Writer’s Groups: How to Stay Sane as a Writer

Being a writer requires a lot more than skill in the craft of writing. You have to accept that rejection will be a big part of life–expect it even–and you have to hope you have talent, nurture that talent and work diligently to improve it, network, learn to edit, rewrite and edit some more; all the while working alone with no promise of success. In order to make your work life bearable I would highly recommend you join a writer’s group. But here’s the thing, finding a good one may not be as easy as it was for me. Luck, another component of the writing life, had it that I would end up taking a writing course and there meet the women who would form the beginnings of our writer’s group.

Writer’s groups can accomplish a number of things but most often people take part in them to find kinship and for support in giving and receiving critiques of their writing projects. My writer’s group has participated in writing swaps in the past and we continue to help each other individually as we find the need and reach out to fellow members who want to exchange critiques. More than that, my writer’s group is a support system made up of a group of women, many of whom I’ve never met in person, but we share in each other’s rejections, live vicariously through the successes and lend our ears and our hearts to encourage our fellow writers, slogging along as we do individually toward our personal writing goals.

My writer’s group came to be when a session of writing in the Humber School for Writer’s drew to an end and the online discussion board closed. I have to admit, I was one of the students who was too shy to contribute much to the discussion during the course, but I happily put my name in at the end when Susan T., one of the most vocal women in our group, arranged for us to start communicating in group emails. That was five years ago and our group has grown as friends and associates of members in the group have joined us.

While most of the women in my group hail from regions across Canada, one of our members lives overseas. The type of writing we do is as diverse as the women in our group. But we all band together and recognize the importance of celebrating our writing accomplishments big and small along the way. My bookshelf is getting larger all the time as I continue to invest in the success of the women in my group. Four such books make up publishing credits so far. I will mention each one in order of publication date.

Darcie Friesen Hossack’s Mennonites Don’t Dance; Thistledown Press: 2010, is a compilation of short fiction stories. This collection was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize for Best First Book, Canada/Caribean, and was shortlisted and placed as the runner up for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. I cannot possibly do justice to this beautifully crafted work in such a short space so I’ll attach a link to Darcie’s blog here:

http://www.whatlooksin.wordpress.com

Next, Teri Vlassopoulos’s Bats and Swallows; Invisible Publishing: 2010, is a collection of short stories that draw readers in and keep us coming back for more. This work of fiction was also shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. More on this absolutely fabulous collection can be found at Teri’s blog where you can also read about Teri’s experience creating zines prior to the publication of Bats and Swallows:

www.bibliographic.net/book

Third, Lisa McGonigle’s Snowdrift; Oolichan Books, 2011, is an account of her adventures skiing and snowboarding in Canada and New Zealand while on a break from her PhD studies and life in her native Ireland. Snowdrift came to be when Lisa’s talent was discovered at a writing retreat she had won a scholarship to in Fernie, British Columbia. What began as emails sent home to Ireland and to Lisa’s friends and relatives would be published as a non-fiction account of Lisa’s life experiences as a ski bum and snowboarder. Snowdrift definitely delivers as an entertaining, humorous and highly interesting read. More about Lisa’s writing and Snowdrift, can be found at:

http://straightouttadublin.blogspot.com

Fourth, Susan Calder’s Deadly Fall; TouchWood Editions: 2011, is a gripping mystery novel that definitely will keep you turning pages from start to finish. The first in a series, Deadly Fall, is a Paula Savard Mystery, promising more of this likeable protagonist. Find out about Deadly Fall‘s recurrent status on the Calgary Herald Fiction Bestseller list and more on Susan’s writing accomplishments at:

http://susancalder.com/deadly-fall

I should add that each of the remaining members of my writer’s group has her own list of accomplishments and talents, and to report on all of these would be much too great a task for this humble blog post. I do plan to add a blogroll of blogs and website links to members of my writer’s group just as soon as I can figure out the mechanics of how to do this. So be sure to check back at a later date for these links and more.

Meanwhile, in closing for today, I dedicate this post to you all, ladies: Amy, Athene, Carin, Cassie, Claudia, Darcie, Debra, Glenna, Jenny, Joanna, Joni, Judy, Kim, Lisa, Lynda, Maryann, Susan C., Susan T., Tamara, Teri, Trish and Vicky. Thanks for being there on the other end of my emails when I hit send.

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