Finding the Writing Group that Works for You

 As a writer, you already know that writing is a solitary act.  As we capture the words on paper, we struggle on our own.  We writers do some pretty peculiar things: sit in a chair for hours either scribbling furiously or staring at a blank screen; talk to ourselves in different tones and voices; make odd gestures in the air, capturing the words to describe how a touch feels on your skin.

Pretty strange stuff.

Non-writers don’t get it.  While they try to be supportive, some of the stuff we do is downright odd. Only a fellow writer would understand.  We all need a sense of community.  A place where we can feel safe and understood.  A place where we can be who we are.  This is where the true value of belonging to a writers group lies.

If you’re considering joining a writers group, there are many choices.  The key is to finding the one that works best for you.  Here are some steps to follow to find the group that is right for you:

Step 1: Evaluate your needs.

Start with your most immediate reasons for wanting to join a group. Are you looking to hone and improve your writing skills?  Would you like to receive feedback on your writing? Are you ready to publish but don’t know what to do next? Are you interested to meet other writers and get to know like-minded individuals.  Identifying these immediate goals will help to identify the right kind of group for you.

Next, evaluate with honesty and humility, your writing experience level.  How many stories have you written? Have you taken any classes or workshops?  Do you have a story actually written? Or do you have a story idea in mind that you would like to write, but haven’t?   If you’ve written a lot, you may find yourself too advanced for a group of newer, younger writers.  If you’ve never written something, but think you’ve got a good story to write, a group with many professional writers may not be the place for you.

Examine the time and energy available to you that you are willing to commit to a group.  All groups require a certain level of participation and commitment to be mutually beneficial to all participants.   If you do not have much time available to you to be out of the home, an online group might work best for you.  Also, you must be willing to share and contribute to discussions to gain the most benefit. If you’re only interested in what you can get, some groups may not be available to you.

Step 2: Understand the kind of groups available to you.

There are several types of writing groups available to you. While an in-person group would be great, online groups options are abundant. Both come in the following forms:

Writing Practice Groups. These groups are focused on the practice of writing.  The hold regular meetings where the participants sit down and write through the session.  Each writer can work on their own pieces, or create fresh pieces from prompts.

 

Critique Groups.  These groups are created specifically for the exchange of feedback between each of the participants.   Typically, prior to each session, the participants exchange their work  with each other to read in advance.  During the session, the participants exchange their thoughts on each other’s pieces.  Given the often sensitive nature of the act of offering and receiving critique, most critique groups follow very strict guidelines to ensure that the sessions are beneficial to all.

Social/Support Groups.  These groups are mainly focused on the social aspect of being a writer.  The main goal of such groups is to create connections with other writers.  During meetings, the members discuss the joys and ails of writing, their journeys to publication, their war stories and victories.  Only a fellow writer will understand the plight of the other.  Sometimes, other writers are invited to speak to the members to share their thoughts or give workshops or talks about certain aspects of the craft and the publication business.

Accountability Groups.  These groups are focused on helping their members accomplish their tasks.  Usually groups like these are created when all the writer members are on the same creative footing, such as creating their first drafts; completing revisions, etc.  The members report to each other their progress at regular intervals.  

Step 3: Identify the writers’ group that you would like to join.

Once you understand what kind of group you’re looking for, it’s time to start your search.  There are three elements you should be looking for in considering a specific group. Some of these elements, you may be able to discern, early on, and some you may discover later on after participating.

1. The group has a stated or identified purpose or mission:

The group must have a defined purpose or mission.  Whether it is to simply be a support group for writers; or provide critique or other valuable feedback.  While it is not necessary for the group to have a written down mission statement, a successful writers’ group’s main purpose must be clear shared by all its members. This mission must match your own goals.  If not, you won’t feel like you are in the right place.

2. The group is structured.

How many members does the group have? Is there a leader? Are there other members who act as part of a leadership team?  Are there subgroups within the whole that provides the support you are looking for? Are there any “secret groups” that seem to emerge within the group? Is the structure flexible?  As the needs of a members of the group evolve, can the group address those changes?  Are there opportunities for members to join the leadership team, or be a major contributor to the leadership?

A successful groups’ structure must be identifiable and unambiguous, and you must be comfortable with the structure of the group.  If not, you could feel lost or like a guppy in a tank of sharks.

3. The group follows through.

Do the meetings happen as scheduled? Do they start on time?  Do the members fulfill their commitments? Do the members participate in the activities with sincerity and cooperation?  If you find that the group does not follow through, you will feel let down and disappointed.  While this is one of the elements that is not discernible from the get-go, attending one or two meetings should be enough to figure out if the group will meet your needs.

