Julie Phillips - The Writers Group Handbook: Getting the Best for and from Your Writing Group

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT

THE WRITERS GROUP HANDBOOK

You reap what you sow with writing groups, and Julies book offers expert advice on how to sow effective seeds that will help a group flourish. Shes scoured the world and interviewed writing groups in the UK, Europe, America and Australia to collate the best advice that every writing group and member should know. The Writing Group Handbook is essential reading for all writing groups, writing group members and anyone who is considering joining such a group.

Simon Whaley, Author of The Positively Productive Writer

A nice collection of advice, well-organized, and attentive to all the major topics that count.

Pam Nowak, RMFW, USA

I really enjoyed reading The Writers Group Handbook and wished that it had been available when I started my first writing group, The Swanley Scribblers, fifteen years ago.

From the beginning, when the reader is asked to consider what they want from their group (and what sort of writer they wish to attend) through the psychology of potential members and onto workshop activities made me feel that I wanted to go out and look for another group straight away. I particularly enjoyed the section on common problems. Yes I could have done with that at one time too!

Written in a straightforward friendly way it will be a boon to anyone thinking of starting a writing group and indeed those already running a group, as this book gives food for thought for organisers and tutors alike.

The Writers Handbook is an excellent and instructive read. Well done to the author for writing such an informative guide.

Elaine Everest, Freelance Journalist

The Writers Group Handbook by Julie Phillips is a useful resource tool to be recommended to writers wishing to get together and to take the plunge of forming themselves into a writing group. It contains all the information needed to move forward.

Pam Fish, Chair of The National Association of Writers Groups

First published by Compass Books, 2014

Compass Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., Laurel House, Station Approach,

Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK

www.johnhuntpublishing.com

www.compass-books.net

For distributor details and how to order please visit the Ordering section on our website.

Text copyright: Julie Phillips 2013

ISBN: 978 1 78279 138 6

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of Julie Phillips as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Lee Nash

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution.

I would like to thank all of the writing groups and experts who helped with this book, especially my own writing group Wrekin Writers, the 2012 retreaters and Simon Whaley, Di Perry, Bryan Vaughan, Darren Bailey, Brenda Carter, Suki White and Angeline Wheeler. They each brought their own unique wealth of experience and knowledge to show how good writing groups can be.

Thanks must also go to Pam Fish from NAWG and to Jonathan Telfer, editor of Writing Magazine, who was game enough to publish my thoughts on writing groups in the first place.

Why Form/Join A Writers Group

As any writer knows, writing can be isolating. Spending hours hunched over your computer, typing your latest Work In Progress, can play havoc with your creativity. Its all too easy to become disengaged from the world around you and it can sometimes feel, after receiving rejections, that you are the only writer experiencing the disappointment rejections can bring.

But help is at hand if you want it. Joining a writers group may seem daunting. You might even be in denial and not recognise yourself as the true writer you are.

What will a writers circle make of me?

Ive not been published.

Ive only ever had a letter published in my local paper.

Theyll laugh me out of the room.

These are all negative things Ive heard fellow writers say when Ive asked if they belong to a writing group. There can be no room for such negativity!

Its no surprise so many writers are dubious about joining a writers group when some groups are so dysfunctional its a wonder they have any members left. Ive heard tales of private feuds between members careering out of control, cliquey groups who are disparaging of any new members and groups that do the same boring read-a-round, meeting after meeting. You only get one life and sitting for an hour or two in a room full of blinkered, single minded, unhelpful writers is soul destroying and not conducive to creativity!

But, thankfully, most groups are fantastic, so dont be put off. Finding the right writers group can be a challenge but not impossible. You need to try several on for size, fitness for purpose and comfort, as you would a new coat to get the right fit for you. There are no one-size fits all writing groups and no two writing groups will function in quite the same way.

I decided to join my local writing group, Wrekin Writers, www.wrekinwriters.co.uk, in 2008. I had just finished an Open University Creative Writing course and knew if left to my own devices I would struggle to find the motivation and inspiration to continue writing.

I also had little clue as how to progress my writing career. What I needed was a writing group to kick me into touch and keep me on the straight and narrow (as well as stop me from drowning in clichs!) But I have to confess that, at that time, I found the thought of walking into a room full of real, professional, experienced writers terrifying! I wasnt a real writer. I was just playing at it! I very nearly didnt make it through the door. I am so glad that I did as it kick started my professional writing career.

So, if you are a writer who is a member of a lacklustre writing group and you want to liven things up, or you are thinking of joining your local writing group but are unsure, or maybe you want to start your own writing group but have no idea where to start, this book is for you.

If you are a writer of any description, whether you are in a formal writing group or you just occasionally meet with writing friends, you will find lots of practical, motivational and inspirational advice here. With the knowledge and experience of a wealth of writers from a variety of writing groups across the UK, USA, Australia and Europe, you will find the answers to the many questions you have about writing groups.

Four years after I joined a writing group and several short stories, many articles, two blogs, an online short story critiquing blog, a column in one of the leading writing magazines in the UK, running several workshops, running an after-school creative writing club and now this book, I can say from experience that, for me, joining a writing group was the best thing I ever did for my writing career. Under their wings I was cajoled, encouraged, inspired, motivated, pushed and guided to be the writer I am today. Without their, quite frankly, bad influence, I doubt I would have ever found the self-confidence to even dare to send my writing out, let alone try to get anything published. And joining the right writers group could be the best thing you ever do too.