Fellow creatives and writing groups

So, we all know that writing a novel, novella or even a saga can be a soloist performance.

But sometimes it doesn't have to be. Are there times when you wish you had someone to throw ideas around with? To brainstorm with or just have a chat with?

Would you think that there might be other writers out there who are just like you? Who also need to brainstorm with someone or bounce ideas around with another brain?

This is where writing groups can come in handy. Some writing groups have structured sessions where writers get to interact with other writers on a piece of writing they have written in a group writing session.

And then you have other groups where the structure is more fluid, more spontaneous. These work just as well as the structured groups but in a different manner.

The main thing is that in each of these types all bring writers together. These writers interact with each other in a way that brings depth and reality to what they write.

It is in writing groups where a writer can explore ideas that have been slowly percolating in their minds or discuss a particular problem they've had with their writing. Members can brainstorm with each other and solve problems that a single writer may have been struggling with for a while.

The important thing about writing groups, I believe, is that judgement should be tethered to the outside of the group area. That only constructiveness, companionship, lighthearted banter and serious discussions should be invited into the area. Tolerance and acceptance should be the mainstay of a writing group.

One of the things that every member should remind themselves of is that everyone writes differently. Everyone has their own process of storytelling and their own voice should be heard in their writing. No-one else's.

With the write group, an author can soar to great heights and the worlds and universes they create can fly far above the constraints of self-doubt, procrastination and indecision.