Five Benefits of Online Writing Groups
Writing is a solitary craft, just you and your journal or laptop.
It has its advantages - no alarm clocks, no dressing up and no fighting rush hour traffic.
Still it can be a lonely endeavor.
The time will come when you feel the need to interact with other folks who share your passion.
A writing group can fill that need.
Local writer's organizations offer personal interaction and are a great way to meet other writers.
But what if there are no groups close by and travel is not an option.
Thanks to the internet you can still connect with people who share your interests.
You can do it all online.
And even if you belong to a local group, online groups are an additional option for so many reasons.
1.
Convenience: Local organizations usually meet once a month.
If you have a question or need a critique you may have to wait for the next meeting.
Online groups are always available and communicating by email and forums is very easy.
2.
Encouragement: When you're frustrated or have writer's block support is just an email away.
Family and friends tend to think of writing as not being a real job.
Sometimes you just need to hear from someone who understands what you're doing and believes in you.
When you need a boost your online buddies will be there to support you.
3.
Feedback: Critiques and constructive criticism are a big part of most writing groups and online response time is usually pretty fast.
4.
Skills: Most groups discuss and share information.
Many offer workshops to improve your writing skills.
Online workshops offer the added convenience of working on your own timeframe.
5.
Networking: You'll have the opportunity to meet published authors, learn about the industry and benefit from their experiences.
And you may be communicating with people from all over the country and even abroad.
When you search for a group it's important to look for one that fits your writing style.
For instance someone who writes romance novels will need different resources than a travel writer.
Consider your genre, skill level and cost of membership.
See what the group has to offer you.
Compare the benefits of several before you commit.
The amount of information on the internet can be overwhelming.
Forwriters has a pretty comprehensive listing that's divided into three sections - Writer Organizations, Local Writers Groups and Online Writers Groups.
It's a good place to start your search.
http://www.
forwriters.
com/groups.
html
It has its advantages - no alarm clocks, no dressing up and no fighting rush hour traffic.
Still it can be a lonely endeavor.
The time will come when you feel the need to interact with other folks who share your passion.
A writing group can fill that need.
Local writer's organizations offer personal interaction and are a great way to meet other writers.
But what if there are no groups close by and travel is not an option.
Thanks to the internet you can still connect with people who share your interests.
You can do it all online.
And even if you belong to a local group, online groups are an additional option for so many reasons.
1.
Convenience: Local organizations usually meet once a month.
If you have a question or need a critique you may have to wait for the next meeting.
Online groups are always available and communicating by email and forums is very easy.
2.
Encouragement: When you're frustrated or have writer's block support is just an email away.
Family and friends tend to think of writing as not being a real job.
Sometimes you just need to hear from someone who understands what you're doing and believes in you.
When you need a boost your online buddies will be there to support you.
3.
Feedback: Critiques and constructive criticism are a big part of most writing groups and online response time is usually pretty fast.
4.
Skills: Most groups discuss and share information.
Many offer workshops to improve your writing skills.
Online workshops offer the added convenience of working on your own timeframe.
5.
Networking: You'll have the opportunity to meet published authors, learn about the industry and benefit from their experiences.
And you may be communicating with people from all over the country and even abroad.
When you search for a group it's important to look for one that fits your writing style.
For instance someone who writes romance novels will need different resources than a travel writer.
Consider your genre, skill level and cost of membership.
See what the group has to offer you.
Compare the benefits of several before you commit.
The amount of information on the internet can be overwhelming.
Forwriters has a pretty comprehensive listing that's divided into three sections - Writer Organizations, Local Writers Groups and Online Writers Groups.
It's a good place to start your search.
http://www.
forwriters.
com/groups.
html
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