Join a Writer's Group for All the Write Reasons

I recently joined a loose consortium, a free-form group of freelance writers here in southern Arizona. I actually met the head of our lunatic fringe online in another venue, without realizing at the time that she, too, had been terminally infected by the writing bug.

Our mutual illness was discussed before we met for the first time in person, however. She brought a third aspiring writer into the picture. I called her bid by putting my spouse on the table as a potential writing inductee. Ultimately that morphed into an agreement for all of us to meet in the same place, at the same time. The way we saw it, there's just something special about group delusions in the morning, and that special lunacy inherent to writers and writer-wannabes is a doubly potent variety thereof.

While we sat discussing the various symptoms of writing sickness (such as writing for next to nothing and being happy just to see our name in print,) we discovered that our discussion of the authors' bug was attracting groupies. As we talked and imbibed our preferred caffeinated beverages, the four of us crunched around a table with space for two, every other head in the place turned so they could eavesdrop.

Maybe our shared paranoia should've kicked in. Of course, we writers are among the select few who, if the voices in our heads speak, we dutifully record the conversations on paper (virtual or print) and call it a creative process. Except in this case, the other voices were hushed so they could listen to us. I suppose it could be called a "novel experience," except we were all about non-fiction. (Bad pun fully intended.)

Of the four musketeers at our table last month, only two of us were published writers. I have reason to believe that number still holds. A third expressed aspirations to a different genre than print or online media. Specifically, Member No. 3 wants to write broadcast documentaries. We didn't hold that against him. Everybody is entitled to their peccadilloes, after all.

The fourth member of our motley writing coalition was my Better Half, who has a fabulous command of the English language. From his writing, you'd never guess that English isn't his native tongue. He also has aspirations to take his writing to a professional level. We corresponded online for several months before meeting in person, so I can attest to his vocabulary and his ability to arrange those words into coherent form. Unfortunately, he is seriously lacking in the department of confidence, which is not conducive to survival of the rejection attacks.

It's hard to say whether having a cheerleader at home has help or hurt that aspect of his psyche, but I'm determined to encourage him as he follows his dream, just as he's doing for me.

Group Therapy for New, Aspiring and Experienced Writers

Wherever your writing career now stands, it really is a smart move to meet with other writers. Chances are there is someone in your part of the world who's published already, or has at least has a running start on the process. The interactions within a writing group help everyone. Novices learn the nitty-gritty of the business. Published members gain confidence and the advantages of networking. While for obvious reasons you should be careful about broaching specific writing subject matter in public and/or to fellow authors, the all-around camaraderie and support is priceless.

If you don't understand why it's not always good to share your subject matter with a group, consider this: when you discuss your story before you've written it, someone else can and may take your idea and beat you to the punch line. That may not always be the case, naturally. Occasionally you may want to share some generalities, just to figure out if you're pursuing an unproductive tangent. Other times you may want to solicit collaboration from within your group.

If nothing else, being a part of a writer's group helps to commiserate with like-minded individuals. Meeting face-to-face at least once a month is best, preferably with a group that focuses on your writing style. For example, my group is kind of uncommon in it's non-fiction roots. (Most groups are all about novels or poetry.) If you can't meet in person, an online support group is still a fabulous resource.

Virtual coffee doesn't taste the same as the real kind, though.

Here's How You Do It

During our first session, our writing group discussed the advantages and pitfalls of writing on travel issues. It was by no means our only topic, but it certainly was a central theme.

When you tell the owners of a place that you're writing an article about them, they may comp your meal and/or your room. In other words, you get the meal and room for free, in their hopes that you'll give their establishment a good word.

Just don't walk in with that expectation. Unfortunately some would-be writers and some outright scammers have gone in, collected freebies, then never delivered the article or book they promised. As a result, more than a few business owners are understandably skittish when it comes to self-professed writers unless you can produce proof of your work in progress. Others may be struggling for survival and simply unable to afford to give you anything on the house. That should never be a factor in what you write about them. After all, you're writing an unbiased article, right?

There are pluses and minuses to self-disclosure when you're collecting information for an article or book. If you tell someone you're writing, and can back it up with documentation, it may open a floodgate. Sometimes that means uncovering obscure but crucial information that can really drive your work to a new level. Other times, it locks you in a room with your worst nightmare, a monotone voice with no valuable information, someone who just won't shut up.

Either way, my fellow aspiring lunatic, documenting your project will mean getting a commitment from a publisher before you start writing or collecting your data. If you have something in writing, you're probably going to have a better reception when you're talking to business owners.

The downside of writing about travel, disclosure or not, is that it costs you money to get there and back. Even if your room and meal on-site are free, the costs of the trip itself can add up. Some publications might reimburse you for costs, but it's more likely those will come straight out of your pocket. Furthermore, travel eats up one important commodity that seems to be in short supply for everyone: time.

Proposals and Commitments For Writing

Some authors write first and then pitch the finished project. That's essentially the process on Associated Content. AC producers write, submit, and wait for an offer.

My newfound friend, mentor and fellow freelance writer issues a proposal and gets a commitment before she even begins working on an article. That way she knows up front exactly what's expected on both sides, including payment. She said while she isn't making a fortune, at least the proposal-first approach lets her manage her work and her time. Her approach is definitely not for everyone, and especially not for every new writer.

Whether you're writing a proposal or jumping directly to write your article, go in with your eyes open and your focus on your particular market. If you want to write a story on travel, you should be looking at an AAA or some other travel magazine. If you're writing on how to build a tool shed, you'll want to shop your story out to home-improvement or woodworking publications. If you write a story on cocker spaniels and shop it out to a magazine devoted to learning how to sew, it stands to reason it won't get published.

If you get a commitment up front, that's wonderful! Just don't forget that the number one commitment must be your own. When you agree to write the article for publication XYZ, you've got a contractual obligation to provide a completed article of XXXX words, of professional caliber, no later than the date and time of your deadline.