Writing is fundamentally a solitary exercise; a task suited to my Scandinavian ethnicity that insists on a large personal space and little interaction with strangers. The concept of writing groups seems peculiar on first reflection. There are writing groups that are solely about critique, and writing organizations will throw strangers together for that purpose. I can’t imagine a worse scenario. At least, this was my first thought when asked to join one, and the intimacy of sharing one’s writing with others was frankly alarming.
When the now-named DeadLies got together, I had no idea what to expect. I came apprehensively with my latest 50,000-word WIP manuscript to our first meeting, expecting something entirely different from what happened. We didn’t read our works in progress. (Whew!) Instead, we spoke of how we each concluded that writing was something to pursue, what types of writing we did, and various ways we could support one another through the process.
Early on, we learned to trust one another, brainstorm ideas for plot problems, and support one another personally, and as colleagues, on this tough road. We committed to write short stories on a mutually agreed topic and to share those stories with one another and alternated those meetings with ones devoted to WIP, all novels, though less was shared of these more personal works. We occasionally invited guest speakers—publishers, crime scene officers, authors—and we circulated interesting podcasts, articles, conference notes.
Much has evolved over time. We’ve been together twelve years now. In some ways there is less structure. No longer do we alternate between short and longer works of fiction. Each of us pursues their creative passion without imposition of an artificial scaffolding. We don’t even always write crime fiction. An occasional guest is invited for information sharing. Crazy crime stories and tidbits of knowledge about a variety of topics that should have us all on a watchlist somewhere are distributed. With COVID we learned to meet over Zoom and the convenience persists for busy people living a distance apart. Occasionally, in-person meetings happen, with food and liquid libations provided. Most importantly, we write.
When a member was out-of-province for a month with a chaotic schedule not her own and felt unable to write, I offered a morning Zoom meeting with me for 2 hours daily to impose scheduled writing time. It worked well and, hearing this, our group asked that it continue and be available to everyone.
For almost three years, I’ve dutifully opened a Zoom meeting every morning Monday through Friday so we can write--together but separately for 3+hours if schedules allow. We chat about our goal for the session then mute and hide for a pre-determined amount of time. DMK Ruby is keen on 25 minutes, following the Promodoro protocol, but there have been studies that after interruption it takes 25 minutes to get focus back. We trialed 55 uninterrupted minutes and I’m more productive with one long rather than 2 short sessions, so this is our new method. When the alarm rings, we’re back on camera and at volume to support, brainstorm, and advise, and then delve back into our own works with new enthusiasm. In these sessions, sometimes our efforts are shared and immediate feedback provided.
I’ve discovered this admittedly weird group activity helps my own writing practice. Since I organize the meetings for the group, I am the most faithful participant. When I don’t feel like writing, I remember my obligation to the group, open the session, and force myself to sit at my keyboard and squeeze out something for my current WIP. Rarely do I renege on my responsibility to the group although I take time off between Christmas and New Year’s, and both July and August so I can write later in the day after gardening chores are complete and I relish the unscheduled nature and solitude of those writing days.
Our entire writing group meets electronically one evening alternate weeks to update one another on writing, reading, and life in general. That accountability to the whole group is crucial to our continued existence. The group dynamic is supportive yet prodding. A certain amount of wallowing in misery is allowed, but it’s time limited. Options to circumnavigate back to writing are offered and discussed and eventually selected. I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words and stuck them together in a coherent fashion in the years we’ve been together. I would never have managed it without them. It’s much easier to procrastinate.
DMK Ruby, a warm and social individual, uses the DeadLies more for critique and has a second writing group (OMG) following the Promodoro method for writing once weekly. Expanding from that second group is a third meeting (OMG OMG) once monthly, a loose association of writers within the area, most who toil away in isolation, the purpose being to establish a writing community. I’ve “dropped in” on both groups, but the DeadLies are my familiar supportive home and provide what I need as a writer--unflagging encouragement and insightful criticism on a bedrock of belief that the struggle is worthwhile and creative life must be nurtured. As devoted as I am to the DeadLies, it’s taken time. While it continues to give me what I need as a writer, I will not invite more into my creative bubble and relive the scary introductions and awkward conversations necessary to build trusting relationships with even more people. Too much ‘peopling’ is exhausting and sharing my work with more strangers with opinions terrifying..
Do you need a writing group as a writer? Absolutely not. You don’t write by committee. In the silence, or the cacophony of a coffee shop, or with the playlist blaring in your home office, you write alone.
Can you benefit from a writing group? Definitely. Find the one that works for you and provides what you need to succeed on this creative journey. Maybe you want a critique group without the personal connections. They are out there. Find one. Mine is a kind, supportive encouraging one, just what I need. Group members are now friends first, writing comrades second. If they never wrote another word, they’d remain important in my life…though I want their words on a page. They’re all talented with amazing imaginations and I love knowing the people behind those fascinating crafted stories. Also, and this is equally important, I reassure myself that I’m normal and needn’t worry about abnormal psychology. (Concern about my mental health surfaces regularly when searching out new ways to kill fictional characters, but I’m not as bad as they are, so all is good, right? I mean, they are so inventive and devious, by comparison I’m a girl scout.)
Do you have a writing group? What does it provide for you in your creative process? I’d be interested to know.