Step 4: Join the group and evaluate your experience.

Once you’ve identified the groups (yes, groups) you are interested in, give them each a try.  This is the only way to truly find out if the group is a good fit for you.  Especially, whether or not the group follows through on their commitments.

Keep in mind that you must understand the requirements to be part of the group.  Is there a membership fee? If yes, do they offer a free trial period?  Look into what opportunities they offer aside from meeting attendance.  In some groups, especially critique groups, there may be attendance/participation requirements in order to receive critiques.  There are very specific reasons for this, and one of the foremost reasons is to keep the members work, dignity, and privacy safe.

Try to attend at least two meetings to get a better feel of the fit.  You must leave the meeting (even the very first one) feeling invigorated, excited, and inspired.  If at any point you feel unwelcome, insecure, or lost in the shuffle, the group may not be the right one for you.

Step 5: Try other groups.

It may take several attempts to find the right group for you.  Don’t give up or be disappointed if a group doesn’t feel right.  There are many options available. You will find a group for you.  

Membership in a writers’ group is not a requirement to succeed in this business.  You can certainly go it alone if that is your inclination.  It certainly is a long journey though. Making friends and meeting people along the way, especially ones who understand your goals and your intended destination, sure makes it all the  more enjoyable.

For your consideration:

The South Jersey Writers' Group was founded in 2007 to provide networking and development opportunities for local writers. Meetings are held regularly for topic-based discussion about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. Some of our members are published, some are working on it, others just write for themselves. We are all ages, all genres, all backgrounds, and all levels of experience. The group also offers a critique group, write-ins, blogfests, and workshops to their members and the public.  

We are always open to new membership and offer a 60 day free trial membership period to all prospective members.  Please visit www.southjerseywriters.com to sign up.

Please visit us online at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and our blog.

Top Five Reasons to Go to the Philadelphia Writers' Conference 2015

C'mon, Jim, just one conference, it'll make you feel good...

By Jim Knipp 

It’s all Krista Magrowski’s fault.  This whole infatuation with the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference started with her innocent little statement of “the Philly conference is happening soon, you should check it out.”

I checked it out.  And within two years of that first conversation, I was on the Executive Board, building registration sites, and generally doing nothing but breathing, eating, and sleeping Philadelphia Writers’ Conference for six months out of the year (the other six months are spent dreaming about the next conference.)  That first conference was five years ago, and I think I love it more every year.  And this year I’m especially excited.  I’ll give you five reasons why.

Our speakers. Both our opening and our keynote speaker are nationally recognized talents and I really can’t wait to hear what they have to say.

uh...dude, that was a cheetah...

Opening speaker Sara Shepard caught a tiger by the tail a decade ago when her debut novel Pretty Little Liars hit the shelves.  And she’s ridden that tiger like Harold and Kumar through thirty novels, two television series, and enough awards to need a second or third mantle.

Speaking of awards, every year The American Society of Magazine Editors gives out the National Magazine Award.  It’s basically the magazine version of the Pulitzer Prize.   Our Keynote speaker, Stephen Fried, has two of them.  TWO!  It’s like he won the first and decided he needed a matching piece to balance out his book shelf.  Stephen as won these by writing about subjects as varied as supermodels to restaurateurs; from the joys and trials of being a husband and father to the trials and lies surrounding the pharmaceutical industry.

Dan Stabb

Our Workshops. In addition to our regular standbys The Novel, Short Story, and Poetry, we also will be offering Playwriting, three separate genre workshops (Mystery/Thriller, Young Adult, and Romance), plus a great assortment of features, including an hour with Sara Shepard to talk about her experiences selling pieces to Hollywood and an exciting course about developing your improvisational skills to help your writing.

Melinda Emerson

Most exciting for me is a three-day workshop on Social Media with “Small-Biz” lady Melinda Emerson.  While we’ve offered social media workshops before, they’ve always been shorter affairs, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much more in depth we can get by giving Melinda three hours to walk through these most necessary of tools.

Could it be you?

Agents and Editors.  As writers who want to market our work, and who know how hard it is to get the attention of an agent or a marketplace, the chance to sit down with an agent or an editor is damn near priceless.  And at the PWC, you’re offered that chance!  On Friday afternoon, we have five minute “speed dates” were you can pitch your work or even just discuss some of the challenges you face or the ideas you have.  The market last year seemed to finally open a little, and it was great to sit at the registration table and hear some of the chatter from the agents (or even better, help track down a conferee who an agent wanted to speak to again!).  Markets seem to be trending as open again, so I can’t wait to see who I’ll be helping towards success this year.

