Where Was I?

When you've decided you want to pursue writing as more than just a hobby or pastime, it's important you get training for your craft. There are many avenues to take in your pursuit. I'll discuss just one today.

Some find herding together like cattle and patting each other on the back instills in them some kind of power to move on. If that's your dress for success, by all means join a local writers' group.

My experiences with writing groups (all over this great country) have been ghastly similar. They are usually run by one person - the individual who started the group in the first place. This person is more than likely a "Poet" who starts off the meeting with some original poetry or asking someone else to share their own.  Then, s/he passes out a page or two from a published work and they take turns reading it out loud. They dissect each word or phrase and exclaim how the author has picked the exact perfect word for that particular stanza (usually a poem or two are tossed in for the perfect salad).  If time permits, one of the other members passes out copies of their own in-works project for the other participants to critique.

This is all good and fine.

What I've found is:

1. Although I do so enjoy dabbling in poetry, it's not my personal cup of mint tea - but if it's your forte you'll enjoy these social gatherings immensely.

2. Chances are, no one in the group is ever going to give you quality critiquing if they ever do get to your manuscript. For buried deep in their insecure sub-conscious, they don't want a real critique on their own works. They want you to gush over (as Stephen King labels them) their babies. They seek validation. Nothing more. (Although there's nothing wrong with seeking validation from your peers, which is something we all secretly desire, if it's your ultimate goal you're just wasting time - everyone's, including your own.)

3. It's usually a monumental waste of time - like "Book Club Gone Wild" - nothing more than a social gathering where people of like hobbies join together and pretend to be pursuing their passion.  The ones who are really passionate about their craft tend to go to one or two of these things and then stop.

I'm reminded of support groups here. Writer's groups are, in my opinion, nothing more than support groups for people who are too afraid to finish and submit their works to a publishing house where the critique or rejection they get back will be of more use to them than a neighbor wanly smiling and cheering them on for their perfect word choice.

We'll cover other options next time. In the meantime write, read and study.

Thanks for stopping by,
H