Sister Scribe


Contemporary Women's Fiction in Color

 
"Read, read, read.  Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, 
and see how they do it.
Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master.  
Read! You'll absorb it.  Then write.  If it's good, you'll find out.  
If it's not, throw it out of the window."
- William Faulkner

How to Start Your Own Writer’s Group

 

� 2006 by Chicki Brown

 

When I started writing I knew I needed support and encouragement. I began looking around for a writer’s group in my area and visited a couple that just didn’t seem to offer what I wanted. It was important to me for the group to include other African-American writers, because I knew I needed someone who understood the nuances of my writing. The groups I had visited weren’t racially balanced. I also wanted a group that did regular critiquing of each other’s work. Neither of them did.

 

So, at my daughter’s encouragement, I finally decided to start my own group at the newest B&N in the area that didn’t have a group meeting there. The Camp Creek Writer’s Fellowship will be going into its second year in August 2006.

 

If you’ve done the same frustrating search, maybe you need to do the same. These are my suggestions for starting your own group.

 

The first step is to decide if it’s going to be a general group for writers of all genres or specific, such as romance only writer’s group.

 

Check with every bookstore in your area to see if they have one. And don’t overlook the small, independent ones. If they don’t have an existing group, ask if you can start one there. The person you need to speak with is the Community Relations Manager (CRM) or the store manager. The former CRM at the Barnes & Noble where we meet did an excellent job of publicizing the group and exposing us to visiting authors and events.

 

Another option is to ask your library if you can reserve a room on a monthly/bi-monthly basis to establish a group. The library and the bookstore will probably require you to fill out an application explaining the purpose and goals of the group, and they will most likely have rules and regulations the group must follow. 

 

If your location is a bookstore, ask if they can put a notice in their newsletter/magazine. If it’s at a local library, ask if you can put up a flyer on their bulletin board and if they can post the announcement on their web site.

 

Another option is to place a classified ad in your local newspaper saying something like:

 

“Anyone interested in joining a writer’s group to:

1) support them in their writing journey;

2) do critiques of their work; 3) attend writing-related events together,

please contact (your name and e-mail address).

 

(It’s wise not to publish your home phone number because

you’re dealing with the general public here, and there’s no

telling what kind of calls you might get!) 

 

Have interested people e-mail you first. Doing everything by e-mail is the most efficient and cost effective way of keeping in touch with group members.

 

Once you start getting responses, ask what day and time is best for each respondent. Choose the one convenient to the majority.

 

Come up with a “new member survey� asking questions about the member like:

-          Name, address, phone numbers � home/work/cell, e-mail addresses

-   What do you write?

-          How long have you been writing?

-          Have you ever been published?  Where?  When?

-          What are you looking for in a writer’s group? (critiques � written or verbal, writing exercises, guest speakers, social activities, field trips)

-          If the group does critiques, are you willing to abide by the rules for honorable critiquing?

-          Do you have any expertise that you feel would benefit the group?

-          Do you have any contacts that benefit the group, e.g., published authors, editors, agents who might be willing to speak at a meeting

-          Are you willing help make photocopies of info to be distributed at meetings

-          How do you feel about dues? How much?

-          Are you willing to contribute towards an honorarium for guest speakers?  If yes, state maximum amount

 

I include copies of the rules in our New Member packet. Author Robyn Amos has an excellent list of rules on her web site, www.robynamos.com called “Critique Group ABC’s.�  Some others are: “The Gentle Critique: How to Survive (and Thrive) in a Critique Group� By Shelly Thacker Meinhardt, “How to Break up a Writer’s Group� (humorous but true) by Alice Fiish at www.speculations.com/breakup.htm

 

After your group gets rolling, it’s a good practice to check up on missing members if they miss a meeting or two.  Send an e-mail or e-card just saying they’re missed. But, as the founder of a group, you can’t get too attached to anyone. You’ll have a core group you can count on, but you’ll also have lots of “floaters,� those who drop in and don’t stay for any number of reasons. Your group may be too elementary for some and too advanced for others.

 

In two years I’ve discovered many writers just want to talk about writing, but they don’t actually want to do any work. Some join with the unstated purpose of taking over the group, and when they find out that’s not going to happen, they disappear. Others are frightened off when they hear the truth about the publishing industry. You can’t help them. Just let them go.

