By definition, writing is a solo adventure. Even journalists sitting in a busy newsroom have to wrap themselves in their thoughts, alone.
It has always seemed to me that socialising gains a deeper dimension on the back of that isolation. Sure, writers have to be comfortable in their own company first off – it’s part of the deal. But solo work can lose direction – and that’s where other writers come in. They keep the art sane.
I’m thinking of Tolkien’s Inklings, meeting in The Eagle and Child, and reading each other their latest work. Or Jack Kerouac’s band of beat-era literary greats, immortalised in his (barely) fictionalised On The Road? Kerouac’s writing tips were actually written for Allen Ginsberg – left pinned to the wall of Ginsberg’s hotel room.
For myself, I hang out with mathematicians and computer programmers. When we get together my wife makes comments about being trapped in The Big Bang Theory.
What do you figure? As a writer, are you part of a regular writing group? Who do you usually hang out with?
Copyright © Matthew Wright 2013
Matthew Wright 
I have a few friends who are writers, but we don’t talk about it much. I suppose I get most of my cues from what I see and like about other blogs, and from my own personal preference.
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There’s some good stuff out there in blog-land. It’s interesting. My friends aren’t writers either – we do talk writing on occasion, and I find they keep me in line over my more outrageous ideas. And provide views that aren’t ‘writer oriented’, which is always good.
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It is good to have people around with different mindsets, priorities. Keeps you from going too far inside yourself.
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I wish I could hang out permamently with other writers! It would be a constant inspiration. I do however look forward to my fortnightly meeting with my writing group, the Mairangi Writers’ Group in Browns Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. I always come away feeling enthused and refreshed and desperate to get back to my book. I wonder – are all writers like this?
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It’s really great to have a supportive writers network. Not all writers do, alas – certainly here in NZ where the field is kind of small.
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I find I’m developing a good group of co-writers through blogging, and I’m also finding fellow aspiring writers, and one published writer, in my local community. I joined a writing group last year, and it’s nice to have the fellowship while on the journey.
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It is indeed. It’s always good to connect with people locally – and there are some great people around in the blog-o-sphere too.
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Social interaction is necessary. Talking “shop” can definitely help the creative process. I’m currently searching for a new group. Luckily, there are quite a few within a reasonable drive to choose from. Now it’s just a matter of trying them out and see which one I fit with.
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Good luck. Definitely important to get a group that’s a comfortable fit. There’s no question about the creative spark that can flow from them too – good stuff.
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The main group I belong to, Mairangi Writers, is a hugely helpful to me – not just the camaraderie of our fortnightly meetings and the useful critiques, or the compulsion to have fresh work to read each time, but the sharing of skills. We each use our own talents to help along the group as a whole – some can plan public events, others are good at cold-calling booksellers to get interviews, and any bit of progress we make helps everyone. Our solitary profession takes a lot of work to succeed in, and the strength of a co-operative group makes it just that bit easier. And the occasional helpful blog post is always welcome too – thanks Matthew!
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Your group’s doing some fantastic stuff! Absolutely wonderful.
I confess to a certain jealousy – my history writing world, certainly here in Wellington, is the exact inverse. Sigh.
Incidentally, your link, down in my blogroll, gets more clicks than any other, by a country mile. Good stuff.
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I talk to myself, does that count?
Hahaa, but yes, I agree, there’s a sweet spot of being social and being solitary that’s necessary for writers. Yet, I find if a bit difficult to speak with other writers, for whatever reason it seems writers tend to be of the introverted sort whereas I’m too extroverted for them to withstand. 🙂
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Good point – introversion is definitely part of most writers’ make-up. Very easy to overwhelm. Just occurred to me – I wonder if a lot of writers’ groups are made up of introverts? The ;’energy calculation’ between them is pretty much equivalent & nobody gets overwhelmed. Dunno. A thought anyway.
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It’s been so hard to think about meaningful content lately. But I still get the most done when I am alone. This may partially be because i don’t know of any close friends who prefer writing as much as I do.
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I agree entirely. I run a little local writing group, and it’s great. We’re all very different people with different interests and jobs, but we all have our writing in common, and all support each other and grow from our sessions together (which are usually once every couple of weeks when time allows it).
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Oh, how I would have loved hanging out with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. I do belong to writing groups on LinkedIn and Goodreads, but hanging with my fellow blogger on WordPress is the best.
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I wouldn’t be the author I am today without the support of my writing group – Mairangi Writers of Browns Bay. I love our fortnightly meetings with readings and critiques and comments. It makes us all sharpen our wits and rethink what we’ve written. They are a marvellous and active group. We recently held a NZ Book Month seminar with Graeme Lay, Ray Roadley and Roger Hall. We had a great morning of discussion. We also visit schools and libraries and do readings and make presentations wherever we are invited.
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Glad to hear it – I’ve had contact with some of the others in your group, what a wonderful and supportive environment for you to write in! Good stuff & all power to your writing arm, individually and collectively!
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