Writing groups deadline tomorrow
I always have soooo many questions. About everything! Even if these things aren’t what I would typically call my passions or areas of interest.
I ask my husband all the time about plant breeding strategies and corn hybrids. I ask my dad about his volunteer archaeology work with the team excavating mammoth bones in Iowa. I ask my daughter’s roommate about the communications at the county water board. I ask a friend’s partner about city planning best practices and community organizing.
But sometimes I don’t ask.
This happens sometimes when I unconsciously feel like I have something at stake. Maybe it’s a decision I have to make, and I’m worried about making it. Maybe it’s something I want to do, but a part of me doesn’t want to. Not really.
I hang back a bit.
Sometimes things resolve themselves. “It’s fine,” I say. And it is mostly. Other times, the questions linger.
I thought maybe you might be a bit like this too sometimes. Since my new writing groups start next week and the deadline to request to talk to me is tomorrow, I thought I’d share some answers to some of the questions I’ve gotten about the groups.
Just in case you might have this question too and hearing the answer might help you know something more about whether this is right for you.
I’m not a writer. Is this group a good fit for me?
As Pat Schneider said, “A writer is someone who writes.” Our time will be spent responding in writing to prompts (I like to call them doorways), and everyone can benefit from expressing what arises in them in response on the page. It’s like a gentle conversation with yourself.
10 weeks! I might have to miss one or more of the sessions. Is that OK?
Of course! We actually have one person joining us on Mondays who needs to miss the first week. We meet every week, and there’s no syllabus or shared pathway of learning we’re all going to go through. There’ll be no “being behind.” If you have to miss a session, just let me know ahead of time, so we won’t worry about you. I’ll send you the prompts and any inspiration after the session, so you’ll know what we wrote.
I really have only journaled. Will I find anything here for me?
Journaling is a powerful tool, offering you a safe space to spill out your feelings. This could feel similar, in that some of the prompts might bring up something deeply personal you want to explore. You’re always free to choose what you want to write about. Or this could feel completely different from journaling. You could take something that comes up from memory and imagine a story with it. What and how you write can be wildly different from week to week. There are no rules. A writer is someone who writes.
Reading my work makes me nervous. Do I have to do it?
No, you never have to read what you’ve written. At the same time, there is magic in speaking our words aloud and having them received in a kind, supportive manner. Hearing week after week what is strong about what we wrote, what stays with the listener is a powerful way to help us find our voices.
Will my writing get better?
Yes, it will. As you hear what others feel is strong about your work, you’ll start to notice what is working and you’ll naturally move toward that. You’ll uncover your original voice bit by bit and your own unique way of expressing yourself will come out. There is also an optional opportunity to get fuller feedback on a written piece of work if you wish.
What does “applying” involve?
It’s simply a quick conversation with me to make sure you’ll get what you want out of the group, and we’ll all be a good fit. I have time tomorrow and Friday for a quick call. If you’ve already worked with me or know me from other interactions, just send a note and we can go from there.
Do I need a journal or a fancy writing pen?
Ok, this question is for me…. YES! Yes, you do. Haha. Ok, I’m kidding…of course you don’t. (In fact, once when I was feeling really blocked around my writing, I saw a suggestion to buy a $.59 spiral one subject notebook and start there. I did that, and something about the freedom of writing on those thin, poorly printed spiral pages unlocked something.) But if you love journals and/or pens, you have my permission to go out and get some before we start. 😊
If you’re feeling at least a little curious, I’d invite you to reach out and ask more. It’d be worth it.
And, I’d love for you to come write with us. Find out more here.