Writing doesn’t necessarily mean sitting alone in a room in front of your laptop. In fact, working alone isn’t always what’s most helpful for us. Writers need connection with like-minded people too—the chance to exchange ideas, find inspiration, or sometimes simply get the motivation that comes from showing up somewhere to work, just like you would at a regular job.

I go to a writing group as often as I can. For me, the group means quiet, focused time to work on my project without distractions, surrounded by my “colleagues.” Our writing group, “Shut Up and Write,” meets in different places, such as cafés and libraries. We set a timer for an hour, and then everyone gets to work on their own project.

The wonderful thing about the group is that there’s no outside pressure to share what you’re working on or how much progress you’ve made, although we usually end up having a casual conversation afterward. I wanted to learn more about my fellow writers and how they think about writing and the group, so I interviewed them. Isn’t it interesting how different—and yet how similar—we writers can be?

Why are you a writer?

Many people in the group write to give their emotions a place to go, to process things, to take in and share knowledge, or to figure out, “What do I have to say, and how do I want to say it?”

Some describe being driven to write by their imagination, their characters, or even their own life stories. One person loved telling scary stories as a child and was once encouraged to write them down. They’ve been writing in that genre ever since.

Another writer wrote until he turned 30, then took a 31-year break. Eventually, outside encouragement motivated him to start writing again—and he went on to publish his first book.

If you have a writing routine, what does it look like?

Besides our writing group meetups, my fellow writers seek out libraries, cafés, parks, or a quiet spot at home to write. However, many find it difficult to separate themselves from family and everyday responsibilities, so most are more productive when they write somewhere else.

Some say the morning is the best time for getting things done. Some write for an hour a day, others for four to six hours, while others write “only” during our writing group meetings. Taking a walk before writing or listening to a podcast helps a few of the writers find inspiration.

What helps you overcome writer’s block?

Most of the writers in my group work on several projects at the same time. When one project comes to a stop, they turn to another project, or work on a different chapter or aspect of the same one.

Changing their writing environment can help, too. So can attending writing group meetings or literary events and finding motivation from other people.

One writer writes or journals about whatever is on their mind to get distracting thoughts out of the way before returning to their main project. Two writers say that going for a walk helps, while others find an outlet in a different creative activity.

In which other areas are you creative besides writing?

Writing isn’t everything! Here are some of the other creative activities mentioned:

Painting, photography, sewing, drawing, graphic design, listening to music, watercolor, game design, aerobatics, pole dancing, karaoke, attending live theater productions, crocheting, knitting, woodworking, cooking, portrait drawing, studying ancient cultures, mountain bike racing, fishing, and traveling.

What do you like about the writing group?

Many writers see the group as a wonderful, supportive community where everyone is working toward a similar goal and sharing their experiences.

They also value being able to witness each other’s progress, find (or rediscover) motivation, learn from one another, and draw inspiration from the people around them.

If you’d like to learn more about how a writing group works, click here.