So you’re interested in starting a writing group. Great! We’re in the same boat. But it can be a little daunting to know exactly what you should bring. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this post, we will give you some top tips on what to bring to a writing group, including ideas on what type of meetings to hold and who you should invite to participate.
Types of Meetings
The first thing to consider is the type of meetings you will have. Do you want to have a weekly meeting, a seasonal or a special event meeting? A weekly writing group typically meets once a week and can range from a couple of hours to an hour and a half. A seasonal meeting might meet in the winter and spring to work on new writing projects and to give each other support During quarantine, many writers and artists have turned to Zoom meetings for inspiration and the opportunity to discuss literature and writing. If you’re looking for a more social encounter, you could host a special event meeting where you invite local authors and/or illustrators to come and speak with you and your group. You could also look into having a silent or reading group where individuals can come to read and discuss a piece of literature without the pressure of speaking.
Who Should you Invite to Attend the Meetings?
One of the most important things to consider is who you should invite to participate in your writing group. Who better to ask than those who have experience in writing and/or illustrating children’s books? Since children’s literature is one of the genres that can be easily transitioned to comics, it’s a perfect fit for beginners and those looking to improve their skills. A typical invitation to a writing group would look like this:
- Hi there,
- My name is <insert name> and I am a novelist and children’s book writer. I would love to join your group. Do you have a meeting coming up?
- Thanks for inviting me! I would love to attend. When is the next meeting?
Include only people that you think will benefit from coming to your writing session. Having too many “people around the water cooler” can be stifling. It’s like having a large group discussion where no one feels comfortable speaking up. Having a few participants with specific skillsets can help unleash your creative side, giving you new perspectives on your work. Having new people around to bounce ideas off of is always rewarding and can help improve your work. However, remember: you’re a pool of inspiration, too!
What Should You Bring To The Meetings?
Now that you know when and where the meetings will be held, it’s time to consider what you should bring. Do you need a place to write? What type of setting do you prefer? Are you looking for someone to brainstorm with? Do you need someone to edit your work?
Think about what type of experience you need and what you want to get out of the meetings. Do you need someone to give you feedback on your manuscript or are you happy to go over your work with a fine-toothed comb?
Your writing group needs a dedicated space. It needs a computer, a printer, and somewhere to sit. Depending on how long the meetings are, you might want to bring a few bottles of wine, some snacks and a supply of paper. Since you’re working on different genres, you might want to bring samples of your work, as well as books on your chosen topic. If you’re looking for advice, you can bring a specific project and ask the group for their thoughts. Or you can ask them to give you feedback on your characters or plot. Being able to compare notes on a particular story can be very helpful, as well as giving you ideas for future works. Another option is to ask authors or illustrators to come and give a presentation on their craft. Seeing how others interpret the material can be an invaluable learning tool, as well as being a great way to make new connections. The list of useful items here is quite long, but you get the idea.
Whatever you do, make sure you have everything before the first meeting. Being prepared will ease your mind and help you get the most out of the sessions. And don’t forget: you’re a writer, so you know how important it can be to have everything written down. Make sure you have all your scenes and dialogue written, as well as the rough draft of your manuscript. This will help you get a feel for the flow of the story, as well as allow you to go back and add additional details, if needed. Don’t worry, we understand that creating a mock-up can be a laborious process, and sometimes it’s better to just write and see how it all works out. But at least you’ll have a good starting point. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll even find that it’s faster and more efficient to write a short story rather than dive into a novel. Who knows?