 

As the group leader you may find yourself playing "policewoman/man" at times in order to keep your members focused. Writers LOVE to talk, and often the conversations lead to rabbit trails that take you away from your subject. It's fine to allow members to have their say, just bring them back to your topics when they stray too far!  There will also be instances where strong correction might be necessary, especially if you critique each other's work. Never allow any member to embarrass, browbeat or intimidate another member. 

 

A cohesive, well-intentioned writer’s group can be invaluable to members in building friendships, having a place to blow off steam about frustrations along the journey to publication, and most of all in improving your writing.

Recommended Reading for Writers

The Novel Writer's Toolkit - Bob Mayer (the best book I've ever read on the craft!)

Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul - Jack Canfield & Company

The African-American Writer's Handbook - Robert Fleming

On Writing - Stephen King

You Can Write a Novel - James Smith

Reference

The Dimwit's Dictionary - Robert Fiske

Beyond Jennifer & Jacon, Madison & Montana (A great source for character names)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy - Hirsh, Kett and Trefil

Descriptionary (A Thematic Dictionary) - Marc McCutcheon

Flip Dictionary - Barbara Ann Kipfer

A Grammar Book for You and I ... Oops, Me! - C. Edward Good

Bill Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words - Bill Bryson

Roget's Super Thesaurus - Marc McCutcheon

Roget's Thesaurus of Phrases - Barbara Ann Kipfer

The Elephants of Style - Bill Walsh

For Romance Writers

You Can Write a Romance - Rita Clay Estrada & Rita Gallagher

The Romance Writers' Phrase Book - Jean Kent & Candace Shelton

 

 

My Favorite Web Sites

The web sites listed below are some of the best for writing-related information.

 

Seducing the Muse

� 2005 by Denise V. Jones

   All Rights Reserved

Recently I read an article encouraging writers to pay attention to where, when, and how they write. The location (what room, in/on what piece of furniture), the time of day and whether you write in silence or with noise are direct indicators of what kind of writing space you need.  The article suggested exploring your habits and recognizing what’s necessary for you to be creative and concluded that once you understand these needs, it’ll be easier to work at your creative best.

Although I am a creative person, I am also very organized � anally so, according to my family.  Since I also perform editorial services for other writers, I realized early on I needed find a way to divide my time between my own writing and their editorial projects.  I’ve developed a schedule that works pretty well to keep me on track. 

Because I’m a true morning person, the right-brain stuff (creative) has to be done early while I’m still fresh.  I save the left-brain (analytical) stuff like research and other logical tasks until the afternoon and evening.  The no-brain tasks like vacuuming, doing laundry and cooking I squeeze in whenever.  And to be honest, sometimes they don’t get squeezed in at all.  I‘m not a domestic goddess by any stretch of the imagination, but I am a staunch believer in how atmosphere affects performance.  Here’s what I do to be sure I’m writing under optimal circumstances.

Music  - My muse refuses to grace me with her presence unless she’s ushered in with music, and she’s extremely particular.  I can’t write in silence. Being a music junkie from way back, I love many different styles � Gospel, old school, top 40, jazz, selective rap, and even some “easy listening.� But I can’t just put the radio on and listen to anything when I’m writing. It has to be music that keeps me company yet isn't distracting.

The last thing I need when I’m right in the middle of writing an intense scene is to have the crazed auto salesman screaming at the top of his lungs about the latest “no money down� sale. I can’t tell you how many times my train of thought has been derailed by a commercial or a news bulletin.  So when I’m actually writing the radio is out. 

Recently I discovered Myjazznetwork.com, a site that offers 44 commercial-free music channels. It's wonderful! I also have Comcast as my Internet Service Provider and their music service, Rhapsody is free and offers a decent smooth jazz station. Another online choice is www.saxfm.com, but if you're really a jazz lover, their music will probably seem a little too "canned" for your taste.

