Storytime

It's that time of the year when any and all groups are having the yearly Christmas break up. Both of my writing groups have had their break ups and while it's been a whirl of great food, drinks and laughter, I've had time to reflect on how fantastic my groups are. All of them are passionate and avid readers. Which leads to some great chats on who is reading what, highly recommended books, but also some interesting discussions on when we differ on a novel. