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FIRST PLACE
In Search of a Writers' Group
By Kathy Altman
King George, Virginia
Not everyone believes in writers’ groups,
but they can be an excellent
source of support and inspiration, especially for the
beginning writer. If
you’re considering joining a group, these life
lessons may help narrow your search. Think twice if
a group doesn’t endorse
these principles.
Map out a strategy. It can be a casual
agenda or a formal mission
statement. Every group should have a documented plan.
Having direction
provides focus and the strength to resist time-stealing
tangents. Keep to
the map and beware of hitchhikers and shortcuts.
Show
courtesy and respect to others. A successful group
will inspire, promote productivity, and improve quality
of work through example and honest critique. Criticism
should be constructive. Are members supportive of each
other? Avoid a group that spends its time evaluating
the writers and not the writing.
Share. Each member should share something he’s
written or speak about recent writing-related experiences
during each meeting. This helps reinforce the purpose
of the group, inspires members to create, and offers
each member a regular sense of accomplishment. Are
meetings merely an ego trip for one or two members?
If so, bid the group ‘bon voyage’.
Put yourself in the other guy’s shoes. Members
should read each other’s pieces aloud. This provides
a whole new perspective to the writer. Before you take
your turn, though, take a few minutes to review the
piece. It’s frustrating to the listeners and
to the writer if you’re ruining the story by
stumbling over the words.
Keep it simple. Forget the treasurer and the secretary
and the committees and the membership rules. Being
part of the group should be fun and uncomplicated.
Just say ‘no’ to a club whose creativity
is wasted on writing bylaws.
Don’t take it personally. Try to resist thinking
of negative feedback as a personal attack. You risk
not receiving any more honest comments otherwise. It’s
difficult to remain objective when someone is critiquing
the words you so lovingly labored over, but if you
wish to hear admiring comments only, then resign yourself
to a group of two--your mirror and your self.
Snack in moderation. Is the group more interested in
socializing than writing? Is everyone so satiated after
the pre-meeting appetizers that they’re half
asleep before the actual meeting starts? Signal for
the check if snacking is spoiling the group’s
appetite for writers’ fare.
Shut up and listen. If another member took the time
to review your piece and then provide honest feedback,
the least you can do is pay attention to what he has
to say. You won’t learn if you won’t listen.
This could be the exception to the snacking rule. You
can’t interrupt if your mouth is full.
If you’ve reached the end, stop. If you’re
not learning and you’re not enjoying yourself
and there is no foreseeable benefit to continuing with
the group, then it’s time to come up with an
ending, happy or otherwise.
Copyright (c) 2003 for the
author, all rights reserved.
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