The business of writing is not mystical or special. Writing is tough and thankless work and I don't know a working writer who has time to stop to attend a writer's group because the author is either in the middle of a deadline or is collapsing after just hitting a drop-dead date.
So who attends these Writer groups, Writer workshops and Writer meetings?
Non-writing writers and writer wannabees.
Talking about writing only keeps you from writing.
For me to go to an in-person "Writer's" meeting will take up half a work day getting there, meeting, and getting back.
I don't know any working writer willing to give up half a day for the nonsense of chatting about writing in a group.
Sure, writers are lonely people, but that's part of the job description.
Even online writing workshops leave a lot of be desired because people love to talk about writing instead of just writing.
If you're young and interested in writing as a career -- don't go to Writer meetings!
Shun the Writers workshop!
Skip the therapy-group-as-artistic-outlet and devote 100% of your remaining free breaths to putting down words for association on paper because your Writers workshop is in the palm of your hands and erupting from your fingers.
Honor that creative impulse. Don't get caught up in the pretend world of talking about writing instead of just writing.
Non-writing writers and writer wannabees.
Talking about writing only keeps you from writing.
For me to go to an in-person "Writer's" meeting will take up half a work day getting there, meeting, and getting back.
I don't know any working writer willing to give up half a day for the nonsense of chatting about writing in a group.
Sure, writers are lonely people, but that's part of the job description.
Even online writing workshops leave a lot of be desired because people love to talk about writing instead of just writing.
If you're young and interested in writing as a career -- don't go to Writer meetings!
Shun the Writers workshop!
Skip the therapy-group-as-artistic-outlet and devote 100% of your remaining free breaths to putting down words for association on paper because your Writers workshop is in the palm of your hands and erupting from your fingers.
Honor that creative impulse. Don't get caught up in the pretend world of talking about writing instead of just writing.
I've always been wary of writer groups with the same thought - shouldn't I just be writing?
That's it, Gordon. Those groups have always stunned me as being excuses for not writing instead of inspirations for writing.
Makes sense. I always liked seeing friends at the meetings. Not much writing done. Lots of talk about hoping to write. Could have done over the phone to save time.
Perhaps the Writer Groups will change as technology evolves, Anne? I doubt it, though. Too many people want a reason not to write. SMILE!
Hi David,
I have never been a part of this group, never attended any such workshop. My common sense says the best way to learn writing is by writing itself - no other option.
I agree that if you are a writer, Katha, you will want and need to write all day every day and you would never want to stop to take a meeting to chat about the writing process.
Try going to a group where you write at every meeting. My group has been going over 10 years, and whenever we get together, we write from prompts. Members have published poems, short stories and creative non-fiction from pieces begun and expanded in our group.
Anne Da Vigo, co-author, Coffee and Ink: How a Writers Group Can Nourish Your Creativity
Hi Anne --
I appreciate your comment and I can see the value in writing together in a group in real time with evident deadlines.
Why get together, though? Why not just work on your own? What are the benefits of the group?