The Benefits of Finding a Writing Group

People tend to think that authors only write alone, but that definitely doesn’t have to be the case! Today, writer Sharon L. Clark discusses some of the ways that finding a writing group has helped her with her writing:

We’ve all heard how writing is a solitary pursuit. It can be a challenge to sit in a room full of people while trying to listen to the voices in your head so you can put it all down on paper.

I mean, everyone does that, right?

Writing with a group doesn’t have to be difficult. I’ve found that some of my best work has come out when I was surrounded by my circle of like-minded authors. Through my regional NaNoWriMo writing group, I was fortunate to be thrust into a room full of talented people who wanted nothing more than to reach their word count and drag me, kicking and screaming, along with them. Their blind faith in me was infectious and I found myself—after my first NaNo—recruiting others to meet weekly, planning dinners, and trying to be that voice of inspiration that keeps a struggling author from walking away. 

There are astounding benefits to finding or building your personal writing clan. 

First and foremost is accountability. It may just be me, but when I’m home there are a million other things that I should probably get done before I sit down and indulge my writing habit. The dogs are always in need of a walk or a snack, the laundry is never ending, dinner won’t cook itself, or my DVR is full of unwatched episodes of my favorite shows. But when I go to an outside location to meet other people who are expecting me to write, it’s as though I can finally give myself permission to indulge my creativity.

Plus, the others will be able to see if I’m doing nothing but watching endless funny animal videos.

You can find information for basically anything on the internet, and that includes hints and tips on writing techniques. But how much more do we retain by being able to ask questions of a live person who has been there and done that? The writing community around you is a wealth of knowledge about whatever you need to know. Whether it’s plotting, fighting through writer’s block, or using new software, chances are better than good that someone in your writing community has experience they will be more than happy to share.

For me, personally, the most rewarding aspect of finding my writing group has been their support, encouragement, and friendship. The circle of authors I met through NaNoWriMo are wonderful sounding boards, cheerleaders, editors, and friends. I genuinely enjoy being around them and, even more importantly, I trust them. I trust them to be honest but not mean, to build me up without exaggerating, and to be there for me when I need a boost as I hope they know I’m there for them.

I strongly encourage you to look at the groups in your nearest region. Try a few on for size until you find the one that’s just right for you, and you will find that the rewards will be plentiful and well worth the effort.

Sharon L. Clark is an author, wife, and mother living in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written a collection of short stories and serials and one of her short ghost stories has been included in a Halloween collection, Chills Down Your Spine: A Scary Halloween Anthology. More samples of Sharon’s work can be found on the writers’ website Channillo and on her website SharonLClark.com, or you can follow her writing journey on Twitter or Facebook.

Top photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.