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STARTING A WRITER’S GROUP
by
Reid Bailey
Maryland Writer’s Group
So you want to start a writer’s group? It is certainly
a noble endeavor. For me, it was a necessary one as well. Having written
in a void for a number of years, I felt a burning desire to meet with others
of my kind and keep the creative juices flowing. I would make regular journeys
to LA where the air, though smog ridden, is charged with creativity and excitement.
Everyone is either in the business or is sleeping with some one who is. You
never stop talking about movies, writings, and your own projects. It’s
really a jolt of energy. A jolt that would quickly dissipate upon flying
home and facing reality. People "back east" just didn’t get
it.
So in an effort to maintain my sanity I set about looking for
a writer’s
group to join and I could find none that catered to screenwriters. I needed
to be around people, even one day a month, who understood the things that
I wrestled with and wouldn’t say things to me like "Why do you
want to do that", "Are you famous?" and my favorite "I
have a really good idea for a movie. Do you want to hear it?" After
my fruitless search for an existing group, I did all that was left to me
and started my own. I contacted the local Mega-Bookseller and asked them
for the space. And just like that, I was in business. The good thing about
the Mega-Bookseller approach is that they have the space, the café,
and screenwriting references right on hand. They also handle basic advertising
with the community newspaper and in-store ads. The bad thing is that anyone
and everyone can come. And boy, do they ever.
I am always amazed how we can
get people who come and just sit there. They aren’t terribly interested
in films or even writing. After much thought, I came to the realization that
they just don’t have anything better to do. How is that possible? I
can’t even find the time to get my car in to the dealership for a recall
notice and yet there are others who just go around and hang out at whatever
group is meeting on that particular night. And on occasion, you will get
a newcomer who, rather than asking for clarification, complains about all
the peculiar jargon that we use. That’s like going to a medical convention
and complaining about "all those Latin words".
And then there are
the people who think that a writer’s group is synonymous with free editing
services. They won’t even run a spell check on the stuff they bring
to the group. Certainly, the group is there to help you hone your craft but
it’s not there to teach you to write. Oh, and be prepared to read. A
lot. Granted this is one of the best parts of being in a group, but as the
moderator you are the first one that people will ask to read their work.
This can certainly be an honor but it takes time. Even time well spent is
time spent. Between working, writing daily, and tending to the details of
the group you will become a master of time management. At least that’s
what I keep telling myself with the hope that it will eventually happen.
If
you think you are signing on as a group moderator you have barely
scratched the surface. You will be a moderator, mediator, editor, and matchmaker.
You will hear such questions as "So-and-so sat next to me at the last meeting.
Do you think he likes me?" and "Would such-and-such go out with
me if I ask her?" I’m not joking, this really happens. And you
better have your referee whistle on hand when the critiquing starts.
The
issue of critique is a whole separate can of worms. You will meet
people whose sole function in life is to convince others how much they know
and how superior their writing skills are to anyone else in the group. The
minute they have the floor they will tear into the poor unsuspecting writer
who has just bared his or her soul to their fellow writers. And some of these "experts" have
never finished a script. They base their feedback on God only knows what
and all but demand that others accept it. This is usually balanced by the
writer who stands by his or her "masterpiece" like Don Quixote,
defending their art with all their power. Instead of constructive feedback
they just want to hear how wonderful they are.
I recently had to draw up "Do’s
and Don’ts" of critiquing, both for authors and critics. The writers
were asked to be prepared, to not get defensive, and to really listen to
the feedback. The critics were reminded that their primary role is to help
that writer make his or her idea into the best script possible. There is
no room for the critic to get caught up in how they would have done it and
what the writer’s story should really be all about. If some one wants
to write a script about a talking pencil it is the group’s responsibility
to help them make it the best talking pencil story possible.
But I do have
to say that in spite of all this, it is definitely worth it.
I’ve made
great friends and have met a lot of people whom I really respect and admire
as writers. I have learned a lot about myself as a writer and artist. And
the most humbling part of all is that I am the worst writer in the whole
bunch. Go figure.
Here are some suggested guidelines for starting and running
your own writer's group. These are by no means complete, just
some things to consider when starting a group:
- Find a venue which will not be or allow for distractions
or interruptions to the group.
- Write a list of guidelines and rules for participating
in the group. These should include how to submit work to the group and
how to provide criticism to the writer as well as overall group expectations.
- Limit the size of the group. Remember, the more writers
you have the more reading the group will have to do, which takes time away
from writing. And the point of a writer's group is to help the members
with their writing, not their reading.
- If your group will be open to any level of writing
you will want to have special guidelines to deal with what the group is
and is not: support and help on submitted works, not a school for writing.
Remind members to learn the basics outside of the group.
- If you are starting a group for more advanced writers
we suggest you limit the group to 4-6 writers and perhaps have each potential
member submit samples of their work before becoming a member. But remember,
when selecting writers for the group, you should be trying to find a nice
mix of writing styles to have as many perspectives as possible. Submitting
works for selection should be simply to verify that the potential member
is serious and will be a good fit for the group.
- Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, bring a little
box for the group members to put their egos during the meetings. Nothing
ruins a writer's group more so than bad, ugly egos competing with each
other. The group is there to help, not be a place for some people to get
their butt kissed while kicking others'.
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