The magic of writing groups

Writing is a solitary activity. I have seen, read and heard this line many times over and over.
I have also met writers who need total silence and shut themselves away from devices and people and keep themselves open only to their thoughts and ideas. I agree that if you have quiet time and no distractions, you can churn out good content and meet burning deadlines.

In today’s piece, I am going to walk you through quite the opposite of this. Writing groups.
For the past five years, I have been actively participating in writing groups. When I first started out, I had no idea how helpful and inspiring it would be to write with a group of writers. Creative writing groups in public libraries and other avenues in the writing community in Charlotte have given me a taste of how it works. Though awkward and shy initially, I slowly realized that it was a community with a purpose. The purpose was to get your thoughts out on a paper or on a device. Prompts and the ways in which writers in the group used these prompts stimulated my mind and helped generate fresh and original content from my pen.

The groups that I am currently a part of are Write Like You Mean It, a weekly writing group hosted by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Pen and Paper, a weekly writing group hosted by Charlotte Lit, a non-profit arts center, who engage writers in the craft, conversation and community of writing. 

Among the many things that I have gained through writing groups, accountability, committing myself to a specific writing time/word count, feedback, navigating through difficult plots and enhancing my writing through shared resources top my list. Meaningful interactions and honest reactions to my first drafts add a lot of value to the quality of my writing. It has been a whole different experience to read my work out loud to a bunch of people who are not my teachers or relatives. One of the ways it has helped me is through listening to different points of view. This has made my writing richer, deeper, and allowed me to pause or hold on to parts of my writing that I would otherwise completely ignore.
It also gives me a chance to be dedicated to my writing and connect with others like me. Encouragement and support walked into my writing life, without an invitation.

Since I reaped so many benefits out of several writing groups, I decided to start two of my own virtual writing groups this year. When the pandemic threw our lives on a roller coaster, I found that written words and people connecting through writing brought comfort and strength to each other. Greatly motivated, and wanting to give back to my writing community, I started two writing virtual groups, Fun to Write and Writers Beyond borders. Both groups have a select group of people who love to write and share their writing.
We also brainstorm our story ideas, discuss the hurdles we face during our writing process and share information on places to submit our finished pieces. 

The happy company of fellow writers is undoubtedly a big incentive to me. Apart from the fresh perspectives and insights on my writing, I enjoy the bond that we form with each other through a few words stringed together. It has helped me discover many parts of my writing self and reinforced my belief in the incredible power of story-telling to an engaged audience. I would love for you to share any similar experiences with me in the comments to this piece. 

If you are wondering where you can find such groups, the internet or word of mouth from trusted friends is my answer. There are plenty of writing / writer's groups you can find on or through social media. However, it might take some time for you to find the group that fits you best. Keep an open mind and watch out for the vibe from any new groups you join. Remember, that if being part of a certain group is not working for you, the option to abandon it is always open. 

Happy Writing!