I'm happy to say I am part of a writing group. We get together each Friday night and close off the busy week with some laughs, sharing of work and a little writing! LOL
That person who called you arrogant would probably have much harsher epithets for me. Yes, I don't have time for writing groups. My family consumes all my time, and the rest I dedicate to writing, which includes editing, publishing, marketing, etc. True, due to where I live, I don't have an option to join a physical writing group. But I've been invited to join online ones. I declined. I'm not ready to share the reasons for my reservations against such activities. Not publicly, at least. People only declare that one has the right to think the way they choose. In reality, everyone is expected to meet certain expectations. Anyway, writing groups aren't a part of my writing life, but I do recognise their tremendous value for others. Tolkien and Lewis were members of such a group, and we all know how far these two gentlemen had gone with their writing endeavours. As that lame phrase goes: it's not you, it's me.
Thank you, Eve. I admire your clear views on this subject. Yes, although society says we have the right to choose, we still are expected to conform. And often, we are judged when we do not. I wonder how much Tolkien and Lewis "grew as writers " by participating, or if this was peripheral in their lives.. I was unaware of their involvement.
I read in Lewis's biography about this. It was mentioned there that only due to this group's support did Tolkien decide to publish his 'The Hobbit,' and the whole legendary saga grew from there. He wrote it without taking it too seriously. But it changed, of course. Considering that only these two gentlemen became world-famous, I don't think it was because of the group's members' invaluable input into the development of their craft that they became so. They would have become who they became regardless. If it helped them in some other way, that's a different matter.
That's the impression I got from reading Lewis's biography. I might read Tolkien's at some point, too. Who knows, my opinion might change, but I doubt that it will. Creative souls are all fragile - not necessarily weak! - so they tend to seek support among peers and those who love and understand them.
Depends on the group for whether or not they’re worth the time and energy and stress. Many writers are introverts so it can be a lot to join a group. That doesn’t mean you’re arrogant or that your writing suffers cause of it. I’m sorry you had that experience.
Thanks for your reflections here. I do think you're right; for many the socialization is too much stress. I find the monthly online group I attend now works for me. The moderator keeps us on task as we respond to each other's work, having read and reviewed it earlier. But, yes, I do get tired when people point out that I must join a group, any group, so I can be a real author. Thanks for understanding.
I have been part of a writing group since July 2020. We meet virtually every two weeks as we live geographically in different parts of the province. One person submits pages ahead of each meeting and we provide feedback. Our feedback is always delivered kindly and honestly. Everyone in the group values feedback that sends us back to some re-writing. Then we do two prompt exercises and read what we wrote (10 minutes for the first and 6 for the second.) the meeting last one hour and we have seldom cancelled in the six years.
That sounds like a process that you would really enjoy! The length of the meeting (one hour) provides a good framework for a productive session. Best of luck to you!
I have never been in a writing group. As you say, perhaps it has something to do with being an introvert, or the fact that I don't feel what I write is anybody's business. It's not that I mind constructive or destructive criticism, it's just that it feels irrelevant. When I am in the middle of a story, really into it, I go into squirrel mode, hiding all my words until the very end. Writing, for me, is solitary business. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense, so I suppose the closest to a writing group is Subtack, in my case. (Or Instagram in the past)!
"Squirrel mode" describes it perfectly! I have similar feelings, preferring to get the story straight in my head before submitting it to external scrutiny. I think there is a difference between writing community and writing group-- the drop-ins and sharing we do online are different from the interactions in a group meeting.
I'm happy to say I am part of a writing group. We get together each Friday night and close off the busy week with some laughs, sharing of work and a little writing! LOL
That sounds like a marvelous way to finish a busy week. It sounds like it renews your energy as writers.
That person who called you arrogant would probably have much harsher epithets for me. Yes, I don't have time for writing groups. My family consumes all my time, and the rest I dedicate to writing, which includes editing, publishing, marketing, etc. True, due to where I live, I don't have an option to join a physical writing group. But I've been invited to join online ones. I declined. I'm not ready to share the reasons for my reservations against such activities. Not publicly, at least. People only declare that one has the right to think the way they choose. In reality, everyone is expected to meet certain expectations. Anyway, writing groups aren't a part of my writing life, but I do recognise their tremendous value for others. Tolkien and Lewis were members of such a group, and we all know how far these two gentlemen had gone with their writing endeavours. As that lame phrase goes: it's not you, it's me.
Thank you, Eve. I admire your clear views on this subject. Yes, although society says we have the right to choose, we still are expected to conform. And often, we are judged when we do not. I wonder how much Tolkien and Lewis "grew as writers " by participating, or if this was peripheral in their lives.. I was unaware of their involvement.
I read in Lewis's biography about this. It was mentioned there that only due to this group's support did Tolkien decide to publish his 'The Hobbit,' and the whole legendary saga grew from there. He wrote it without taking it too seriously. But it changed, of course. Considering that only these two gentlemen became world-famous, I don't think it was because of the group's members' invaluable input into the development of their craft that they became so. They would have become who they became regardless. If it helped them in some other way, that's a different matter.
Interesting! I suspect they would have succeeded in their task anyway. But perhaps it fulfilled, as you say, another need.
That's the impression I got from reading Lewis's biography. I might read Tolkien's at some point, too. Who knows, my opinion might change, but I doubt that it will. Creative souls are all fragile - not necessarily weak! - so they tend to seek support among peers and those who love and understand them.
Yes. We connect for many reasons.
Depends on the group for whether or not they’re worth the time and energy and stress. Many writers are introverts so it can be a lot to join a group. That doesn’t mean you’re arrogant or that your writing suffers cause of it. I’m sorry you had that experience.
Thanks for your reflections here. I do think you're right; for many the socialization is too much stress. I find the monthly online group I attend now works for me. The moderator keeps us on task as we respond to each other's work, having read and reviewed it earlier. But, yes, I do get tired when people point out that I must join a group, any group, so I can be a real author. Thanks for understanding.
I have been part of a writing group since July 2020. We meet virtually every two weeks as we live geographically in different parts of the province. One person submits pages ahead of each meeting and we provide feedback. Our feedback is always delivered kindly and honestly. Everyone in the group values feedback that sends us back to some re-writing. Then we do two prompt exercises and read what we wrote (10 minutes for the first and 6 for the second.) the meeting last one hour and we have seldom cancelled in the six years.
That sounds like a process that you would really enjoy! The length of the meeting (one hour) provides a good framework for a productive session. Best of luck to you!
It is a great group and one hour packed with writing and critique goes by very quickly.
A productive and enjoyable time!
A productive and enjoyable time!
I have never been in a writing group. As you say, perhaps it has something to do with being an introvert, or the fact that I don't feel what I write is anybody's business. It's not that I mind constructive or destructive criticism, it's just that it feels irrelevant. When I am in the middle of a story, really into it, I go into squirrel mode, hiding all my words until the very end. Writing, for me, is solitary business. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense, so I suppose the closest to a writing group is Subtack, in my case. (Or Instagram in the past)!
"Squirrel mode" describes it perfectly! I have similar feelings, preferring to get the story straight in my head before submitting it to external scrutiny. I think there is a difference between writing community and writing group-- the drop-ins and sharing we do online are different from the interactions in a group meeting.