The writing group

Whenever I can, I go to a writing group. It’s really simple: a place (usually a café or a library with a quieter, more secluded area), a date and time, one hour of writing without talking, followed by an optional time to chat and exchange ideas.

“But couldn’t I just sit in a café by myself and write?”

A clear no. Well, of course I could. But no, it’s definitely not the same.

Here are some of the reasons I believe it’s worth regularly attending a writing group:

A set time to write

No putting it off. No excuses. You have an appointment, and that means that if you don’t go, you’ll probably have to cancel on the other participants. Maybe you’re a little like me: a commitment involving other people simply feels more binding than telling yourself you’re going to go sit in a café and write alone. And I rarely cancel.

Everyone writes, but no one asks about your work or judges its quality

The first few times I went to the writing group, I felt pretty insecure. What would the others say? Would I have to tell them what I had written?

A clear no.

Everyone in your writing group understands that writing is often a personal and intimate process. No one is expected to share anything about their work.

Sometimes, after the writing session, an open conversation develops about what everyone worked on or how much progress they made. But that’s completely optional. You can either leave right after the hour is over, or, if the conversation starts and you don’t want to share anything, you can simply say, “I journaled today.” Everyone understands that it’s private, and no one asks any further questions.

By now, I’ve gotten comfortable with the group, and I’m also completely open about it when I’m stuck or have been procrastinating. Usually, that’s met with understanding. Sometimes people offer suggestions, and I can decide whether I want to take them or leave them.

The atmosphere of being surrounded by writers

For me, it creates a productive atmosphere. It’s like going to a nice office and seeing your coworkers.

The group usually meets in a quieter, more secluded area, which creates a certain work atmosphere. I know: Now I’m writing. Whatever that means for me that day, I give myself complete freedom.

But I can tell you one thing: something has always come out of it. And the process has always felt good.

Even when I initially can’t find a starting point, I’ve only ever stopped and left in the middle of a writing session once. Usually, after about 20 minutes, I find my way into something. Even if all I’m doing is researching a topic.

An hour goes by quickly. And when things are flowing, I can move from one idea to the next without any pressure, and by the end of the writing session, I often want to keep writing on my own.

The exchange with other writers

Most people who love to write spend a lot of time writing alone. That’s why it feels incredibly good to me to meet other writers.

As I mentioned, the chat afterwards is completely voluntary, supportive, and inspiring. The things people write couldn’t be more different. Our writing group includes musicians, game designers, bloggers, aspiring novelists, and already-published authors.

But talking about writer’s block, inspiration, research, and writing events helps all of us. Sometimes it’s as simple as realizing that someone else is struggling to move forward, too.

There’s absolutely no competition between the participants. Everyone knows that each person’s experience is their own, and that the original author is always going to know their own work better than anyone else. So everyone stays focused on their own project.

The support within the group is actually so strong that we even have a WhatsApp group where upcoming writing events, such as seminars or other groups like “Live Reading” (reading your work aloud and getting feedback), are shared.

How to find a writing group

If I’ve made you curious about writing groups, take a look and see if there’s one in your area.

I found mine through the Meetup app. Other social networks also be worth checking out, as well as bulletin boards at universities or libraries where writing events are posted.

Attending a local writing event or seminar can also be a great way to discover other groups and opportunities in your area.

Or—and this might be the bravest option—start your own writing group!

From my experience, I can tell you that there are plenty of creative people out there who are just waiting for an opportunity like this. You don’t need much: a meeting place, a phone timer, your writing supplies, and you’re ready to go.

Ideally, a writing group meets regularly—every week, on the same day, at the same place, at the same time—and in person rather than online.

You can absolutely benefit from an online group, too. But I’m convinced that meeting in person creates a stronger commitment and is more effective.

And even if the group meets regularly, that doesn’t mean you have to go every time. In our group, for example, there are writing sessions five days a week at four different locations.

Changing locations can be refreshing, even though by now I definitely have my favorite cafés to write in.

Would you like to join a writing group, or have you ever attended a writing meetup before?

I’d love to hear about your experiences!