Over the years I’ve heard mixed reviews on the value of being involved in a writer’s group. Some say it’s a great chance to collaborate and commiserate, some say it’s an excuse not to write and dangerous to allow others access to your thoughts. To this latter group, I say…go back to your caves and continue writing on your parchment.
It’s no secret I’ve been in a word slump the last few months. So much so that when the Serious Writers (three of six, as it was) met at Donna’s a week ago Sunday for a quarterly (or so) brainstorming session on our newest WIPs, my initial inclination was to decline. I didn’t have a story to brainstorm, no characters to create, no plot to develop. True, I had been getting up and writing a rudimentary version of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages for a few weeks but it was just rehashing of my previous day, odd snippets of dreams, random thoughts that had nothing to do with creating fiction.
But I said yes anyway. I’m so glad I did. I was a little embarrassed to admit I was there without a story (embarrassed why? I’ve been with these ladies for probably 8 or more years), but, as luck had it, so was Margaret (although she has the theatre story always running a low hum in the back of her brain). All the two of us did was help Donna think through some character and plot points for her new story-in-progress…and it was the best thing ever. The collaboration and fresh ideas gave me a spark on my next set of morning pages to ponder, which has now turned into the tiniest spark of a story. It doesn’t take much to get me writing…
So if you’re floundering in writing, having a hard time with motivation, creativity or any of the other authorly afflictions, consider joining forces with a few other SELECT writers and hashing things out. What’s the worst that could happen? You eat one too many chocolate covered pretzels? In the long run, your muse and your sanity will thank you. I know mine is!
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