All About Writing Groups (1): A Writers group for me?

“Go home, Buddy, I work alone.” - Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles (2004).

Does this sound familiar to you? And I’m not just talking about how many times you’ve watched that movie. I’m sure you’ve heard it before from a friend that writes, you may have even said it yourself, or even thought it.

Writing is a solo sport. Alone. On my computer, tucked inside my notebook. Just me and my worlds.

But is it? Like any sport, you can’t do it all alone. You need people beside you to cheer you on, to help pick you up when you fall into a plot hole, to help you find your way out when you get lost in a writer’s block fog. While there are parts of writing that you’ll have to do alone, that doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Having a group of friends there to encourage you as you tackle those rough patches of road during your writing journey can make all the difference of how far you go.

Finding those writing friends can be hard, and maybe you find it easier to seek that help online, and while online writing friends are amazing – I know because I have a few – what is even more amazing is when those friends are there for you in-person. Having friends that can sit with you as you go through a large problem in your book, having those people that can spend an afternoon helping to detangle your story plot, to be there to help your creative juices get flowing, or even just to be around to ask you “Hey, how is that next chapter going?” Being able to talk to someone one-on-one is always going to be more powerful than a conversation over the internet.

An even more valuable skill you might find when you're part of a writers group is how much you grow when you’re trying to help others! Reading through their work and seeing what you could improve in your own story, helping them come up with ideas and then getting ideas of your own… All the benefits of a writers group go both ways. You get help and give help. 

“Okay,” you say. “I understand why I might need a group of writers. But what do I do? How do I even find those people? All my friends would never write!” 

The first step is  going to be the very hardest you’ll take…and the only reason for that is because you’re going to have to be able to step outside your comfort zone and go talk to people. I know, completely terrifying, isn’t it? 

Being part of an in-person writing group means you’re going to learn about these people,their characters, and their lives. But that still leaves the question… How do you find these members for your group?

Well, the first thing you want to do is observe. As a writer, you’re already pretty good at this! You’re just going to dive a little deeper. Look around at your friend groups – those that are at school, church, work, in your hobbies and other activities – and what they like to do. One of the best things I have found to look for are readers. Readers are also often writers! Not always, of course, but they’re one of the best places to start. An avid reader knows a good story and is often inspired to write their own. So observe, watch and see which of your friends dive into new books and devour them. 

Then take the next step: bring up writing! When they ask what you’ve been doing, drop a hint: ‘Oh, I’ve just been writing!’ You might be surprised how many of your closest friends are also writers, or at least interested in it. Once you find someone who responds positively to these hints you can go ahead and ask the big question: “Do you like to write?”

I know all of this can sound terrifying. But know that when you ask that question the worst thing that person can do is to say ‘no’. Going into that conversation prepared for that answer can help you bounce back even faster! However, know that even though your best friend doesn’t write right now…that may change! But until then… try your next avid reader, that person who is always stuck in a notebook, or maybe someone who enjoys drawing fanart of other books!

There are so many people out there who love to write! Some of them are probably right under your nose, so go out and start asking! Be willing to share about your wonderful passion of writing, and once you ask and get that excited: ‘YES!’ then you’re ready to ask that person if they would want to be in a writing group with you! You don’t have to have a huge crowd of people following you in order to start a group; two or three friends can help as much as four or five! Once you start your group, be prepared to watch it grow as other writers come out of their bedrooms and hideyholes – drawn to a group of writers who want the same things they do!

“I have my members! But now what? What should we do?”

Be on the look out for the next All About Writing Groups post! Where I will answer this question and give you everything you need to move forward with your brand new writing community! 

With Faith, Hope, Love and Feathers.

Inertia.