As a writer, who has a small but vibrant group of fellow writers, connected by being members of a group, I feel super fortunate. I have heard stories of other groups which writers didn’t feel were at all useful, and I’m sorry for such writers. That’s why it is important to find a group that will work for you, and with you.
Writers can be slightly strange people at times, with some odd ideas, but if members of a group understand group members, and the reasons for their sometimes less than ‘usual’ words and actions, they can all be together, doing their own thing, and writing in their own way.
The writing group I’m most involved in, is the Adelaide Plains Poets Chapter and Verse Group, and even though the word ‘poets’ is in the group name, ‘chapter and verse’ are there too. I think this reaching out and including various genres of writing, and theme is one of the most important aspects of our group.
We all use words as our main tools, all of us writers, and when the written word is appreciated, and used wisely and well, or at least as much as possible, then divergent forms can still work together, and get on well. At our meetings, we tend to focus on themes or prompts rather than just on a particular kind of writing.
This seems to work well for us all, and if we wish to share a part of our novel, for instance, one week, and then a poem the following week, it’s fine group members are happy to move from one form to another, because it is all about words, and putting thoughts and ideas, as well as stories and themes, together in the best way, at a particular time.
I feel another important aspect of a writing group is to have a range of writers, in terms of age, gender, writing experience, and life experience too. And given that, obviously, being open to different ideas is important too. We do our best on this point, and over the years, we’ve done relatively well with those who’ve wanted to be involved with our group, with only a few people who didn’t get on, and left us.
We’re all different, and the ‘try before you buy’ method of finding the best group for you is important. We try not to be judgemental, instead be accepting, but the integrity of the group is important, and because we’ve been together, meeting once a week for the group meeting, for quite a few years now, we know each other, as writing buddies, but as friends too. Many of us are involved in other things in and around Gawler, so know each other from those other groups and activities as well.
All of this leads to a strong group feeling, and a good level of trust in each other. When we are at our writing group, we know we can try out things we’ve written, and it will be considered, and if feedback is requested, it will be given. There is also the chance of helping each other in other ways too. At the moment, I am writing a novel, and one of our group members said she’d like to read small sections of my newest parts of my current novel, and let me know whether I’m going OK with it. She’s happy to read it, I’m happy to know what she thinks about it, perfect!
We’re friends and writing colleagues in other ways too, and having these interesting writers in my life has been helpful for me with my other major writing-related part of my life, putting together a newsletter about the town closest to where I live. Three of these lovely writers send me interesting articles for the newsletter most months, which helps them with writing credits, and it helps me too, as the editor of the newsletter. A win/win situation.
So if you are looking for a writing group, look for one that has a broad range of people you think you will like, as well as writers who you feel will like supportive to you in your writing. The most important thing is a sense of trust, and feeling you are comfortable with these people. Because writing can personal, and to have your writing trashed by other people can be an awful thing, and can make a writer wonder if they’re actually any good at writing …
If you’re in a group that makes you feel like that, I’m sorry for you, and hope you can find, or perhaps even start, a better, supportive one.