Critiques not following guidelines get reviewed by Carl;  you don’t want your piece reviewed by Carl.

Critiques.  Most of us belong to critique groups where our peers offer feedback on our work.  How would you like nationally recognized, Asimov and Tor published Fran Wilde to critique your short story?  Or maybe have your blank verse checked out by Ken Pobo, the Linback Award-winning PhD who teaches at Widener University.  Or how about international bestseller Suzanne Palmieri (The Witch of Bourbon Street) or the award-winning Solomon Jones (Pipe Dream) giving your novel excerpt a read through?  All of our three-day workshop leaders have agreed to critique work.  You won’t get that opportunity anywhere else.

Networking.   During my first conference, I met Don Lafferty who essentially is the midwife of my blog, KnippKnopp.  I met Kelly Simmons who said four words to me (“that was fu**ing awesome”) that keep me going to this day.  During the second conference, I met Jonathan Maberry, who let me interrupt his breakfast to give me additional imput on the piece I submitted for critique.  And the networking isn’t limited to board members and workshop leaders.  I’d need four extra hands to count the friends I’ve made, the advice and input I’ve been granted, and the energy I’ve gained by just meeting other writers, sharing in their stories, and seeing how similar they were to my own.

Wait, isn’t that this many?

Cost.  The price of admission (minimum $270) seems high.  If you compare to other conferences, you’ll find the PWC is right in-line (and in many cases lower), then comparable conferences.  But I understand when there are bills to pay, it may not matter and scraping together that cash can be tough. 

To that end, the PWC board has done a few things.  One, we extended the student discount to all students.  So if you’re attending a local college, you can attend for 50% of the price.  Two, we’re keeping the writer’s group scholarships.  The SJWG scholarship has already been awarded, but if you’re part of  another writers group that hasn’t been issued code, talk with the group, register them, and claim their code.  Finally, we’ve initiated a group discount policy.  If you register with seven others as a group, you get 20% (that’s up to $60) knocked right off the top.

And if you can get nine dressed like this, I’ll make sure you get the best seats at dinner

I truly believe that all of the things I mention above: the critiques, the camaraderie, the exposure are invaluable.  For the years before I joined the board, I always considered the conference an investment.  I really hope you see it that way too, and I hope to see you at the Philadelphia Writers' Conference!

About today's guest-blogger: 

Jim Knipp is a writer only in the sense that he very occasionally gets to actually write things.  He has been not-writing like this for over thirty years and most recently can be found posting ridiculous things on his blog, KnippKnopp, or guest writing for the very patient folks at BiffBamPop!.  In addition to not-writing, Jim is an HR Project Manager at Comcast, the Registrar for the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, and a member of exceedingly seedy standing at the South Jersey Writers’ Group.

What Makes a Character?

 

Missy's smooth, tan legs walked on black wedges as a morning breeze gently played with her hair, a deep brown to match her eyes.  Although she wasn’t always aware of it, her tongue continued to touch the small scar on her lip from when her mother won, by force, last year’s battle of which skirt she would wear on the first day of high school.  On this year’s first day, Missy wore the same denim skirt, but her legs had grown two inches longer since the end of the previous year, and her chest increased about the same.  This year, in trade for wearing the skirt, she handed over the lipstick to her mother after plucking it from her Coach purse.  As she turned the corner, out of her mother’s view, she quickly unbuttoned the sweater that had been hiding the white cotton top that allowed the red bra to shine through.  Welcome to sophomore year.

That’s Missy in about 160 words.  We’ve got her hair, eyes, clothes, shoes, legs, and a scar inside her lip.  Is that a character?  Could be.  Perhaps you find her interesting enough so far, or perhaps you’ll find this version of Missy more  interesting…

As each step brought Missy closer to the first day of school, her pace softened.  She knew that regardless of which teachers or classes were typed on her senior-year schedule, the only factor that would determine between a good or bad day was whether or not she crossed paths with either of the boys who, according to rumors, managed to get her drunk enough to forget her own name after convincing her to sneak away from the July 4th fireworks only two months prior.

Again we have Missy, but only about 80 words.  Lacking this time is anything you can “see.”  No hair, eyes, clothes, shoes, or scar.  Nothing in the way of the kind of character description that most readers enjoy and many writers work to deliver.  But what do we really know about this “character”?  Which is “better”?  Which is  more “descriptive”?  Depends.  What do you really need to know? 

