Follow the leader

What Kind of a group leader?

 

 That is how I don't want to feel

 



 

 

 

That is how I sometimes feel

 

Community -communities or is it just a matter of approache

So as I am planning this writing workshop I am conflicted between several approaches.

1. The prompt centered one, where the 'leader' supplies the group with mind bugling, or just simply inspirational prompts, to get the juices flowing and to write consistently.

I used to enjoy that, and still do. Especially seeing the results and how differently people responded to the same prompts.

2. The multigenre centered approach, in which to a specified genre every member of the group can choose his/her topic to write to, and the only rule is 'follow the genre'.

I enjoyed that just as much, if not more. It is a very challenging method that helped me as a writer to find my comfort zone, as well as those writing genres that I felt uncomfortable with. I found, very surprisingly, that I like humor and irony, and am quite good at that. I liked the freedom to choose my own topics. I found however, that many people find this approach a bit too vague and hard to follow.

3. The theme centered approach; these are writing groups that center, usually, around memories, life stories, or autobiography themes.

I used to find them appealing and can see how they could be seen as the best approach for groups of older adults but personally, and maybe because I was involved in so many hours of this type of writing, I find in myself a certain reluctance to use it. Definitely more structured but as a writer, one needs to tread carefully and at times confronting emotional topics heads on can be intimidating.

4. The single genre approach, namely workshops that are centered on poetry, fiction writing, sci-fi, horror etc.

These ones can be great for those writers who know who they are and want to build up on that direction, but  maybe not for the beginner writer, who are hesitant about its writing voice.

5. And finally the completely open ones where the 'leader' says "just write about anything." I was in one and found it to be quiet ineffective.

I did not mention those groups where writing is being done ‘on the fly’ meaning it is done solely in the group and it is usually a timed writing to prompts. I am not sure how I feel about this practice. Though I can see how it can be used effectively to encourage writing.  After reading Kenneth Koch book about writing in a nursing home I discovered another face to this type of writing and can see how it can be used effectively. 

Get a cat

UNIVERSAL WRITERS' TIP:

GET A CAT.

(The one pictured is Sid.)
Monica wood

This morning I feel, that this is so far the best advice I received today.

With my cat sitting practically in my lap

Between me and the keyboard

Shedding white hair on both of us,

Me and the keyboard

Purring softly in my ear

She will not budge an inch

So with one hand I embrace her

(and keep her body from the keys)

With the other I click away

Leaning over her

I know it looks strange

But the radiating warmth

Mingles with fluffy soft hair

Reminds me every time not to take myself

Too seriously.

In the company of writers

 

 

 

This seems to copture the idea.

It is all about the right title

 

Communities and writing environment, I am still contemplating the idea for my future writing group. I am searching for the title that will express everything in few exact words. It seems to me as I am wrestling with different names that if I'll manage to get it right it will open the road to the rest of the ideas to come forward and reveal themselves to me. It happened to me before. Getting stuck on what seems like a mere technicality but really is not.

 The elusive title, how hard can it be? and yet so often I will find myself stuck. I am sitting there gazing at my screen frantically trying to come up with a title that will free my thoughts. Numerous times I say to myself "Just start writing, it will come." But no, I can't. It is like a bone stuck in my throat, so overpowering, nothing else can happen until it will be resolved and breathing resumes.

Work the plan

So this how my head looks at this point, many ideas, endless directions, very colorful but at the end it all amounts to one big nothing.
I need to tame this splash of ideas into a workable plan with some logic and practical ideas. I need to make it so that other people will be able to see where I am going and attempt to connect with me even if partially and on crossroads.

So how about this?
Making ideas visible, I like that alot. From my head to the paper and from there to a plan that can actually be executed.
Making ideas visible, this have a nice ring to it, something that will continue to hum in my head all day long and maybe will produce a seed that I can then plant.

A plan to improve writing in my community part II

Writing in the community, developing a plan to enhance the environment for adult writing.

 

"It is the following trio that finally gets my attention; authentic writing, supportive audience and the freedom to use multigenre writing."

My first step is to search these ideas a bit further and find practical ways to implement them in my community. I search my memory, and notes, from several writing groups. Many which I participated in, and the few that I tried to run myself. I realize pretty fast that I will have to dig further to come up with answers and I approach some of my former writing comrades and ask for their input.

The answers that I receive reinforce what I already knew.

S. wrote;

"I really enjoyed writing class; it was a way to meet new people I wouldn't have met otherwise. I learned allot about writing without the stress of being in 'class'. And with regret I am not writing anymore, I think I need the group camaraderie to keep motivated. Perhaps folks 55 and older might like writing about their own life experiences and contrast them with what they see today. The 'write what you know' idea."

R. wrote;

" I often think fondly of our time in the writing group. I am not writing now, but often thinking about starting again. I feel like I would need a new group to get myself going though. It really helped me to have prompts. When I started to write my own "novel" I began to falter. I think it was just too close, and too overwhelming. And I had too much invested in it. I liked having neutral topics that I could make personal...or not. I liked having the critique of the group, though sometimes my feelings would be hurt a bit. I really learned how much I needed an imposed structure to get myself going, even though I loved the writing when I was doing it."

 

So supportive audience in the form of the writing group, that seems to be spelled out, loud and clear.