Writing Groups - who goes to them and why?

[Terence]

Away from the online world, I'm a member of several writing groups (where people actually meet up!) They aren't all the same and I get different things out of each. For the record I regularly attend:
• Irwell Writers who, surprisingly, draw members from the Irwell Valley. They're based in Bury, meeting at The Mosses
• Hasiwriters, based in Haslingden. They meet at Haslingden Library.
There are another 5 or so, in and around the area that I get to from time to time.

Who goes to RL writing groups and why?

[Julie]

I would never have written my novels if I hadn't started at a creative writing workshop.
Once I was published I found a group of local writers. one of whom hosted a workshop and another who held meetings of a writing group in her home.
We are the Sea Scribes and sell our books, give readings and participate in local activities in Worthing, Sussex.
We read our work to each other and absorb comments but we also find it satisfying to be together as a social group.
Most of all we appreciate the feeling of cooperation that being with like minded people engenders.

[Terence]

Julie wrote: "I would never have written my novels if I hadn't started at a creative writing workshop..."

Pretty much the opposite of me.

Does the Sea Scribes have favourite genres?

[Michael]

The thought of attending one of these groups makes me feel queasy.

I reckon it would put me off writing for life.

[David]

I attended a writing group for a while, about ten years back, seven years before I published my first novel. I quite enjoyed the interaction, but the group was just too nice and never even delved into constructive criticism. Therein, it really didn't serve me as a writer.

[Alicia]

I was a more or less regular participant in the Sisters in Crime, Central (New) Jersey chapter for a good ten years, ten years ago. We published an anthology - they've done more since I left.

It was good for camaraderie, nice people, but the quality of writing wasn't good. There were one or two writers published with a novel or two, and the meetings were interesting (they had local police officers and similar), but I didn't see any increase in publications among the members. For a while I continued for social reasons. But then I was spending all my time with my own, non-crime novel, which I've published (and am working on the second book in the trilogy), and the time commitment didn't work out.

It wasn't good for the writing, per se. They didn't seem to be getting any better, and they were all hoping for traditional contracts. I do better when focused on my own work.

[Alicia]

David wrote: "the group was just too nice and never even delved into constructive criticism...."

This - and I didn't want my writing critiqued by people whose writing wasn't a LOT better than mine - and we didn't have anyone like that in the group. If there had been any, they had stopped participating except as a 'guest speaker.' Which I understand - critiquing takes a lot of time and energy.

[Terence]

I go to a couple of groups because I get to chat to a local poet. I keep nagging him to self-pub some of his stuff.
"Later he says."
Poetry isn't my thing but his stuff reminds me of JG Ballard. He's also got a good panto up his sleeve. Recent (2015-ish). It's themed on (of all things) the school inspection regime. Quite amusing stuff - we trialled a couple of scenes in writing group - I'll do a shout out if I ever persuade him to pump that out.
One or two other talented members but I'm struggling to see them push further.

Of course I go for the normal reasons - trial pieces out, see how they bounce etc. It's also good for the nerves - gives them a good work out. ;-)

[Jim]

I looked round in this area, (prompted by the original post) but the only one I discovered tended to be entirely female meeting during the working day. Haven't a clue whether it's any good or not

[Alicia]

Jim wrote: "I looked round in this area, (prompted by the original post) but the only one I discovered tended to be entirely female meeting during the working day. Haven't a clue whether it's any good or not"

But, but - the British have a long and honorable tradition of dressing in drag. Couldn't you go that way?

[Elizabeth]

Michael Cargill wrote: "The thought of attending one of these groups makes me feel queasy.

I reckon it would put me off writing for life."

I feel like you Michael.

I do occasionally spend a few hours writing in complete silence with a friend who does the same, but this is so we both make progress with our work and don't get distracted by anything else.

[Jim]

Alicia wrote: "But, but - the British have a long and honorable tradition of dressing in drag. Couldn't you go that way?

reply | flag *
..."

not during working hours...

[Kath]

Unless you're very near one, the travelling time eats into your writing time, which is especially precious for those putting in a full day's work first.

[Terence]

Charlie wrote: "but the extra travelling on top of work ..."

That's a drag unless you can incorporate into your daily routine, somehow. I'm fortunate enough to have one virtually within walking distance - it's less than a mile off. All the others are 10 miles +.
When I first went, I wasn't certain they were my thing. I needed feedback on my style. Getting what I needed wasn't immediate but patience paid off.

[Terence]

Kath wrote: "for those putting in a full day's work first."

I get that. As one of those fortunate enough to run my own business, I have some flexibility. This situation, however, isn't always an advantage - you can often harness the momentum and energy from the regime of regular work.
Oddly enough, going to groups only impacts my output when I'm in the middle of a longer piece - 10k words plus. I put that down to changing mental gears (and limited man-brain capacity!)

[Tim]

I'm daft enough to be on the committee of our local writing group. Not sure if that's a "good thing" ...

[Terence]

Tim wrote: "I'm daft enough to be on the committee of our local writing group. Not sure if that's a "good thing" ..."

Gets my vote for a good citizen award. I ran a group for a couple of years. There were better people to do it but no one volunteered. Now that was a time sink!

[Andrew]

I've dabbled with a few. The first was at university, and I went along a couple of times. It was sort of all right, everyone seemed very competent, but the writing was all terribly earnest and uninspiring.

Then I went along to Richmond Writer's Circle a couple of times. Well, I say that... I was way late the first time, when I planned to go along with a couple of friends. There was something up with the trains, so we decided we didn't want to make a bad impression by showing up so late, and got drunk instead. The second time, I got to Richmond ages early, so sank too many pints in a pub while writing Doctor Who fan fiction. I turned up off my face, doing my very best to pretend I was more or less sober. The writing was pretty good, and I think I remember that one member had just got a deal for her novel. But I can't have made a great impression, and then in the pub afterwards (yeah... I was not a pretty sight the next morning) they were all asking about the fan fiction with an air of polite incomprehension, and I was too drunk to express myself properly on the subject.

Um, let's keep that paragraph between ourselves, yeah?

Finally, I went to a new Richmond Writer's Group. It took place in the back bar of a pub, where I read a bit of my Buscemi the Art Critic short story, which I think at the time was still going to be in that UKAKF children's storybook. There were only five of us, including my wife who'd only really come along for the wine, but it was a lovely evening and really interesting talking to a diverse bunch of writers (Chris was there, for those of you who were in that hotel bar at Loncon) of wildly different ages, backgrounds and experience levels.

It was so much fun that I never went back... the wedding planning kicked off in earnest, and though as far as I know I'm still cool with Chris, I had a somewhat dramatic falling out with our mutual publisher, which may have scuppered his translation in the same series as my "Chantecoq". When the said publisher started threatening to turn up to the group (and this would mean a trip down from the Midlands), I frankly allowed myself to be scared off it.

I should find another group, I can see the potential for it to be really useful as long as I keep off the beer, the fan fiction and the publishing bust-ups!

[Rosen]

I used to go to an informal writing group in Exeter, which I loved. Half-a-dozen of us would go to the pub and share whatever we'd been working on that week.

Unfortunately, I haven't found anything similar in Falmouth, despite efforts to set something up.