What Do You Call A Group Of Writers? Part 1

For many years the idea of a writers group has called to me. I loved the idea of it, sitting down with others, sharing ideas and work.  Deliberating over each others work, projections past present and future. Brainstorming plot lines and characters, and having a group of 'friends' around you that you know you can turn to for advice. Honest advise from not only other writers, but other readers.

The other week the opportunity to join a writer's group came to me. I was delighted. Living in a small town in a non-english speak country had limited my options in terms of groups and 'real'(non internet) friends. Of course I jumped at the chance. However I soon got to thinking. Was a writers group really the best thing for me?

I work 40 hours a week and with the commute is 10 hours a day I'm gone. I have three young kids at home, a house to help keep clean, words to write, a blog to update and a wife that would like to see me at least a fe minutes a day. Do I have time to make the 90 min (round trip) journey to the writers group? to commit myself to reading other's work and offering my advice? Am I a good enough writer to offer advice on somebody's writing. There were a lot of questions floating through my mind; call them doubts or insecurities if you wish… I do. So I didn't go, I offered my excuses and skipped it. Not because I didn't want to go, or because I didn't dare………

well maybe just a little,

but mainly because if I can't commit to it 100% then it would be wrong of me to use the advice of others and not offer that same level of attention in return. The option is still there for me to go, and maybe I will. One day, it's just once a month after all.