by Barbara Crane
“If you ask me what I came to this world to do as an artist, I would tell you, as an artist, I came to live out loud.”
- Emile Zola, quoted by the actress Viola Davis at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards
To live out loud. That’s why I joined a writing group. I was filling pages of journals with my wanderings. A flyer came in the mail. It announced a writing group starting in a writer’s home forty miles away from mine—that’s forty freeway miles on Tuesday mornings in Los Angeles rush hour traffic.
I went once and never left. What do I have to show for it? Two published award-winning novels, several award-winning short stories, and lots of pages filled with memories, travel, family, aspirations, disappointments…a full life on paper. A life and an imagination lived out loud.
Why join a writing group? Consider these five pluses.
1—You are taken seriously as a writer once a week. My family sees me as wife, mom, and sister…the list goes on. My writing group sees me, first and foremost, as a writer. If I record my challenges on paper—in journal, memoir or fiction form—my struggles are taken seriously too. I am assured of a fair hearing based on my skills as a writer.
2—You learn what works and what doesn’t. I may think I’ve written the great American paragraph. My writing group may agree—or not. Whatever their verdict, I use their critique to make myself a better writer.
3—You may get valuable advice on publishing. To be honest, my writing group focuses on getting better at the craft of writing rather than on publishing. But members always are willing—and able—to help me on my path toward putting my work out into the world. I’ve received aid on every aspect of publishing, from drafting a query letter to getting an agent, to the pros and cons of self-publishing. In a group of writers, someone is bound to have the answer.
4—You get critique and support. Face it. You have to be willing to listen to some criticism if you want to grow as a writer. Your writing group will give you honest feedback, positive as well as negative. Because the feedback is given in an atmosphere of trust, critique is easier to accept. And then, you can choose to take their suggestions or not. You are in charge.
5—You have unlimited time to learn. When you sign up for a class, you have a semester. When the class ends, you decide ‘Do I sign up again?’ Will I learn something new a second time around? A writing group continues for as long as the leader wants to lead. People join or drop out, exposing you to diverse points of view. You learn and keep learning.
My writing group has given me the opportunity to live out loud. My wish: You’ll find a group that lets you live out loud too.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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5 comments:
Barbara--I am fortunate enough to belong to two writing groups, and I will add a plus to your list of pluses: it keeps you writing. If you don't belong to a group, you might be able to put off writing until "tomorrow" but when your group is meeting tomorrow and you have nothing written, you have no choice but to write tonight.
Congratulations on your successes so far, and may you continue to be a prolific writer.
I agree with you 100 percent. A writing group is the best thing that ever happened to me. I have been fortunate enough to always be in a good, supportive group of writers wherever I have lived. I've also heard from others that their writing group is their lifeline!
What is seldom stated is the different types of writing groups. This is primarily about critique groups. There are also prompt writing groups, and groups that meet to hear speakers, others meet to share their ideas or learn from each other but don't critique. People looking for groups often don't realize the possibilities.
I agree that a good critique group is important. I'm still looking for one that lets me "live out loud," as you say. :)
Love my critique group! We have been branching out a little lately with actual writing time, which feels right to me. A writer needs to find what's right for her.
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