This month we're thinking about the writing group that's right for you, because you've got to be in the right group to bring your writerly ambitions to life.
The way I see it, there are three types of groups. That's why a couple of weeks ago, I shared about critique circles and last week I wrote about the accountability type of group. This week let's consider the third type of group: write-in groups.
This type of group does one thing: foster writing. The writing sessions, live or online, follow a schedule and time limit. The members of this group meet together and, author shoulder to author shoulder, write.
They could use a prompt to go on a writing spree or advance works-in-progress or experiment with genres or formats. They could talk about their impressions of the exercise, or share each other's content, or not. You see, there are a lot of variations to the agenda of this type of group get-together, but whatever variations exist, you can expect to write for the specified time period. Yup, show up and write. Thank you very much.
And that's great, especially if you're starting out. As a beginner writer, you may feel uncomfortable about sharing your work for feedback or unconfident in your ability to fulfill a commitment. But a write-in group asks only that you put your tushy in the seat and let your fingers do the work. This allows you to focus on what you're ready for, helping you establish a regular writing habit that is foundational to achieving your writing goals. Plus, the camaraderie of the write-in session adds to your motivation to keep writing and helps you resist giving up. Woo-hoo!
How do you know if this is the right group for you? Look back at the July posts for a moment to scan the three types of groups. Each has advantages. You need to think through the positives for each type to see which one matches your writing goals.
Sometimes, you think you've got a match because a group promises what you're looking for. However—disappointment—it delivers something else. What I mean by that is the write-in group turns out to be a social gathering. Or the critique circle turns into a meeting to talk about publications accepting submissions. It's a pretty common problem.
In fact, if you've been in writing groups during your career, you may have experienced this situation at some point. It can feel frustrating and confusing and can even result in hurting your commitment to your work. I don't want that for you, so be sure to join me next week when I'll share some tips about how to handle the situation.
In the meantime, are you a member of a write-in group? What have you gotten out of it? Let me know in the comments!
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