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Monday, July 20, 2009

Writers Group

Today I have a guest blogger who has started two writing groups, successfully. My one and only experience with a writing group left me with a very negative point of view, so I am happy to hear there have been some positive experiences with these groups. Joyce Heiser was a guest on my Blog Talk Radio show. Stop by to listen!

Beginning a Writer's Group... by Joyce Heiser

Do you want to participate in a writer's group? Would you like the fellowship of other writers, but there isn't a group in your area? I urge you to find a friend, step out in faith, and start one like I did. My friend Lois and I talked for a year about starting a group. After discussing it yet again, in exasperation I said, "Let's do it." In just five weeks, we hustled to make it happen.

Here's how we did it:

1. Set a date and time

Most people are tired in the evening after a day's work, so we decided on a Saturday morning. By finishing at noon, participants had the rest of the day to do what they needed to.

2. Find a meeting place

Our main criterion was to obtain one for free, if possible. We estimated the number of participants, and then made a list of our needs. Since we wanted to serve coffee and refreshments, we wanted a kitchen/kitchenette and counter space and/or a serving table. We also needed two tables--one for the speaker and one to display her books for sale.

We called several local churches, the library, and the park district, but because of the short lead-time, they were unavailable. With no other options, we remembered the community center. For a refundable $20 fee if we cleaned up after the meeting, it was available that morning, so we booked it.

3. Book a speaker

Here again, we had budgetary constraints and wanted someone who wouldn't charge, so Lois asked an award-winning author and speaker friend. As the co-founder of a 19-year-old writing group, Beth was qualified to speak on "How to Grow a Healthy Writers' Group." She gladly came for gas money. [Felice's note: use your resources you would be surprise at how many locals are authors. Ask around!]

4. Chose a theme

We decided our theme would be general help for authors. All our advertising focused on the theme of a Christian writers group that would gather for education, encouragement and fellowship.

5. Advertise

We spent most of our time on advertising. We utilized the local newspapers, Christian radio, bulletin boards, fliers, the internet, and word of mouth.

Being in a rural farming area, we knew we might draw from a 50 to 75 mile radius. We did an internet search for community newspapers within that area and sent a press release to each. In addition to the meeting date, time and place, it included two contact people giving both phone numbers and e-mail addresses. We were contacted both ways.

We sent an announcement to our local Christian radio station. The meeting was not only announced during the morning community calendar program, but sporadically during the day for two weeks before the meeting. It was also listed on their Upcoming Events Calendar on the website.

I posted the info to two internet writing groups. Those brought an unexpected response from a lady in Ohio. Her former pastor's wife is a writer. They now serve a church in our area, so the lady sent her name and phone number, asking that I contact her. We made fliers. Stacks were left at libraries. We posted them on bulletin boards in restaurants, grocery stores, laundromats, at business establishments and anywhere we saw one. Both of us knew local writers, so we called to share the news of the start-up meeting.

5. Pray!

Planning and starting a group requires much prayer. We prayed about each decision and saw the Lord open and close doors. We asked that He bring those He wanted in the group to us. We petitioned Him for guidance for our first fledgling steps, and that as we started the group, He would knit our hearts together.

In the nine months since that initial meeting, He has answered Lois' and my prayers for Lighthouse Christian Writers. We had 10 members that became a close knit group that supported and encouraged each other in our writing endeavors and personal lives. Strong friendships have formed. We send prayer requests through the group and have seen God answer in miraculous ways.

If God can do this in the rural farming communities of northeast Wisconsin, He can do it in your area…no matter how large or small.

Decide now to step out in faith and do it!


Thanks Joyce! I hope this encourages you to begin a writer's group in your area, or join one. Post you success stories here!

6 comments:

  1. I think writer's groups have some value if the group is positive and encouraging.

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  2. I started a local writing group two years ago and gave up. People just wouldn't show up or make it a commitment among their other activities.

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  3. Jennifer, don't give up on the idea, find a writing partner. I think that is what helped me the most. When I wrote with my daughter she and I motivated each other. Think of this blog as your writing partner! And, the radio show. More and more people are coming to the live shows not only to listen and post questions, but to meet each other. What are you working on?

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  4. Jennifer, I agree with Felice. Find one writer and start to meet regularly. A group may evolve from that. That's how it was with Lois and me. Also, we live in a mobile society. There may be writers who have moved to your area since you last tried to get a group going who would be interested...and committed. Keep us posted.

    ~~Joyce Heiser

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  5. Thanks Joyce for your comments. That is what it is all about, helping each other to succeed.

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  6. Joyce, I inadvertently deleted your comment! Here it is again...

    Jennifer, I agree with Felice. Find one writer and start to meet regularly. A group may evolve from that. That's how it was with Lois and me. Also, we live in a mobile society. There may be writers who have moved to your area since you last tried to get a group going who would be interested...and committed. Keep us posted.

    ~~Joyce Heiser

    ReplyDelete