Liz’s Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Join a Writer’s Group
Thank you Jack, Camille and Susan for chiming in and letting us know how you work with your writing groups. Through their networking (California Writers Club, Sisters in Crime, and online writer’s forums) the three have found communities to support their writing.
Liz’s Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Join a Writer’s Group
1. Help you with discipline! You know the date your meeting looms. If you don’t show up with a manuscript, you’ll be teased, shamed or forced to give up books and chocolate for a month.
2. Improve your writing. Through everyone’s critiquing of your work, you’ll discover your writing strengths and weaknesses and how to improve your craft.
3. Improve your own ability to critique. Learn how to discuss writing technique, styles, and craft.
4. Get ideas. Brainstorming frequently occurs and ideas multiply!
5. Form a bond with fellow writers.
6. Discuss reading, books, and literature when appropriate. Find the next book you should read to help you with your writing project.
7. Network with regards to markets, conferences, editors,
agents . . .
8. Get yourself away from too much work at school, home, work-work, noisy children, dirty dishes, elder care, a messy house, a cluttered office, or whatever is driving you bonkers at home.
9. Since you want others to take you seriously, saying you’re in a writer’s group gives you credibility.
10. Being in a writer’s group provides you with great therapy. If you receive a rejection and you tell a non-writing friend or a spouse they might look at you like a whiner or a loser. But tell your writer’s group, and they will surround you with sympathy, the right words, and the most important thing of all . . . chocolate.
Wow. You have me all energized now. I will join a writer’s group today! 🙂
On a serious note, I agree with all those points. Critique, people of the same kind, people who know and appreciate and share your art – that’s what upcoming writers need.
Great! Mine helps me all the time. I find that meeting people for coffee first to discover if we “fit” or bond in some way helps. Good luck!
Hi Liz,
Love the name.
Also, great post. I am looking into joining a writers’ group and stumbled on your blog.
Thanks.
Liz
Thanks! The right writer’s group can make all the difference in the world. Or the right writing partner. Good luck in your quest. Sometimes it helps to have coffee with people first before committing to a group to make sure everyone “clicks” and there is a certain level of trust and good feeling, if you know what I mean. Liz