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This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.
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OPTIONAL IWSG DAY QUESTION:
Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
Nope, no witch trials, dragon hunting/saving, mining the belt, communing 
with aliens, or visiting magical lands. We keep that all in the family behind locked doors. 😉
I’m pretty sure I signed—pressed my baby thumb to—an NDA when I learned to speak.
Co-Hosts
Jacqui Murray | Lisa Buie-Collard | Sarah Foster | Natalie Aguirre | Shannon Lawrence
On to something very close to my heart
I used to have an online group with Scribophile. We talked every day and because we were all at different stages of our writing lives, everyone brought something different to the group.
After years, it slowly petered out. I miss them so much. Hate the fact I took them for granted and regret it more than I can say.
But I don’t have to live without a group; all I have to do is reach out. That’s what I’ve learned here. So here I am reaching.
I would like to start/join a group that chats daily. We share thoughts in a safe place. Where they can post: a blurb, a logline, a tagline, or a chapter and get some feedback.
Or chat about the day. I don’t expect everyone to have something to say all the time. There could be crickets occasionally. But I will ask you how it’s going and hope that you have time to answer.
What I can’t do is a Facebook group. They are way too overwhelming. I’m sure some of you have noticed I only drop by once a month. That’s all I can manage.
What I am looking for is sign-ups or information. Fill in the form below with what you’ve got and let’s see where it goes.
Thanks in advance.
elements of emaginette 
If I could talk about the publishing side of things, too, (since that’s how I spend most of my time) then I would be interested. And I could use help with my own writing.
Yes, the more we know the better off all of us are. Yay! 🙂
I’d love to, and maybe in the future, but right now my plate is full! I do have a group I’m involved in and have been for almost six years now. I know how I would feel if I lost them, so completely understand how you feel…
I’m glad you have what you need. Let me know it that ever changes. 🙂
I’ve got a lot going on right now, but I’d maybe be open to something in the future. Good luck with the project! 🙂
No pressure. If you have time…
Sounds interesting and something I could use in my world right now as well
Yay! Welcome. I’m so excited. 🙂
Hope you can start or join that writing group soon.
Me too. 🙂
I hope you get some interest with your group, Anna. I used to be part of an online group of Prison Break fans (where I started writing fan fiction which parlayed into novel writing) and I miss it, too. I enjoy Facebook for the most part but I can see how it might be overstimulating and fake.
No judgments about Facebook. I know it works for a lot of people.
I just need something different is all. 🙂
You answer made me laugh.
I haven’t been able to attend Tara Tyler’s #wedwrant chats every Wednesday on Twitter in months due to other responsibilities, but I wish you all the best, and one day, if you do have something up and running, maybe I’ll pop in. 🙂
Thanks for the tip and when it gets going I’ll send you what I’ve got. 🙂
Hi,
I’ am interested so please let me know when you start it. My question_ how large is this group supposed to be?
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Not sure how big it will grow, but I think the door should be open to all. In my original group, there were many stalkers (which was fine) and a handful of people that chatted daily. 🙂
That sounds like fun. I’ve got a critique group to fill that role in my life right now, so I know what a valuable resource it is. If my group ever breaks apart, I will definitely be looking this group up again.
Good to know and you’ll always be welcome. 🙂
I don’t use family traditions in my writing either. Hope you find a new group. I love my critique group.
I wasn’t sure, but now I believe in it. 🙂
I left comments on your form. I don’t really use family tradition in mine either lol, loved your answer. It made me giggle.
Ah, mission successful. 😉
Haha! Your opening answer for the IWSG is purr-fect!
On your second note: I appreciate your emotions about your former CP group. To be honest with you, I have recently come to the same conclusion. I have a few I still chat with now and again; even swap work here and there, but nothing like it was. I miss that soooo much. I’ll look into what you’re purposing. 🙂
I’d love to add another to the list. 😉
Best of like finding a new group! They really are amazing, and I’m lucky to have one close to home where we gather in person. 🙂
Ahhh. Green-eyed stare heading your way. 😉
I knew you’re son had to be magical 😉 Brilliant post today Anna. The writers group sounds interesting. I don’t think I could do every day though 🙂
Your welcome to dip your toe in or wait ’til you’re ready. 🙂
This is such a great idea, and I love that you don’t want to take it onto FB. Can I take a raincheck? Or can I opt in, but keep my participation on simmer until I finish the mound of projects I have going on right now?
Yes, either is good for me. 🙂
Aww great idea! Having a safe place to chat about all things, not just writing is a great thing. This gig can be so solitary sometimes, it’s good to find your squad!
Squad building in now my thing. hehehe
A group that’s able to chat every day sounds like a great idea!
My thoughts 🙂
So I signed up, because I, too, would like to belong to a group. But you already know we’re not posting ‘every’ day, right? But I had to pick out the blocks with a freaking palm tree to ‘prove’ I’m human. I hate those damn things. Palm trees are not proof that anyone is human.
Also, I think I signed one of those NDAs, too.
Palm trees. You poor thing. 😛
No one has to do anything. My personal promise to me is to reach out regularly and ask how everyone is doing. Answer if you have news or something you’d like to run by us.