The CD player is literally within arm’s reach from my desk, so I don’t have to get up to adjust it.  I’ve created a library of mellow music.  Here are some of my favorites:

            Anything by Kenny G, Alex Bugnon, George Winston, David Benoit, Jim Brickman, Fourplay           (particularly “The Best of� and �Heartfelt,� Corrine Bailey Rae, Kelly Sweet, Janita, and the           late, great Luther Vandross

Come Away with Me � Norah Jones

Ballads � Sarah Vaughn

The Body & Soul Music Series from Allegromusic.com, although some of these are available at Dollar Tree stores for $1.00 each.)

Jazz For A Rainy Afternoon/Jazz for the Quiet Times/Jazz for When You’re Alone � from the Jazz Heritage Music Club

 Mellow instrumental music − you know, those CD’s by nameless artists with titles like, “Moonlight Piano� or “Quiet Afternoons.�  You can find these displays in most stores like Target, Wal-Mart and Office Depot. Most of them are set up so you can listen to a sample of each CD right there in the store.

If you don’t have a CD player, and you’re able to tune out the commercials, find the local jazz or classical station and lock it in. 

My office � Every writer needs her own space, somewhere she can separate herself from the distractions and busyness of daily life. Because there have been between five and seven people living in my house during the past five years, a writing sanctuary wasn’t a luxury � it was a necessity! 

The only available space in my house was a storage room at the back of the house that needed to be finished off.  Fortunately I’m blessed with a handy husband, and we did the work ourselves. He insulated the existing walls and put up sheetrock and I rag rolled them in soft shades of ivory, taupe and peach. Then he put in a window to give me some natural light, hung suspended ceiling and a fluorescent light.  I went shopping for candles, art, storage, plants, and a rug to cover the horrendous plywood floor. The walls are adorned with my favorite Scriptures, inspirational quotes and personal photographs.  I ended up with a great space of natural textures and African accents for under five hundred dollars. 

      

I just heard some of you laughing at that. I totally understand.  Sometimes even five hundred can be a stretch.  In that case, I suggest you study your house or apartment for a corner you can cordon off with a folding screen or two (two is better.)  Large thrift shops like the Salvation Army, Good Will or America’s Thrift carry furniture that only needs to be cleaned up and given a new home.  These repositories of discarded treasures can often have desks and bookshelves for twenty dollars. Equip your workspace from the local dollar store where you can get office supplies as well as items like clocks, bookends, dictionaries, computer disk holders scented candles, and pictures for the walls  � all of one buck!   But no matter what your budget is, make it top priority to decorate the space to encourage your creativity.

I love my office, but it’s not the only place where I write.  I’ve discovered some of my best writing is done when I’m out.  My absolute favorite place to write is by the water, preferably the ocean.  But since we’re landlocked in Atlanta, driving to Savannah or St. Simon’s Island every day is out of the question.  But we do have some lovely lakes and reservoirs in Georgia and I’ve located every one within a ten-mile radius of my house.  This is where the glove compartment desk comes in.  Authors Allen and Linda Anderson have a great web site, www.writingontherun.com, where they say, 

“First, throw out unnecessary items from the glove compartment. Put items you don’t need all the time in a box in the trunk. Make room for a writer’s essential gear. Next, put into the glove compartment a couple of small, spiral-bound notebooks with pens attached to or inside the spirals. Place extra pens, wrapped together with a rubber band or in a container, near the notebooks. You may also want to include an audiocassette or mini-cassette tape recorder. Make sure you are carrying at least two blank cassettes � one in the recorder and the other in the glove compartment.  Now, you are ready to ‘write on the run.� �

Working out in public is a wonderful change of pace for an isolated writer, and the hum of the crowd is non-distracting.  Living in Metro Atlanta my favorite hangouts have become the Atlanta Bread Company and any Barnes & Noble Caf�.  The only drawback to these wonderful spots where they allow you stay and work for hours is that extreme discipline is necessary in order to avoid gorging on the bakery treats.  The food court in a mall is another good spot. The drawbacks to writing there can be: 1) they are hazardous if you’re a compulsive shopper, and 2) the gorging thing again and, 3) the chairs can be uncomfortable when sitting for long stretches.

I encourage you to find the atmosphere that’s best for you.  I read about a woman who didn’t have any extra space in her home except a walk-in closet.  So she turned the closet into a delightful workspace.  You may not be a decorator, but if you’re a writer then you are a creative person.  Use that imagination to make the place where you write unique and inspiring.  Your muse will show her appreciation.

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