, and brainstormed ideas for each other. I have attended seminars by published, award-winning authors and have even had the honour of meeting one-on-one with authors for personal critiquing of my work as well as to learn good writing habits and how to get published.
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Support and Encouragement.
Family members tend to look down at writing as not being a real job. We all need people who believe in us, who will encourage us to keep at it and support every writing endeavour. When you do get published you can be sure that your writing buddies will be first in line to purchase your book.
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Creative Energy.
There is something about a group of writers in a room bringing out the creative muse in all of us. In our group we usually have a list of prompts to choose from. We write for ten minutes with no idea which prompt each person chose. When we share our writing it is amazing to see a common thread running throughout every member’s piece of writing. Where there are writers there is creativity.
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Friendship.
I have made many friends through the writing group, especially those
in
the writing group. As a stay-at-home mother of two daughters, getting to know people with common interests and goals gives more meaning to my life.
If you are serious about your writing I highly recommend you find a writing group to join. If there isn’t one in your area start one of your own by posting notices in the library, local bookstore or even in the newspaper. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including the means and motivation to achieve your dream of becoming a published writer – and you’ll have fun doing it.
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October 3rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Thanks for sharing this. Sounds like some great advice and something that might prove helpful for those who are able to get out and interested in writing. You’ve certainly offered some valid reasons for joining a group. So where would you advise people to look and search for information regarding a writing group?
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Great article, Pat…
Thank you!
December 31st, 2007 at 9:51 am
Very nice article!! Very informative, personal, and entertaining. You sound like you enjoy it a lot and that is a good thing :]
One always needs support for their efforts.
Thx for sharing this to others.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I always enjoy your articles but this one really hit home. Though I’m involved in virtual writers’ meetings as you know, there’s something missing. I can’t see your eyes when you speak to me. We can’t stop for tea after a meeting.
Thank you for reminding me what I miss!
January 11th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Judy, it is too bad there are so many miles between us. I would love to join you for tea.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Great article! Very informative, indeed.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:37 am
Loved your article Pat. It has inspired me to seek out a local writing group. Thank you.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:49 am
That’s a really great article. I’m going to have to see if I can find a local writing group. Some friends and I have started an online site to try and simulate writing groups at http://www.reviewfuse.com. While reading your article has made me realize that there are some definite benefits to meeting together in person, I was curious what your opinion is of online writing groups. Have you ever tried one? If so what do you think? Also, is it okay if I quote your article in our blog if I link to you and give you credit? I think you make some really great points and have some good insights that our blog readers would enjoy.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Clark, I have joined writing groups online. I attend message boards but the problem is that once something is published online, in some cases they are not allowed to be submitted for contests, etc. Plus I worry about thieves.
I will play the writing games on the writing message boards (mostly at ivillage.com) but I don’t post any of my work for their opinion. I will do that through private email.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
That’s a great point. One of the things we’ve done at Review Fuse is give you the option to “publish” your work in our public content catalog, or keep it private so that it’s only shown to Review Fuse members who are assigned to review your work. Or you can even go one step further and create your own private writing group where you only share your work with people you invite or approve to be part of your group. Are those adequate ways to address your concern, or would you still be leery of uploading your work? Just curious because I love feedback from serious writers like yourself–especially those who participate in writing groups since that’s what were trying to simulate.
Also, you didn’t mention if it would be okay for us to quote your above article in our blog. If you want to check it out first, you can find it at http://www.reviewfuse.com/blog/
Thanks for taking the time to reply. If you don’t want me to keep filling up your comments section, feel free to email me at clark at reviewfuse.com
January 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I just wanted to say thank you for your comment on my work, “Its a Man Thing”. I clicked on your site and read some of your work; to hear any kind of encouragement helps anyone and I appreciate yours. I also have a friend that has fibromyalgia so I know a little of what you must go through. Hope you have a wonderful new year ahead of you and thanks again.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Clark, I would prefer you use the link to this article rather than quote my article. The views make me money and I certainly want credit for what I have written. This article is actually a link on our writing group’s blog http://www.owg.netfirms.com.
I am sorry I am just getting around to seeing your comment now and don’t know whether you will see this. Unfortunately I’m not always informed of new comments. You have a very nice blog.