Writer's Group ? - Writers Forum

Susie's Mom · 10-14-2007, 12:19 PM

Yesterday, I went to the first meeting of a new writer's group. Most of the discussion was about what direction we want the group to take and the subject of bylaws came up. All of us being new, the only suggestion was that there should be cake for every birthday.

I know that a lot of you out there are members of such groups. What kind of bylaws do you have? Do you think a group should be closed or open to all comers? Any advice would be welcome.

lin · 10-14-2007, 12:58 PM

I have never been to a writer's group that I though was worth the time.

Photography groups have been...but mostly because there is technique in photography. And equipment (grunt, squeal, other male gear-hog noises).

Cakes don't make people better writers. What they make is a social occasion. Nothing wrong with that, could be fun. I don't know why a group like that needs bylaws. Anything that comes up can be voted on immediately.

If you are close, you stagnate. If you let anybody fall by, you risk jerks who disrupt. And it's tough for most to tell somebody to quit coming because they're a jerk. One possibility: new people get a probation period. Three meetings or whatever.

But if they are nice 3 times, then start being assholes, what do you do? Vote them out while they are sitting right there? Have as secret meeting to deal with them?

This is why "blackball" systems evolve. The group has a leader (who can be chosen each meeting to avoid having ossified control) and if three people contact the leader in private saying they are uncomfortable with the person, the leader contacts them and tells them it's been decided that their goals aren't in accord with those of the group.

If they show up anyway, kill them and bake them into a cake.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-14-2007, 01:05 PM

hahaha. I agree with that. The killing and baking them into a cake that is.

RomanticRose · 10-14-2007, 01:56 PM

I'm in a critique group. One of our by-laws is no refreshments. It's a matter of focus, and we meet in a room in a used book store.

Our membership cap is 12. More than that and it can get out of control.

When your work is up for critique, you assume the "fly on the wall" persona. You listen to what everyone has to say without defending your work.

I find the group pretty useful. Every time a chapter goes up for crit, I get 11 opinions. If one person says they didn't get a particular passage, it might not bother me. If three or four people say they didn't get a particular passage, I'm going to give it a close look and see if i can improve clarity. If 6 or 7 people say it, I have my red pen uncapped so fast it will make your headspin.

Another benefit is getting to know the stylistic personalities of the group, which can alter the weight your give to a particular critique.
Example: There is a screenwriter in my group. He thinks all exposition or narrative is pure evil. If it isn't dialogue or action, it should be gone. So, if he's the only one who says my chapter is exposition heavy, I really don't worry about it too much. (He pretty much thinks Hemmingway is exposition heavy.) But, if this same man tells me that my dialogue doesn't ring true, I listen. He is a screenwriter; dialogue is his stock in trade.

There I go rambling again. Sorry.

R.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-14-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WordWeaver

Of course you do. You're Lin's lackey.

Hilarious, again. Find an avenue, find that path of logical thought that will open up my argument and unlock the door. You can't beat me can you? You're just throwing insults because you can't win and spat the dummy.

Susie's Mom · 10-14-2007, 06:14 PM

Ahem! Has a fight broken out in my absence? I've been offline all day with a pet emergency and what do I find when I come back?

Or maybe this an example of what can happen when a writer's group goes bad?

TimK · 10-14-2007, 07:39 PM

If I were to join or form a writer's group, I would probably treat it like a mastermind group. Now, most mastermind groups are established for small businesses to improve their strategy. But it seems to me the concept would also work for a writers' group.

(Don't know for sure, because I haven't actually tried it. It's just a concept.)

-TimK

P.S. What Kate Wilhelm describes in Storyteller has some of the charcteristics of a mastermind.

Susie's Mom · 10-14-2007, 08:02 PM

TimK,

Thanks for the tip about the mastermind group. I had never heard of mastermind, but looked up your link and liked, very much what I saw. I printed some of the information and will take it to our next meeting.

kidstaple · 10-15-2007, 04:25 PM

Not to change the subject, but how would a person, such as myself start a writing group? I'm 17, and a senior in highschool. I have thought about broadcasting it on the school announcements, but because I want a max number of people who can join the group, I don't think that would be the best way to go about it.

Also, the school already has a writing group, but you can only participate in it if you are taking creative writing... but, because I go to a trade school in the morning, I have to take the required classes in the afternoon, which means I can't take creative writing, and join their group.

I hope I didn't bore anyone, but that's my perdicament at the moment, and I don't know what the hell to do. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Susie's Mom · 10-15-2007, 08:30 PM

Sounds like the same problem we've had. I've been waiting for a long time for a writer's group. I notice you're from central Indiana. Anywhere near Greencastle? That's where the group I'm talking about is. If not, you might try talking to your local library. Book stores. If your town is big enough, there's bound to be at least one other writer or aspiring writer in the vicinity.
If all else fails, advertise in your local newspaper. Or online. Some of the online groups are just as good as in-person ones.