O’ Captain, My Captain: Taming the Writers Group Monsters

It never fails. Iron sharpens iron. It’s so dependable an axiom that it’s also a cliche. 

If you want to get better as a writer, surround yourself with other writers who will challenge and inspire you. One of the best ways to do that is through being part of a writers’ group. The trick is usually in finding one that is focused on what you need from it and one that is filled with writers you “click” with. 

The problem is that far too often, groups fizzle out because they’re not really accomplishing anything truly helpful for the group’s members. For every 5 groups created, it feels like at least 7 die on the vine. 

Okay, I know that’s statistically impossible, but it sure as hell can feel that way when you’re looking for a group that can help you become a better, more efficient and effective wordslinger. 

Perhaps the most amazing writers’ group I was ever a part of grew out of a college creative writing class. During the class, it was a melee of opinions — informed, uninformed, and everything between — not particularly helpful. But after class (after the class had ended too) four of us continued to meet once a week for coffee before school and really pushed each other to work within our chosen styles to become better at putting our ideas into stories. It worked because we were able to cut through all the nonsense of the large class and get together those who really wanted to improve. 

However, the biggest obstacle to building such a group is most often the group’s members themselves. 

Read the full article: 

https://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2022/02/o-captain-my-captain-taming-writers.html