Writing can be isolating. As a story forms itself and finds its way onto the page, as we craft, dismantle, and reassemble it in final form, the work is solitary.
At its best, this solitude is glorious–writing is where we can be perfectly alone and let the mind go where it will, where any thoughts of decorum and self-consciousness vanish. The page becomes spillover for the brain where we can play with ideas and emotions in a perfect privacy until we might choose to share.
But that same solitude also limits us. How are we to know what readers will really experience? How can we be sure we are communicating what we intend, that characters have sprung to life or the plot engages?
One of the many great things to come out of the short story class I took in June was a small community of writers. Six of us from the class agreed we wanted to carry on, to share and workshop stories together. These last two months, we have met on every-two-week video calls to discuss one another’s work. I am loving it. I am learning a lot. Today I’ll share some of the benefits of working together with a group of writers and the lessons that come along the way.
What can a writing group give us?
Learning by reading
One of the first joys of working with this writing group was the opportunity to read other writers’ works-in-progress. In my own writing, I can become myopically focused on my own ways of doing things. This limits me. Reading my colleagues’ work shows me again and again other techniques, other ways of developing character, of thinking about story arc, inspiring me to try something new in my own work or to admire other styles.
Seeing multiple drafts of another writer’s work, we can appreciate their writing process and recognize the growth that comes with sustained attention to a piece, and these reminders carry back to our own work that we watch develop over time.
Reading is so important for us as writers, because we exist within a literary ecosystem that we have to understand if we are to make our stories communicate effectively with others. Hearing other writers talk about their work, reading how those ideas have come out onto the page, it is a powerful education again and again.
Feedback on our writing
In the most practical terms, when we share our work, we get feedback in return. Our fellow writers put on the hat of readers and share what they experienced. How well did they connect with the protagonist? Did the story make clear sense? We get answers to the questions that in isolation we can give only a biased answer to–the other writers in our group don’t have the emotional attachment or the background knowledge of the story that we do, and this allows them to give more objective feedback with real practical import.
A few weeks ago, I shared a first draft of a short story I’d been working on. The feedback I received was blunt, encouraging, and gave me a trove of ideas I hadn’t thought about before for how the story might improve. Since then, I have been busily revising, and as I near completion of a second draft, I see clearly how much better the story is becoming because of the feedback I incorporated. I know already I’m indebted to this group for what they’re giving me.
Knowledge of the world of writing
Beyond the page itself, our fellow writers can teach us a lot about the writing industry, from conventions for short story submissions to helpful online resources. Seeing the way my fellow writers find lit mags to submit to, work with editors, engage with the literary community, and more is helping me get a wider view of elements of the business of writing that have previously been enigmas. As I share my own experiences and knowledge too, we can learn from each other about how we might better reach our publication goals.
Much-needed encouragement
The business of writing is hard. Rejections pile up. We scrabble to make time for writing in our busy schedules. We doubt ourselves. We feel the isolation pressing in. Being together with other writers can help lift us up. We are at different stages in our writing journeys, but we see in each other common struggles, and we see too the ways other writers have found to persevere through challenges. They understand the anguish of that rejection and the joy of the personalized note from an editor. We can commiserate and celebrate together.
How to find a writing group
Being part of a writing group has been somethings I have wanted for a while, but not being a terribly outgoing person it’s been difficult to know where to begin.
One way to get connected to other writers is through a class or writing event. In our class through One Story, a message board for participants interested in starting a writing group provided the springboard for this community.
But there are other ways to get connected too. The vigorously active Twitter #WritingCommunity is a great place to make connections and work on establishing a group. NaNoWriMo has forums that connect writers all over the world where many a writing group might be formed.
Where will things go from here? My new writing group seems committed, engaged, and positive, and I hope that we keep working together for a long time. My experience so far definitely makes it feel worth it, and I know it is pushing me to grow as a writer in many ways.
I’m back in Norway now. Students arrived a few days ago, and I have been busily involved in planning and facilitating new student orientation. Classes start late this coming week, and so the school year is underway! For the first time, I will be teaching the IB English Literature course, and so I am working to plan a booklist for the term that I hope will be meaningful to students.
Best wishes for the coming weeks, and keep on writing.
Jimmy
Words like trees 