Easy and Effective Means to Form Your Own Writer's Group

A writer's group provides an author inspiration, feedback from fellow writers, and provides a social community to which one can share their craft with others of like mind. You may find, however, there are no groups in your area. This article should help you form your own network, easily and without fuss.

The first step is to define an objective and purpose of your group. For instance critiquing, socializing, freewriting, or other writing activities can be the primal focus. You might also consider if you want to keep the genres to something specific such as fiction writers or those who write poetry, screenwriting, or other mediums. Remember the group will evolve depending on members and the expectations they bring with them, but for now, narrowing the goals help keep members on the task of the group's purpose.

Decide where you will meet, being certain you will have enough room and amenities for what the group will need. Aspects to consider are wireless networking for laptops, space such as tables and desks, and a quiet atmosphere. Are refreshments served or allowed? Some places will require you to call before you arrive to be sure there is room for everyone, or another event will not interfere or interrupt your own. You might also want to check with your local library, coffee shops, or cafes for rooms available to house your meetings.

Scheduling a meetup involves also adding the activities. People tend to flock towards groups that have group activities that take an active role in the craft of writing. Workshops and presentations also appeal to would-be authors. I find many writers prefer the meetings that enables feedback or sharing their work, but also having some writing exercises for them to hone their craft.

Marketing is crucial to the success of your group. Flyers at local libraries, colleges, coffee shops, bookstores, and public billboards can provide some outlet to get the word out. You can also send a press release to the local paper, or utilize online message boards to post ads. I would also suggest looking into http://www.meetup.com/. There is a low monthly cost for organizers, but I found the greatest numbers of local writers found me through this site than any other outlet.

Once members start to join, have some basic rules in place. Criticisms should always be constructive, never demeaning. Balance the plusses with the drawbacks. Members who disrupt or cause trouble will have to be dealt with, often by kicking them out. You will be leader, so the members will be looking to you as an authority and to handle these situations.

Conduct the meetings with a basic outline. Outlines provide organization and moves things along so that all members can participate. I find the following steps work well;

Start by introducing yourself, allowing each member to do the same. Reiterate the rules such as expectations of participation and code of conduct.
At the start of each meeting, after introductions, you should also bring up any concerns, changes, or issues the group is facing. I use this time to mention membership costs, new venues for our consideration, announcements to who was published and where, and other newsworthy topics.

Have a group activity for everyone to do. This builds camaraderie between members, and opens everyone up to share their work. I find freewriting is very useful for this purpose. This helps them 'warm up', and sets the mind on the issues of writing. Use 5-10 minutes of freewriting, using themes to spark their creativity.
Do the bulk of the meeting after the warm-up, whether this is sharing your writing or other writing activities.

Allow for some chatting. Remember that your group is also for writers to be able to socialize. Having a casual environment also opens dialogue for members to voice their own concerns, needs, and expectations for the group. I serve refreshments or make certain the venue provides food and drink. Allow time for everyone to share their experiences, or ask one another questions.

End the meeting by thanking everyone for their attendance. Remind them of issues to be considered for next time, and add any writing projects assigned for the next meeting.

Forming your own group allows for a rewarding experience in developing friends, gaining feedback on your work, and creating a social network to explore new avenues in the craft of writing.