In January 2007 I had been living in my current home for nearly a year, and married for about 6 months. It was time to start focusing on my writing again.
I did some research and found a local writers group that was meeting that first Saturday in January, and I went to the meeting.
It’s always hard for me to meet new people, especially when it comes to something as personal as my writing. This group, however, was welcoming and supportive from day one, and I never looked back.
I’ve enjoyed the group immensely, made some great friends and watched a few friends get published. It has been exciting and helpful to me.
Yesterday, it ended. The group leader sent out an e-mail to everyone advising that his day job is making it necessary for him to step aside from his duties, essentially disbanding the group. I feel that this is more “political” than that, but what’s done is done.
I was a bit angry and a bit sad for a while, and went to bed still mulling it over. Saturday is the first Saturday of April and now I have no group to go to.
I remembered this morning that there are other writers groups in the area, and as it turns out, one of them meets the first Saturday of every month. This Saturday I will be going there.
I felt bereft without my group. I am happy to say that my dear friends have my e-mail address and I have theirs, but we won’t have that guaranteed once-a-month sit down, which makes me sad.
Luckily, there wasn’t much down time. I know I could write without a group. I’ve done that for years. But here is what else I know:
No matter how supportive your friends and family are, nothing on earth takes the place of kindred spirits. You need people in your life who have the same passion and focus as you do, whether it be for writing, music, politics or whatever.
Here’s hoping Saturday’s group fills the gap!
I tend not to rely on ANYbody for ANYthing. “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.” Especially when it comes to writing.
That said, I’ve recently connected with a few fellow bloggers, and I can totally identify with your feelings for kindred spirits. While I’d still be blogging with or without them, and I don’t always take their advice, it’s really nice to HAVE their advice and support. It’s been a good lesson to me, as well, in how to be supportive of others.
Thx for your post. Now I need to go thank those about whom I was speaking.
I am with you on the hermit thing (or not, since that sort of defeats the purpose). But writing is supposed to be more about the reader than the writer (IMO) so having someone to read stuff, or even just cheer me on, or put my in my place, is essential.
oh, wow! how did the new group go?
do you think you could encourage the old group to stay together, but to meet somewhere else? A park or a local coffee shop?