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Making a Writing Group Work

That Happened

I have heard that these things happen but it has never happened to me. No this is not story for Penthouse Forum. It happened at yesterday's Writers Group.

This is my favorite Writers Group. It gives, by far, the best feedback of any writers groups I have ever attended. We are a critique group. Members submit chapters, short stories, outlines and the group helps make them better wit honest feedback.

We had a first timer submit a story this week. He told us he had been writer and working on this story since 1982. It was a time travel travel story that had an autobiographical flavor. I actually liked the premise and told him so.

We began talking about copyrights because he had a lot of references to musical works. Practical advice about avoiding landmines of copyright. When were began noting that there was no hook to capture the reader early, he slammed his hand on the table and stormed out. Without discussing any of it.

I guess we called his baby ugly. This grand opus he had worked since 1982. He was expecting high praise. He was so close to the work even the mild suggestions we gave set him off.

After he stormed out, we were in shock for a minute. We discussed what we may have done wrong. The only thing we realized is that a new member should attend and observe the process before presenting an item. See how the group works. That way they can get to know what to expect.

I keep thinking there needs to be a Sitcom called The Writers Group. This would make a great episode!

--I hope he publishes his work one day. If that is what he really wants. Because user reviews are far worse.

Uncommon Threads

I am a member of the Loudoun Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers group and our first anthology has just been published!

I am very lucky to work with this group of writers and friends. I recommend everyone join a group!

I have a short story in this book that I liked writing so much it may turn into the next novel I write.

The title of my short story is:

   Doctor Clark Loves Pizza

Do you remember Delio's Pizza in Batavia NY back in the late 1970's?

I do...

So does Doctor Clark.

--Available on Amazon!

Writers Groups

I have found it very useful and encouraging to attend local writers groups. One of these groups is Writers Eating DC.

My Friend Dee drives the bus over there and does a great job motivating me. She is the writer/artist for the comic Reply-All in the Washington Post. 

She drew the trading card of me on the right!

I found this and other groups in meetup.com.

Go check out Meetup and find a group near you. I even found a group near me that focus's on Science Fiction specifically. There are groups meeting every week near you in libraries, schools, bookstores and coffee shops!

--Drink coffee, make stuff up, talk about it with people!

Dinner with Writers

I had dinner tonight with 27 other writes in Washington DC. I Blame Donna Lewis.

I am hooked up with these people via meetup.com.

I am also going to another writers group on Sunday morning and then a photography group on Tuesday.

-Good stuff.

Writers Group

I already mentioned that I have joined a Scifi Writers Group near me.

I took my first chapter of my second book, The Broken Cage, for review and discussion. I received a ton of really good feedback. What makes it so good is that in addition to being writers these folks are Scifi readers!

It's very interesting how not only do they help point out things that i missed, they are asking the questions that I want the readers to wonder about.

--I highly recommend finding a writers group! Maybe even start one!

Writers Groups

I am a member of two writers groups currently. One of them is a general writers group and one is specifically focused on Science Fiction.

Both of them are really useful for different reasons. But they have one very important thing in common. They make it easy for me to learn lessons from other peoples mistakes!

The spectrum of people that attend is very interesting. There always seems to be a someone here that is insane. Seriously. Nuts. Crazy.

--I love it when I am in a room with someone that makes me look sane.

Writers Group

I joined a new writers and attended my first meeting yesterday.

This one meets at a local library once a month. There was about 20 people there and it is organized on Meetup.com.

It was a two hour meeting, but went longer because no one was scheduled to use that conference room after them. 1:30pm is a good time to meet.

There were several self published authors there. I even purchased the Kindle book of a gentleman I met there.

--I like it. I will be back!

Writers Groups

Years ago when I was trying to write a Tech Noir Mystery novel, I attended a writers group pretty often. That group was at my favorite library twice a month. They still meet and I will be attending once again in the next few weeks. I really liked that group because it had published authors, new comers, poets, novelists, fiction, non-fiction, historic and others.

I always found that a good writers group helps me in many ways. I learn to be a better writer as people provide feedback to the shared pieces, not just mine. I can get feedback regarding my own works that can make them better. It gets me thinking about writing and encourages me to write.

We have a revived Writers Group at my church as well. Interesting people and stories and very social. We are just at the initial stages of getting organized.  It will be fun!

--I plan on revisiting that Tech Noir Mystery.