I have sat through a good handful of sessions with people who are very certain they are not only writing experts but are able to make me one as well.  I have laughed each time these writing “teachers” handed me a form with boxes and lines designed to guide me into creating my character.  On these forms were spaces for the exact date and city of birth, same details about immediate family, street address, nickname of the high school mascot, how many people they’ve had sex with, favorite color and movie and food, etc.  Probably not the sex part, but that’s just me perverting yet another blog post, but the point is this – do you really need to know all of that information to create a good character?  I don’t think so.

In Connecting Flight, a novel I wrote about a year ago that will be published in January of 2015, there were two very important characters:  Chris and Ann.  I did not include much about their physical descriptions because, to me, it wasn’t necessary.  I wrote that Ann had bright blonde hair and a black top.  Those details were important only because she was a model, and the blonde over black helped her stand out when someone spotted her in an airport.  I mentioned that Chris had been teaching high school math for 15 years and no longer had the physique he once possessed from when he played first base on his college baseball team.  I briefly mentioned khaki pants and sneakers, but I put nothing about hair or eye color, nothing about height or weight, not specifically. 

More important to me was that Chris was a control freak, afraid of flying, had some small spots of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and was harboring guilt that he caused his 8-year old son's death as well as suspicions that his wife was having an affair.  Ann was an earthy but aging model looking for one last hurrah while also suspecting her spouse of cheating.   Why didn’t I focus much on their appearances?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t “read” books.  Instead, I “watch” movies on paper.  What I mean is that when I read a book, I have a movie playing in my head.  I decide, sometimes regardless of what the author has told me, which actors I think would be good to play each character if the book were (and in my head, it is) a movie.  While writing that story and watching the “movie” in my head, the part of Chris was played by Tom Hanks.  Ann was played by Meg Ryan because they fit my personal vision/description for those characters, not just just in appearance but in attitude as well.

I thought about previous films I had seen.  I took the Tom Hanks from Saving Private Ryan (not the soldier, just his hardened yet scared, matter-of-fact personality) and the Meg Ryan from Kate and Leopold, and they seemed like who I wanted to play the parts of Chris and Ann.  As I wrote, I “saw” them performing my writing as if it were a movie, and I simply typed what I was seeing.  That’s how I write, and that’s how I read.

I don’t always need to care about the character descriptions you might provide in your story.  If Steve Martin or Tina Fey seem right for the part, I will ignore your description (if there is any) and see who I choose as I turn each page.  If Emma Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio seem a better fit, then you can save all that work you put into your character profiles.

How much do you need to know about a character for them to become a “character”?  Do you need to know exactly how old she is?  Precise hair color and/or length?  Height or weight?  Eye color?  What does it matter?  That depends. 

The most likely use of such a description for me would be if later in the story I needed something, a small aspect, to add a little extra dimension to the story.  However, if I write all of this before beginning the story – as these writing teachers suggest – then my later additions will likely be influenced by the previously written description.  Instead of prescribing that description, let it wait until you actually need to create those dimensions, and then you can tune them however necessary to fit what the story or character needs at that moment.  If you create the description and background before writing your story, you might just paint yourself into a corner.

Perhaps later in the story you want to show how a girl may or may not be the daughter of a certain man.  One way would be to use eye color.  If a girl had Aruba Blue eyes (I did NOT make that up), but both of her parents had caramel brown, then it’s important because it might provoke a question about who her parents really might be.  I only need to know how long her hair is if there’s a reason, such as if later she’s going to cut her hair and donate it to make wigs for cancer patients or obsessed with her appearance.  I only need to know if she hides make up from her parents if she’s going to increase her rebelliousness and it should be foreshadowed, or perhaps if the lipstick will cause her to be mistaken as older than she actually is.

So let’s have fun.  I’ll write a paragraph about a character, but there will be minimal or no physical, visual description.  Then ask yourself, does it matter?  Do you have enough for him to be a "character"?

For the third consecutive day, George’s alarm did not ring.  He started to sit up quickly until he realized that his back would not allow him to do anything quickly.  His legs trembled as one, then the other, fell over the side of the bed and reached for the floor, touching once and again before planting confidently enough.  Fingers, with nails longer than most, gripped the side of the bed as he pulled himself to sit up.  He was already out of breath, but it was only the beginning.  The skin of his legs, naked and pale, tightened as he leaned forward, using his body weight to get closer to upright.  He nearly toppled forward until reaching and catching the back of a chair next to the bed.  He closed his eyes and exhaled with thanks that he wasn’t on the floor.  After catching his breath and allowing some strength to return to his legs, he surveyed the room.  Then, just like the previous two days, he struggled to remember where he was and why.

