The Benifits of Joining a Writing Group

Ok. I have taken time out from the writing of my mini series, Somebodys Little Girl, to shed a little light on writing groups and what they are all bout.

I’m not really sure how every one would go about finding out about joining a group. You may have to take different steps than I did but the group I joined meets at the local library one Saturday of every month. So I contacted the local library and asked them if there were any writing groups that meet there. They told me yes and gave me all the info I needed to contact the group and talk to them about joining. Like I said before, all groups are different. You may have to ask around, but my suggestion would be to start at your local library first.

I spoke to the guy who organizes the meetings and was happy to have me join. He informed me that I didn’t have to attend every meeting but if I did want to attend all the meetings as regular member, he asked that I pay group dues. I know what your thinking, I thought the same thing. Dues? Why? What for? He told me that he has to pay the library to use the  meeting room and for any equipment that he uses. So he asked that regular members pay dues. So I asked him how much. $13 a year. $1 a month and $1 for equipment. That’s cheap. This will also very from group to group, if that group even requires you to pay dues. But hey, who cant afford $13 a year?

Our group is called, Minds Without Borders. Basicly what writing groups are for is to get your work out to the public, sort of. You take in stories, poems, articles, just about anything that you have written and share them with the group. The group in return will critisize your work, not in a bad way, but in a way that helps to improve your writing. For exzmple, they will let you know if your story is too flat, or that you need to add more details, have too much detail, that there are certain things that you should work on tho make it beter, things of that nature. Also in return you as well get to speak your opinion on the work of the other members.

Writing groups are like friends, except these friends will tell you the truth about your strories, poems or whatever it is that you share that day. No mater what they say, your true friends will never tell you the truth because they dont want to hurt your feelings. Im not saying that group members are out to hurt your feelings, because there not, but they will give you the honist opinion you deserve.

Groups are a great way to get your foot through certain doors, in ways of guest speakers, should your group have guest speakers. My group is hope to have a guest speaker this comeing month who is a published writer, to also give us feedback on our work as well as speak to us about writing and publishing. Writing is a dificult thing sometimes and any little peice of feedback we can colect as writers the better off we are appt to be in the end.

So, I think Ive pretty much covered it all. I hope you all have enjoyed my little write up on writing groups and dont for get to keep an eye out for my latest chapter of Somebodys Little Girl. Happy reading and writing.