You Can Write It Now

How Writing Groups Can Help Writers

As I wrote  in the post WHY GROUPS CAN HELP WRITERS (October 9, 2007), a writing group is an evolving and powerful organism.  There are many types of writing groups, of course, ranging from those where members read their work to each other for comment, to those where members gain the courage to start working in the first place,  to those joined because members are having difficulty carrying out and finishing what they started. I work primarily with the last two groups, which can overlap.  I should also add that I work primarily over the telephone on a bridgeline, so members can live literally anywhere . 

Writers in the groups I'm writing about tend to have two major problems:  with anxiety and/or  with time management--general organization.   The anxiety can stem from perfectionism or insecurities that have been reinforced by outside criticism.  Problematic time management and organizational practices can be part of one's personality or come from a lack of knowledge of possibly better ways of doing things.

So how can a group help with such personal issues?

Write What You Know

Write what you know.

Most books of advice for writers say this sooner or later.  It seems logical, doesn't it?
But what does it mean?
What do you know?

I like to ask writers, both successful and struggling, to tell me what they know and feel confident writing about.

Of course the common answer is:  "It depends...."
Bear with me. This is actually a helpful answer.

Depends on what?

Why Writing Groups Are Helpful For Writers

There is nothing like DOING, to learn. 

What I've learned from running writers' groups is how often the problems writers face don't come from lack of ability but from lack of support.  There are a few blessed souls out there who don't need external support and positive feedback to keep their confidence high, but for many, many people the lack of these two key factors can lead to crippling self-doubt.

A writing group takes time to develop, but it offers amazing benefits for those who stick out the formative stages.  Like any group, a writing group starts with separate individuals who come together hoping to gain something from each other.  They're all in the same boat, as the saying goes, and they hope that rowing together will pull them out of the doldrums and into the fast lane.

Of course, since they don't know each other, everyone tends to be tentative at first.  So it's the leader's job, in the beginning,  to help them feel more comfortable and identify the strengths they bring to the group--for themselves and each other.  There are a lot of different and enjoyable ways to do that, and  it's generally a great relief for group members to realize (and get the feedback that others realize) how many areas of significant strength they can draw on to reach their goals.

Much of the research in Positive Psychology shows that focusing on strengths rather than trying to remedy  weaknesses leads to better results when one is an adult.   This is a new concept for a lot of people.

The evolution of disparate individuals into a group is a fascinating process for the members as well as the leader.  The benefits that accrue from it are sometimes unexpected.  I'll describe this in more detail in another post.

A Book For Writers Who Want To Change the World

A book that I enjoyed recently is Mary Pipher's Writing to Change the World (2006).  Part of it is basic encouragement to start and continue writing and part is more focused discussion of different kinds of writing one can do in the service of positive change--e.g. personal essays, blogs, poetry and music.

Pipher's metaphors made me smile and want to keep reading.  Here's one example:

"A blank page can feel like cold water.  ...we have to dive in.  And when we do, it can be miserable until we warm up.  Then we relax and write without effort."

Here's a piece of advice which she quotes from Michael Crichton:  "Work inspires inspiration.  Keep working.  If you succeed, keep working.  If you fail, keep working. "

Exercise For Writers

A Tip from Lynne

I’m doing Pilates with a trainer these days.

Pilates is a body conditioning method that (to grossly oversimplify) focuses on strengthening abdominal muscles and increasing flexibility through lengthening other muscles.

The exciting news is that regular work on strengthening and lengthening muscles has already paid dividends after just a few months: I have better balance now that I’m using more kinds of muscles to hold myself upright. It turns out that I was walking around slightly tilted, depending mainly on my back and shoulders instead of my “core” for support—not a good idea.

Who knew?

New benefits keep appearing. Now, when I get down on the floor to play with my grandkids, I can actually jump up instead of laboriously pulling myself up via the furniture.  I feel about ten years younger!

What does this have to do with writing, you ask?

A lot.

If you think about it, writing also requires strengthening specific kinds of muscles. Regular exercise makes it much easier to do well.

The good news is that if your writing muscles are flabby, you can strengthen them by cultivating the right kind of mindset that will lead you to take action.

First of all, admit that you are out of shape.

Next, be willing to commit to a conditioning program for what you are trying to write. This means establishing a schedule of writing times during the week when you will exercise the muscles you need for your particular project. The most important point is to write on your topic very regularly. The more you do that, the faster you will develop those “writing muscles.”

The greatest benefits will come when you can set realistic goals for yourself and do the work to the best of your ability at that time, without self criticism. 

When I first started Pilates I had very little stamina and no abdominal muscles to speak of. I certainly didn’t do the exercises perfectly. But I kept my goals in mind and got benefit from the simple act of showing up repeatedly, however embarrassed I felt at my awkwardness.

Honestly speaking, steady discipline isn’t my strong suit. That’s why I decided to get a trainer. I had tried exercising on my own and just didn’t do it. The same can be true with a writer.  Getting help to stay on task can make the difference between your success or failure to complete it.

Remember: for most writers, the problem isn’t lack of intelligence or ability; it’s the mistaken belief that writing should be easy and take little effort. So, embrace the effort and feel yourself grow strong.

 

 

Do You Want To Complete a Writing Project But Can't Seem To Do It?

What makes completing a writing project that's important to you so hard to get done? 

Do you have trouble starting or finishing it because you are such a responsible person?  You put it last, after all your other to-do's, and there's no time left for it in your busy life--unless you want to give up sleeping.

Do you have some sort of writer's block?  Every time you sit in front of the computer or pull out that pad, every thought flies out of your head except what you might/should be doing instead. Or the email beckons.  Or the news feeds.

Maybe you haven't had much outside encouragement to work on your idea.  Maybe you've even encountered active discouragement.  Other people have strong opinions about what you should be doing with your time, especially if it's not guaranteed to bring in money.

If you are in the competitive academic world, you may have already sustained a number of blows to your confidence.  That seems to be the nature of the beast. But you need to complete your master's thesis or doctoral dissertation to be able to go on the job market or progress in your career, so you have to pick yourself up and find a way to move forward.  You need to figure out how to get the job done while you work to bring bread to the table.

Or you are already a faculty member and need to publish to be promoted or be considered for a grant. 

You may be a person who has a story to tell about someone you have known or about your own life.  The ideas are in your head, but somehow you never sit down to write them.

Join us at the table in this corner and tell us about your personal goals and dreams.  Just maybe we can help you actually realize them.