How To Form And Promote A Writing Group

Writers must network with other writers in order to learn and grow. My local writing group serves as a passion support mechanism for my writing. It is invaluable to me because it is the sacred place where I share my experiences, triumphs, and struggles as a writer. To form and promote a writing group in your local area, follow the steps below–before long you will have an energetic passion support mechanism for your own words. Good Luck and Have Fun!
Vision and Purpose
Have in mind a vision and general purpose for your local writing group. Your vision and purpose should be created based on the needs of your members. This can be a bulleted list of the reasons your group exists. At your first meeting, openly brainstorm with the new members by passing out a questionnaire. After your meeting, it is very easy to type up the purpose and vision of your new writing group from reading your participants’ responses.
For instance, the purpose of our local writing group is to:
Support Each Other In Our Writing
Share Information Pertaining To Our Writing
Edit Our Writing
Critique Our Writing
I also asked a question on my questionnaire about what each new member wrote. This helped me to understand their writing needs and allowed me to create a description of what we write as a group. This information is also useful to share with potential future members.
Organizational Suggestions
The following organizational techniques might be helpful as you start and form your own local writing group.
Keep a notepad by the telephone to record names, addresses, and phone numbers of people as they call for more information about your group and meeting place. At the meetings:
Use name tags.
Use a sign-in sheet to record names, address, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.
Share your favorite writing books/magazines in a display formation for new writers.
Have plenty of flyers, brochures, and questionnaires to distribute.
Consider a donation jar to cover cost of printing flyers, meeting place, etc.
If you choose to offer refreshments, keep it simple.
Where to Find Writers
The best places to pass out information are:
writing conferences
workshops
women’s clubs
libraries
bookstores
post offices
churches
schools or colleges
news stands
office buildings
local newspapers
community centers
coffeehouses
poetry readings
literary lectures
concerts
hair salons
gyms
health food stores
gift stores
museums
art schools
art stores
New-Age stores
YMCAs
and online discussion groups
In addition to the above, you can spread the NEWS about your local writing group by circulating flyers/brochures in the following ways:
giving to therapists for distribution to their clients
leaving in motel rooms when traveling
sending to magazines and/or organizations you feel have similar interests
sending to local radio and television personalities
Where to Hold Your Meetings
homes of members
libraries
bookstores
churches
schools or colleges
community centers
coffeehouses
restaurants
art schools
and YMCAs
Tips for Structure in Your Meetings
Introductions: To get the creative juices flowing for the participants, ask them to write a short paragraph about their interests, their writing, their hopes and dreams.
Let your meetings be a group or team function. Try not to be in charge after the first meeting. In the beginning, you will need to provide guidance to get the group going…it really depends on the personality types of the various members.
Ask members when they would like to meet and set your regular meeting schedule.
Do not forget to ask your members about the type of structure they are looking for in a writing group. (See below for Writing/Sharing Structure Suggestions)
Remember to publicize this structure in your brochures/flyers after you are meeting on a continual basis. This allows new members to make an informed decision as to the appropriateness of the group for their needs.
Writing/Sharing Structure Suggestions
You can write together and share without critiques.
You can critique each other’s work.
You can do a combination of sharing and critiquing.
You can start the meetings with writing news such as:
Personal writing achievements
Professional news (conferences, markets, and contests) and then share and critique, etc.
Promoting Your Local Writer’s Group
Tell everyone: word-of-mouth is the best way to spread the NEWS about your new writing group and you might be surprised at the contacts you will make along the way. When I told the local Barnes & Noble bookstore about our local writing group, they donated FREE gift certificates.
Post and pass out flyers/brochures (see above for locations)
Issue press releases
Give writing workshops/seminars (this will also promote your writing!)
Organize reading events
Produce publications/newsletters
Fundraising: Writing groups can put together professional collections of holiday short stories, cookbooks, or how-to articles. Be creative and professional with the products you produce.