The Writer's Group a Valuable Resource

Writing can be a very lonely habit. Perhaps when you hear the word writer, you imagine a person huddled in the corner, staring off into space, and scribbling words in a notebook or typing on a computer. This picture isn't necessarily that far off from reality. Writers do tend to spend a lot of time in isolation bouncing ideas off of blank walls, or reading out loud to themselves. But, writing doesn't have to be a solitary experience.

What if I were to tell you there are places where these weird creatures we call writers gather together to discuss writing, ask for help, and learn from each other? You might think what is this magical place, and does it really exist? I am here to tell you, that yes. It does.

The writer's group can be a HUGE asset for a writer. Many towns have them, and the first place you should inquire about them is your local library. Local writer's groups generally are comprised of writers of all levels, genres, and ages. I've been attending various writer's groups for the last ten years, and I love them.

Many writer's groups serve as mini-workshops where writers bring in a project they are working on and ask for constructive criticism. These groups are really helpful when you are stuck in a section of your book, or just need to know if something is flowing right in a certain passage.

If you don't have a local group, or you can't find one, it's really easy to start one. In fact, this month (August 2017) is the first month for the Beeville Writers Club. I moved here in 2016 and there wasn't a group, so I contacted the library. The head librarian was more than happy to help me set up a meeting place, and even advertise the group. Our first meeting was a huge success and we even had five people in attendance!

If you've been nervous about attending a local writer's group, don't be! Just go and visit a few times, and see if the group is right for you. If it's not, move on, but if it is, stay awhile, get comfortable and see how things are done. Once you're comfortable get ready to learn and have more fun than you can imagine!

--Susan