Jumping up and down, waving her hands!! Here I am!! I started one; The King's Pen. It's through my church and it's a small group for writers. I've led it for 2 years now. I chose do to it this way because we are a Christian writing group and I didn't want anyone to come in and complain that all our stuff was so 'Godly'. Now if someone has a problem, they can talk to the pastor.
- Are you a member of a local writing group? How often do you usually meet, what kind of venue? Which sorts of topics are covered? Is there a range of writers, forms, genres etc involved or is it a specific group? How did you hear about it?
We meet twice a month, 1st and third thursdays, 6:30 to 9pm at a local christian book store, but we will eventually move to the church b/c we're gettin' pretty big.
We started with just 3 people, now we are up to almost 8 now. I have allllllll kinds of writers: Sci-fi, devotional, fantasy, poetry, biography, etc. Eventually, I want to break them down into genre groups. I have to send out an email to everyone that week as it seems no can remember. sigh . . .
- Does anyone here perhaps even lead a group? Is it easy to organise? How did you find was best to advertise and get the word out about yuor group/how easy was it to set up? Do you invite guest writers? What other things does your group get up to? Does it help to be part of writers group associations or have other affiliates?
It was easy to start. The pastor wanted to start 'small groups' which is like a mini-church that meets in someone's home or outside the church. I advertise in all kinds of way: through the bookstore where we meet, on Facebook, word of mouth, the church, trust me, it won't be hard to advertise especially if there are others out there who are wanting a writers' group also. My writers LOVE field trips. Sometimes we'll meet at a restaurant, or I'll take them to the park and we'll have our meeting there, or we'll go to the museum and look at art, or something. We're going to Chicago next month and then to the Bristol Ren faire in Wisconsin. I went there a few years ago and was amazed at the world building. So now I take my writers up there and we look at the world building, talk to the characters, then talk about what we learned.
I do invite guest speakers when I see they are in town. My writers love that. If you know of some, then YES, invite them. And tell them to bring their books to sell. That's a great incentive. We aren't part of any affiliation.
We start with prayer, obviously, then we have what is called the 5 min writing prompt. I show them a picture and they have 5 min to write whatever they want. (It's a way to get the old juices flowing.) Then we read what we wrote. I also send them out a writers' prompt during the week and we share what we wrote also. (must be less than 500 words). I only give them 5 min to share. Why? B/c I have one writer who would be more than happy to spend the next HOUR sharing his very long, long, long story!! ARg!!!! Then we have a devotional which is 1/2 hour, then we study a writing book and talk about it - 1/2 hour, then we have critique time. B/c I have so many people now, I'm breaking this down to 3 to 4 per group. One of other writers will take one group, I'll take the other. Each person gets 10 min to read a sample of their story. then we discuss it. I do 10 min b/c if I don't, we'll be there all night, sitting in the dark.
Things to think about:
1) Be prepared!!!!!!! make a plan on what you want to cover during your time together. Do you want it just to be reading the stories and critiquing them? do you want to cover writing techniques?
We are studying the book, The Art and Craft of Christian Writing. (one thing I've learned to do if you do study a writing book is have them do a practice run around the lesson. It makes it sink in as opposed to a simple teaching.) I also bring in stuff I've learned from writing conventions/other books and basically teach writing techniques from the book we are covering. Or I might have them watch a movie that has some great writing stuff in it. I always, always, always let the others share what they've learned also.
You make the decision on what you want to do. And stick with it. Have a mission statement. mine is to help writers have a stronger relationship with Christ and become better writers. Trust me, this is very important to have a mission statement. helps keep you focused.
2) Be ready for ALLLLL kinds of different people:
The shy - I'll just sit in the corner and not talk - writer.
The know-it-all writer who thinks they are above everyone and know more about writing than God.
The I-must-share-my-story-with-everyone writer who takes up most of the time.
The Insecured writer who says their stuff is stupid - all the time.
The wacko writer who is just, well, weird.
The I-could-lead-this-group-better-than-you-so-go-away. Ahh . . . those are so lovely. Remember, the group is like a bunch of chickens with ADD. By the time you get them together, they scatter everywhere.
) So be sure to keep on track. Rabbit trails are everywhere in a writers' group.
3) MAKE RULES!! This is most important and make sure you and the others know them and follow them. If not, then you'll have chaos. Make sure also you have a copy of copyright laws. You'd be surprised as to how many writers freak out thinking someone will 'steal' their work.
Also make rules on critiquing. We don't do line-by-lines, it takes wayyy to long. We start by giving three things we like about the story and three things that need tweeking. We always start with the good. If you start with the bad, then the writer will think they just plain suck.
4) WATCH YOUR TIME!! We have 2 1/2 hours. Everyone looks at that and thinks, that's tooo long. NOOOOOO!! it's not!! It goes by fast. Don't let one person dominate the entire conversation. You might have to steer the conversation away from them.
5) Be very understanding, very kind, very compassionate. You are dealing with artists who are basically
and
. So it helps to learn how to hand hold and be supportive. I can't tell you how many FB messages, personal emails, phone calls, etc I've received from freaked out, depressed, joyfull, crying writers. And I listen and help them as best I can. I've got one writer who will NOT listen to anything anyone says regarding his writing. He is depressed ALL the time and basically likes to dominate the meeting. I have to put reigns on him. Stuff is slowly seeping in though. I have to be understanding and kind with him even if I want to strangle him.
6) start a special FB page in which the writers can talk to each other. It helps to build friendships and trust.
7) You DON'T have to have a book published to start one, so don't let anyone sell you the idea you're not 'qualified' if you havn't sold a book yet. When I started mine, I hadn't sold a single book. I just taught what I knew. I love my writers and they love me. They drive me nuts, make me want to strangle them, hug them, cry with them, pray with them and adore them (They are all genius writers, of course.)It will be the best thing you ever did.
That is if you don't kill them first.
8 ) you may have to kick someone out if they are harrassing or hurting a fellow writer or you may have to talk to someone especially if they try to dominate the meeting or take it from you, so don't be afraid of confrontation. (I had a writer who came to my group and frighented the girls, thankfully, he hasn't come back.)
9) they are looking to you to lead, so be ready to answer questions on publishing, techniques, what works/doesn't work, etc. If you don't know the answer, tell them you find it. Don't be upset if you only have 3 people the first year. I had three people, including me, for a year. now I have 8. The church is pushing small groups so I know the number will riiiissseee this fall. EEK!! so don't despise small beginnings. Don't be upset if only 3 people show up for months or even years. The group will grow. Be on the lookout for future leaders, people whom you can train to maybe led their own group one day.
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I love leading my group and I often have to keep focused on my mission statement. It's like a marriage, the first year is the honeymoon. All excitment, love, thrills, chills, then the committment starts. Oh yeh. After 6 months of starting my group, I wanted to quit. I got bored with it. so I went back to my mission statement and got committed. Now I love it.
I couldn't leave them for the world.
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