Baby NDA! Funny post. I recently stepped away from my weekly in-person critique group because it had become more work than helpful. We all wrote in different genres, and one person in particular had become *ahem* less than helpful. These days, my goal is to finish a manuscript before running it by any critique partners, since the story changes so much as it evolved.
What sort of platform would you use for your writer chat group? You can reach me at sadira@sadirastone.com.
Name, platform, etc will be discussed as a group. I do have a few ideas though. 🙂
I would like to join a writing group, but everyday is too much for me. Maybe once a month… Like a blog hop – regular but with no pressure. I was a part of a weekly group hop for a while and couldn’t sustain it – much too often. Monthly seems like a good fit for an introvert like me.
And I would want a genre-specific group – speculative fiction writers.
I’m imagining something less formal. More like texting, chatting on a simply designed forum. I’d like to discuss it further in a group email, so we can decide together what would suit us best.
Sounds like a plan though I wouldn’t be able to participate. I belong to two fairly active groups.
Keep us as a back-up for your back-up. I think I sound a little like Mr Monk. hehehe
Best of luck finding your next group! It sounds lovely to me, and I’ve loved having a check-in accountability group in the past, but I’m not taking on anything new right now. Like everyone advised me in my own post today, I’m trying to cut what I do, not increase it! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
I hear that. 🙂
I miss chatting with my friends too! There’s always too much to do as a working parent.
Very true. Lucky if we get five minutes of quiet. 🙂
Well I do see how groups can be very supportive. I’m a part of a few. Some I joined recently but at present I’m struggling to fit my writing schedule with all the groups. So maybe when I’m sorted I’ll be back. Good luck!
You’ll always be welcome. 🙂
You must have to work extra hard to keep your real life out of your writing. 😉 Thanks for the chuckle!
It’s near impossible. 😉
Good luck with your writing group, Anna! The only thing I can hope to do every day is breathe! All the best to you!
I’m sure you speak sometimes too. hehehe
It sounds like a good idea and one I’d be interested in. I look forward to popping in. 🙂
Yay! That will be great. 🙂
Sounds interesting… almost as interesting as dragon hunting… 😉
Almost. hehehe
I love the idea. I sometimes feel isolated. Probably because I’ve been travelling so much. Having a safe place to confess my worries about writing on a daily basis, (hopefully not that often) would be nice.
My thinking exactly. Who knows maybe I’ll get few more words down. 🙂
I’ve just this week joined a writing group, been looking for one for ages so I know what you mean about making connections. Sounds like you’ve got some interest here so i hope your new group is a success.
So far, so good. I’m feeling very hopeful. 🙂
A friend asked this week if I would join her in-person group, who meet once a month here in town. I said yes. I’ve also put my hand up for your writers’ group. However, I don’t want to spend all my time talking about writing instead of actually doing the bum-in-chair, if you know what I mean! So it’s a careful balance.
I understand and think many of us will be walking a fine line until we figure it out. 🙂
Your post made me laugh. The NDA while you where a baby. Lol. An online writer’s goup is a cool idea. I am in one on discord. I don’t know anything about how to set it up, but you can have chats and share ideas. Good luck getting your group together!
Thanks. 🙂
Been a cricket on Scribophile the past couple of years. So not sure I’ll be dropping in regularly but interested in joining a group. Would love to bounce off plot development ideas and learn of presses, journals, etc open and calling for submissions that might be a good fit for me and my writing.
Okay I’ll add you to the list. Any group names or platform suggestions are welcome here. You just must the group email by hours, but I’ll keep you informed.
All the luck with finding a new group, Anna. I’m up to my eyebrows right now or I’d join. You have the right idea. All best to you!
Thanks. Appreciate it. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog, emaginette, if you do set up a group, do let me know, kind regards, Carole.
Will do. 🙂
These days I find it more difficult to keep up with chat groups or even my blog for that matter. It’s not for lack of time, but a weakened resolve I guess I might say. I really have to force myself to do online activities of late. Maybe that will change eventually, but for now I’m not ready to commit to much. Well, except for A to Z and that’s become mostly an obligation that I feel that I must do.
Good luck with the group. It sounds like a plan that will be useful to some.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Well, you’ll always be welcome if you change your mind.
I like the idea of the kind of writing group you describe, but I think I’d struggle to be an active member. I have a lot of plates spinning and sometimes I’m just too “peopled out” to chat online. That’s why the IWSG works well for me, I suppose because I only need to commit to posting monthly. I hope you get lots of responses. It’s something I’d think about for the future if I can maybe get my life more organised!
When the time is right, let me know.
If I were to talk about my family (Belgian) traditions and customs, it would take up an entire new memoir. 🙂
I love your critique/writing group idea, but I could never do the once a day thing. Toooooo much going on in my life already. I’ll let you girls and guys figure it out and once you have something going, I’ll happily check in and see whether I could/want to become a part. I’m glad it’s outside of Facebook; way too many groups already there, like you said. Better to do something more personal and cozy – with a caring and genuine atmosphere.
Okay, contact me through my contact page. I’ll need the email you’d be using and I’ll send you directions on how to join. 🙂
A writing group sounds nice and perhaps down the road I could join in. For me, a good writing group needs to be comprised of members who all agree that NO DRAMA and mutual support is the main focus.
This if more of a chatroom, but so far we meet your requirements. Contact me anytime you’re ready. 🙂