Today is IWSG Day because it’s the first Wednesday in July. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page. The purpose of IWSG is to share and encourage, but we’ve added a little zest to the mix. Now, IWSG members are going to answer a question in our post. Today’s question is:
What’s the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?
This is a difficult question for me to answer because I don’t usually share my writing. The compliments I do get come in the form of a review or from a contest judge. When friends read my books and stories, of course, they’ll compliment me. They’re my friends!
Maybe this sort of thing comes from being involved in a good, close writer’s group. You think?
Back in the 70s I wanted to be part of a writer’s group but my hometown didn’t have one. What did I do? Well, I started one, of course. The East Texas Writers Association is still going strong today. The group was fun back in my day. We didn’t have the Internet so we depended on The Writer, Writer’s Digest and Writer’s Market, as well as guest speakers to keep us informed. Also, other writer’s groups. Our members often piled in a car and headed straight down Interstate 20 to Shreveport—about an hour away to visit the Shreveport Writers Club. They judged our contests, critiqued us—encouraged us in every way.
Today, online groups are fantastic. With the Internet, we have instant encouragement with the click of a button—but there’s nothing like a face-to-face group—if it’s a good one.
Here are 6 things you should be getting from your face-to-face writer’s group:
- Encouragement
- Resources and Opportunities
- Information relating to the ever-changing market
- Access to critiques if you want/need them
- Warnings about writing/agenting/publishing scams
- Friendship and Fellowship
I went to our local writer’s group here in Lake Charles last Saturday. I learned four things:
- That a new writer has moved to the area—a professional who writes for a couple of the top Christian publishers. I’m excited and hope we can get to know each other.
- That we have some talented writers in the group but I don’t know if there’s a market for what they write. I wonder, with self-publishing booming, is that even a factor anymore?
- That nothing stays the same: the logo, the newsletter title, the bylaws–there’s always someone eager for change. Even the members come and go!
- That J.C. Penny’s was having a great shoe sale, and I hit it big time!
If you have a writer’s group in your town, are you a member? What do you learn from the meetings? Share some details, please.
Our writers group, Northern Colorado Writers has several active critique groups. I started one back in 2011 and stayed with it for a couple of years. I’ve done small 2-3 person groups as well. The experiences were beneficial and the commitment keeps you writing. Learning to read someone’s work for more than just the story is a learned trait and one that helps in your own writing. Being honest without being cruel is something else one learns, should one want to keep a group moving forward.
Right now I am not in a group, per se, but am editing a poetry anthology with over 20 contributors, so we’ll be working together to make the poems shine as much as possible.
Hello Dean, You’re right about learning to read someone’s work for more than story. Thanks for popping in and leaving a comment.
Shoe sale! Where? hehehe
Great post. Our writing group is set up in our library and both feed my soul. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Hi Anna, ours meets in the Genealogy library. That’s okay, I’m into genealogy too! Thanks for commenting.
I am a member of a writer’s group. We call ourselves the Northshore Inklings. I was at the very first meeting and we’ve been going 8 years.
That’s great, Charles. I love for wringing groups to succeed … and bond… and love each other. 🙂
Ah, I remember those days of no Internet! 🙂 I don’t belong to a group right now, but I used to, one where we wrote to prompts and read aloud and talked about the craft.
I really don’t enjoy reading aloud … or listening to others read. Don’t have a problem listening to poetry but I don’t like listening to fiction. I’ll start visualizing something and tune out … 🙁
There are several writer’s groups in my area, but I haven’t joined one yet. The meeting times are never good for me. I like being part of online writing groups, but wouldn’t mind some face time now and again. Glad you have a good supportive group.
The online groups are certainly easier. I don’t mind staying home and still getting encouragement and support. 🙂 Thanks for popping in Toi.
Writer’s groups are so important. I don’t have an English speaking writer’s group near me in Germany but I do belong to an online writer’s group that I cherish very much and they fulfill all the credentials that you have listed above.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Sometimes online groups are really the best and the writers bond more than face-to-face. I tend to be a lurker in most of my online groups. 🙁 We might be in some of the same groups, Pat–SinC, Guppies, FHL, WWW, Trues, and several more.
Times sure have changed since my first writing group too. I belong to 3, all very different and supportive in their own way. I have made lifelong, good friends.
I think you are right, with self publishing there is an opportunity to find an audience for anything.
Doreen, three groups? 😱 Where do you find the time?
A few years ago, I went looking for a critique group locally and couldn’t find what I wanted. So, like you, I made my own! We’re a pretty good group and I’ve been happy with it, even if I have to use my mom voice to keep people on track. 🙂
Nice shoes!
Thanks, Loni. I should have changed pants with each pair of shoes to better show them off but I was too lazy! The multi-colored pair look great with jeans! 😄
The shoes are great!
I especially love the multi-colored pair. 🙂
I’ve never been part of a physical writing group.
I only know of one writer’s group in my city and they meet the third Saturday of every month which is not always convenient. So for now I’ll stick to the virtual group.