Finding the Right Writers Group

People need people. Most of us humans are a gregarious sort. When the writing life becomes discouraging and lonely, it helps to be able to talk to another writer.

This is the virtue of a writers’ group.

I have started a writers group in an area that had none (with one other person over coffee at the kitchen table) and also have come to new areas that had existing clubs to join. Perhaps this discussion will help you in your quest for like-minded people.

Different writer groups and clubs have different approaches, even when the members are pursuing the same goal. My first writers group began when I called an acquaintance who occasionally had a piece published in the local newspaper. I had sold an article to a little bitty music magazine and just wanted to talk with another writer.

Beginning Writers

Sometimes we aren’t sure whether we have what it takes to be a writer.  We’ve been journaling, or have an idea for a novel, have a passion we need to share, read a magazine that we think we can contribute to, or just have the urge to see our name in print. We need people to read our manuscript and have them give us a thumbs up or down.  Maybe they’re beginners, too, and sharing early efforts can improve everybody’s writing.

Find a group of writers who welcome beginners.

Speakers

Some writers groups invite a speaker every meeting. The speaker may be another writer who has made a sale, a psychologist who offers self-encouragement, a CPA who can talk about taxes, someone to talk about marketing, self-publishing, e-books, an agent, a publisher.

Find a writers group that has something new at every meeting.

Genres

There is a writers group for almost any genre: fantasy, science fiction, travel, romance, children’s books from picture books to easy readers to young adult.

Find a group that focuses on what you want to write about.

Everything

Some writers clubs include whatever members want, something different at each meeting. They’ll have a reading of manuscripts one month, a speaker another time, sharing information on markets for articles, agents, or self-publishing, how to present your manuscript, maybe even lessons on grammar and punctuation. And at each meeting they’ll share the joy of acceptance or the dejection of rejection.

Maybe this is the kind of group that will serve you best.

Professionals

Some writers groups gather for the sole purpose of socializing. These may be the professionals, who have already sold a dozen articles or a novel or two and don’t feel the need of “help” to achieve that elusive goal of publication. They have lunch together once a month or meet only a couple times a year for dinner, sharing their successes and failures, talking about agents and publishers.

Whatever your writing experience, there’s a writer or a group of writers willing to welcome you into their circle of supporters.

How do you find the right writers group?  Check at the library, your independent bookstore, google “writers groups” and your zip code.

Learn  about the Florida Writers Association writers groups here. Then contact a writer who is a member of the Florida Writers Association and lives in your area. That’s what I did!

We are all truly Writers Helping Writers.