Here members of the Jolly Good Writers Group (JGWG) share some of their strategies to give yoursome idea of how JGWG works. You may want to try and modify some of these in your own writing group.
Tanya Freedman founded the original JGWG over two and half years ago, in June 2005. Six ladies started this group in a fluid way to meet everyone's needs, and adjust and learn from exercises and new ideas.
Frequency of JGWG Meetings Our group finds it convenient to meet biweekly. We meet Thursdays, 7.30pm till approximately 10pm.
The Number of Members The comfortable number of members of six is good for everyone, and if the number of those being able attend falls below three then the meeting is postponed.
Mission of our group We're putting aside these evenings for our creative writing as an investment to:
Keep the communication lines open
Constantly strive to improve our writing on the creative/craft aspects as well as about the publishing world. Although we all have various writing interests, such as non-fiction, poetry, short or long fiction, in any genres, the group concentrates solely on the pursuit of improving the creative aspects of fiction (short or long) in the sessions.
Share and learn from each other
Offer ongoing suggestions to ensure every member gets the most out of each precious hour of the meetings.
We plan to have a quarterly or six-monthly reviews. Of course suggestions are always welcome by email, by phone or at the meetings.
Celebrations/Progress or Publishing or Contest Accomplishments Part of the 'check in' of the beginning of each bi-weekly meeting is dedicated to a few short minutes where each member shares her writing news and accomplishments.
Productivity of Individual Members Despite time and commitment constraints of the members, the groups mission is to have a meeting venue and time for thinking and discussing writing as a whole; the business and craft aspects. There are no hard and fast rules of how much or how little each member produces or provides to the group.
No custard pies for those who come in with no work for critiquing, and no smiley faces or chocolate cake for those who are writing more obsessively.
Denise showed considerable disappointment when I offered not to use the whip. It may be used on those willing members who show a need for a little prodding and goal setting. Lets discuss the kinds of carrots we each need to dangle in front of each other or ourselves.
I personally find it extremely helpful to have the accountability of knowing I have to produce (at least) a seven page document for the fortnightly meeting. It could be a work in progress (wip) of a 75,000-90,000 word manuscript (ms) or its synopsis, or a draft of an idea for a short story or article knocking around in my head, needing specific comments or suggestions from the varying views of the members. Critiquing At the bi-weekly meetings each critiqued piece is discussed within the allocated slot of fifteen minutes per work. Also, reading out loud our written comments when returning the work to its writer further helps us gauge and learn the level of each others critiquing styles and depths. For more details, go to The Etiquette of Critiquing.
Making Plans and Resolutions Self imposed deadlines should encourage productivity rather than overwhelm or kill inspiration, or cause frustration or resentment to others.
It has to be at our own individual pace and our own calling. Some people need an incentive, a goal and to see within themselves their own motivation.
Specific Members Writing Goals & Objectives for 2007
Some members shared their writing goals and objectives without the threat of a red-hot poker if not carried out. Denise
Will endeavor to produce enough poetry to send out three or four of the best of them to publishers of her choice, each quarter.
Also, shell make a disciplined effort to write more regularly after all, DeVrys said, I only write when Im inspired and I make sure Im inspired every morning at nine am.
Denise will plan to produce an outline for a play one of five in her mind presently in six weeks time (Feb 2007) without having to show or discuss it with any one, not to jinx it in any way.
Continue sending a minumum of one submission (average of three poems) or contest entry (one to three poems) every two months to literary magazines.
Continue work on first book-length collection of poetry, with manuscript to be complete and ready to seek publication by August 2009. Elaine
Re-establish a regular schedule - 'office hours' - for writing and revisions
Research and choose appropriate poetry journal for poetry submissions
Attend Autumn workshop series of Writer in Residence at the Richmond Hill Public Library
Prepare manuscript to submit for critique by Writer in Residence program
Attend poetry readings organized by the Art Bar, Gladstone Hotel and IV Louge venues
Prepare to do a performance readings at the Art Bar
Will endeavor to produce more poetry in 2007 and will also work on the WIP, which sprouted from an exercise on dialogue a few weeks previously, demanding to be written.
Michele
Write 3,000 words per week (or revise an equivalent amount). - This is the same as my writing goal for 2006, except revised to allow for weekend catch-up. Regular writing has to become a habit.
Send out five short stories for submission, and keep sending them out until they find homes. This includes: "Blonde Bimbos on the Moon" (currently out), "I am Brave" (about to undergo further revisions), the to-be-named story I'm working on for the Liberty Hall contest, and two yet unwritten stories. (Yes, this means that I need to complete two more stories.)
Complete draft of Starved by the end of February (end of January is now unrealistic).
Enter one "flash fiction" contest at Liberty Hall each month. (Their contest is timed, rather than word count.) This will force me to give and receive critiques in that community and might help me come up with the two extra stories for submissions.
Complete my next draft of Mysterious Paris by September 1.
Write another novel (or a rewrite of A Science Fiction Fantasy) in November.
Visit Micheles blog. You can see my posts about my writing resolutions by visiting:
Tanya
Revise Tangled (Breaking the) Chains, then send it out to literary agents by beginning of January, 08
Discuss more fully opportunity of ghost writing a groundbreaking project with L & A.
Explore possibility of collaboration with critique partner on romantic category project
Write new article each month - for writing magazines and Toastmasters magazines and newsletters
Chase St Martin's Press in mid November re. second fiction novel
Finish one project before starting or revising anything else
Take time to enjoy the current successes, small and large
Update and look at the best way of using my website
Research more about blogging
Research more re. erotic romance market
Keep writing matters separate from the rest of documents in office
Keep a good log where and when what project has been sent out and its results
Not to let rejections get depressing but see them as positive ways forward
Closing comments by Tanya Freedman
Im very excited at having the group coming together in as many of the bi-weekly meetings as possible in the past two and half years. I thank you all for being so enthusiastic about writing and the craft and business of it, despite what life demands of us outside the world of writing; like business, full-time work, family and marital commitments.
In order to go from aspiring learning writers to being a published group we have to be honest with each other and ourselves. To be sincere and open to suggestions to grow and learn from each other when were together and are giving feed-back or critiquing each others gems.
We each have our individual talents and together we have a stronger bond that will help us go through inevitable disappointing rejections and setbacks, but by sharing with likeminded creative souls it makes the journey worthwhile, and most of the time even lots of fun.
Writing is a solitary sometimes crazy making - craft and as much as our dear husbands or other members of our supporting family begrudgingly become our financial or emotional backers, the only people who really understand the writerly obsession of thinking, breathing and dreaming fictional characters, who only exist in our imaginations, are other likeminded creative souls; artists, writers, poets, etc...
Where better to flourish and grow than in a welcoming creative atmosphere where five or six likeminded people can get together and summon the muse that leaves us invigorated and fired up and rearing to get tucked into our WIPs? Where you can air your questions and have another perspective shed on writing issues that may have been driving you over the edge of insanity for days if not weeks.
Together we can all breathe easily once more that were not the only ones obsessed.
I hope we all grow in confidence and in technical aspects of the writing craft, together.
In a few years I hope well still be getting together as published authors, each in our own genres and styles, and be as inseparable and naturally cohesive as the rivers flow to their source and nature perpetuates life as we know it.
Apart well succeed if we persevere, together I believe were A Jolly Good - nay - a Jolly Great Writers Group!