Writing Group?

[jensextonriley]

Hey All,

I haven't really posted here yet (i don't think?) but I'm Jen Sexton-Riley and I'm a newish member since last summer. I'm really happy to have found you. I want to become more involved and make the most of being part of the whole association thing. I want to associate. 

Does anyone have a writing group? Anyone interested in possibly creating one or allowing me to join one? 

I would love to be part of a group that meets regularly, maybe every two weeks or something, to share work and critique maybe. And share whatever we happen to know.

I went to the Clarion West six-week residential workshop in 2018, and when I got the acceptance phone call I was like "FINALLY my years of toiling in solitude are over! I am about to meet my people!!" I flew to Seattle filled with blind belief that I was stepping into a circle of writers who would welcome me, love me, be with me forever. It didn't turn out that way, unfortunately. Some groups of two and three (out of the total of 18) seemed to click together and form lasting bonds, but there I was, scuttling away from the dinner table and up to my room to write in solitude for the entire six weeks, just like always. We remain friends, but while some of them seem to be in constant supportive contact the way I imagined for myself, I am not and I hardly keep in touch. I guess I was just in a different place in my life than the rest were at that time. Sigh. 

Anyway, I did take valuable instruction, experiences and connections and so forth away from there. So it was not a missed opportunity. One of the things I took away was the value of meeting with other writers and sharing work, witnessing each others' existence. That kind of thing. 

I'm blathering. 

In short: I'd love to have some kind of Slack video meeting group or Skype or Zoom type of group if anyone else is interested. If one already exists, I would love to join if possible. 

Thanks all,

Jen Sexton-Riley 

[J.M. Van Horn]

Hey Jen,

I used to be part of an online writing group many moons ago. At time time, we used forums to share our work, asked questions, or even critiques. I did gain some valuable information through it but it ended up withering away when the forum moderator had real life issues.

With that being said, I do find some value in sharing your work with others, especially with folks in the field. I would be open to taking part in something, once a month for sure, maybe twice.

[peggychristie]

Doesn't Pages Promotions have a group - Procrastinators Anon or something like that? I joined it but it doesn't start until March 4 so I can't really remember the details. I think it's meeting once a month or every couple of weeks, over Zoom I believe, but just to get a group of folks together and just write. Not sure if there will be sharing or critiquing, though.

[J.M. Van Horn]

Good call Peggy.

Jen, she is referring to this.

www.pagespromotions.com/prose-procrastinators-anonymous.html#/

[Bill Rathburg]

Hi Jen


I joined GLAHW hoping to find like-minded writers. For the past two years, I have been working with two writing partners. We sent by email new chapters of books we were writing. We then printed each of the submission and wrote critique suggestions on the hard copies. We then “met” on ZOOM to discuss each other’s comments. We then mailed the critiqued chapters to the author.



I followed their advice and my YA novel took a darker turn. Both recently labeled it Horror and as they have an aversion to this genre, ended our writing partnership.



Both suggested I find partners more well-suited to this genre. I poked around the internet and found GLAHW. I am optimistic that through it I can find new writing partners, such as yourself, as well as new compadres in writing.



Bill

[tanz444]

In the golden years before COVID I used to bounce around between several writing groups that used meetup.com to organize, so that's always an option worth trying once/if the world gets back to normal.

For the record, I would be interested in being a part of a horror-centered writing group if one ends up getting off the ground.

-MT

[J.M. Van Horn]

I would welcome the chance to be a part of a horror-centered writing group. Think it could definitely be rewarding for those involved.

[andrewsmith]

Pages Promotions encourages writers to find like minded and a core group shares writing or works with each other often. Written in the Mitten and Michigan Authors on Facebook also do the same. Would be nice to see a GLAHW writers group with focus on the more macabre.

[J.M. Van Horn]

Since it seems we have a few folks interested in doing this, I will put it on the last minute agenda for the meeting today to get the old ball rolling.

[E.F. Schraeder]

I'd be open to this too- my work schedule is a little nutty, so availability varies, but I've been in several crit groups that have been helpful in the past and would enjoy joining one focused on horror

[WeirdNicole]

I have belonged to a few writing groups in my day (in grad school and out). They have been quite valuable to me. I would be up for it!

[Melodie]

Hello, 

I am new here and let Marc know I am interested in the writing group. I've got a couple of ideas about items to consider. 

• I think we'll need a top-end word count per story or chapter. 10K seems like a top end for me per review/revision on my part. If I'm handling more than one manuscript/story, I'll probably need a smaller word count. I think. However, I'm willing to try what the group decides. 
  
• I recommend we consider using Word's track changes or at least comments vs hard copy. Like Google Docs, track changes allows for more than one critiquer on the same document. Would that be a thing to consider as well? Unless a member really needs a print version, they'd have to mail it to me. I don't own a printer to send out my own writing so...?
• FYI, I also critique poetry.  
• I can't wait to build relationships with all of you! 

--Melodie 

 

  

[J. L. Royce]

Expressed interest via email and now voila... As mentioned earlier I'm looking for reactions, not line edits (unless that's the only reaction you can summon). If you think of a graph through time, it would show the peaks of surprised and interest and involvement, towering above the clinging bogs of boredom, the impenetrable forests of confusion, the -

Well, as the virgin at their first Black Mass I have no experience whatsoever with writing groups etc. My life is a big zero-sum game, and the more this helps (or feels good) the more time I can devote to it.