You might say these are only small samples, and somewhere in the rest of the story there could be the more expected kinds of physical and visual descriptions.  In some cases you would be right but not always.  All I need to know when I read, and all I usually write, is what is happening inside the character – not outside.  Tell me what he is thinking, doing, and saying, and I can fill in the rest myself.

I have invited readers to read chapters of the aforementioned characters Chris and Ann through my 80,000 word story and then tell me two things:

1. How have you imagined their ages and appearances?
2. Does it matter at all?

The responses to the first question were quite varied, but the answer to the second question was rather consistent.  None of the readers cared in the least.  Everyone who responded, roughly 20 people, all said that they were doing exactly as I do – they imagine their own descriptions as they see fit, occasionally disregarding what writers might provide. 

My suggestion is to worry more about the story, the motivations, actions, and thoughts of a character.  Think of them as just pencil sketches with a brain.  Make them move and think, but be sure you know why and where they are moving and what and why they are thinking.  The same for pieces of the setting, like houses, cars, and rooms, just sketches.  Later, if or when necessary, then you can give it all a nice coat of paint.

SJWG Membership Is Now Open!

Welcome Writers!

Are you a writer in the South Jersey area and looking for a group of like-minded individuals for support, discussion, critique, organization, and community? The South Jersey Writers' Group may be for you. Some of what we're about can be found here.

Now, as opposed to having seasonal openings in membership, the South Jersey Writers' Group will now be permanently open for membership. Memberships in the group are $25.00 per year, discounted for students. This fee helps to pay for our meeting spaces, some events, author speaking engagements, social events, and much more.

Most months we feature the regular meeting that sometimes has speakers, discussions, workshops, and demonstrations, and we also have Write-Ins, Critique Sessions, Blogfests, contests, book signings, field trips, retreats, and open mikes. That's not even mentioning the social aspect of chilling with other writers.

This new process for membership removes the need for our previous "Open Membership Period" from October to December. So spread the word, share our links, and invite others to join. We have just welcomed 41 new members to the group. Jump right in! New members are welcome for a 60 day trial period. Dues will need to be paid within 60 days, or they will automatically be removed. New members may also join at any time, so spread the word!

This new process greatly cuts down on the management involved in tracking dues and membership. Your online dues payments will be handled by WePay and Meetup.com.

Also, please check out the website for a full calendar of events, resources, and our discussion boards. All the group details can be found here. We also have a blog, a Facebook page, and Twitter. Join the community!

SJWG Membership Is Open!

Our great new logo by member Shelley Szajner

Welcome Writers!

Are you a writer in the South Jersey area and looking for a group of like-minded individuals for support, discussion, critique, organization, and community? The South Jersey Writers' Group may be for you. Some of what we're about can be found here.

2012's anthology by the SJWG

Now through the end of the year, the South Jersey Writers' Group is open for membership. Memberships in the group are $25.00 per year, discounted for students. This fee helps to pay for our meeting spaces, some events, author speaking engagements, the party at the end of the year, and much more.

Most months we feature the regular meeting that sometimes has speakers, discussions, workshops, and demonstrations, and we also have Write-Ins, Critique Sessions, Blogfests, contests, book signings, field trips, retreats, and open mikes. That's not even mentioning the social aspect of chilling with other writers.

You can pay by attending the main meetings before the end of the year including our main meeting on Thursday, November 21st - our Creativity and the Drive to Write event with speaker Merry Jones. Cash or check accepted by the group organizers.

Or you can simply click on the "Pay Online" button, under "2014 Annual Dues," on the left side of the screen at the South Jersey Writers' Group website. Or, to make things easy, you can just click right here right now. The payment will be taken from your credit card at Amazon Payments.

Amy Hollinger and Jennifer M. Eaton at a SJWG event

If you have already paid, thank you, and we'll see you throughout the year. And if you haven't paid yet, thank you in advance, or thank you for considering the South Jersey Writers Group!

And also apologies for further notices that may come in your email - Meetup doesn't allow us to select just those who haven't paid. If you get one after you've paid, just peruse it for further announcements, but ignore the membership reminder. Sound like a plan?

Also, please check out the website for a full calendar of events, resources, and our discussion boards. All the group details can be found here. We also have a blog, a Facebook page, and Twitter. Join the community!