- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
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- 122
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Hello, everyone. First (well, second) time poster here. I'm looking for advice on how to keep a writing group vital and active. I've just discovered this forum, and after a few days of browsing I've already picked up a lot of good information and advice. Apologies if I'm duplicating a previous topic here.
Most of my story is probably familiar. I've always wanted to write fiction, but all my attempts seemed to peter out as the demands of daily life intruded. What writing time I did have had to be given to my academic work. Last year, a local theater company sponsored a free ten-week writing group, and I bit the bullet and joined. There were seventeen people at the first meeting; by the end of the ten weeks we were down to about half a dozen still regularly attending, but they were all folks producing quality stuff, and going really got me fired up.
I started to really produce work for the first time instead of just writing a few paragraphs and saving the file. To my utter astonishment I even sold one of the first stories I sent out, to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. I'm having fun writing, and I seem to be having some success.
After the class was over a few of us said we would keep the group going. We've met a few times, but the last time was a couple of months ago, and only three people showed up. Obviously we need new blood, and we need ways to keep people engaged. We have advertised a bit--flyers at the library and such--but with no luck yet. We're in a college town, so I'm hoping the fall might bring new people in, but frankly I'm looking for any ideas I can find on how to make the group as vibrant as possible.
Any and all thoughts welcome.
Most of my story is probably familiar. I've always wanted to write fiction, but all my attempts seemed to peter out as the demands of daily life intruded. What writing time I did have had to be given to my academic work. Last year, a local theater company sponsored a free ten-week writing group, and I bit the bullet and joined. There were seventeen people at the first meeting; by the end of the ten weeks we were down to about half a dozen still regularly attending, but they were all folks producing quality stuff, and going really got me fired up.
I started to really produce work for the first time instead of just writing a few paragraphs and saving the file. To my utter astonishment I even sold one of the first stories I sent out, to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. I'm having fun writing, and I seem to be having some success.
After the class was over a few of us said we would keep the group going. We've met a few times, but the last time was a couple of months ago, and only three people showed up. Obviously we need new blood, and we need ways to keep people engaged. We have advertised a bit--flyers at the library and such--but with no luck yet. We're in a college town, so I'm hoping the fall might bring new people in, but frankly I'm looking for any ideas I can find on how to make the group as vibrant as possible.
Any and all thoughts welcome.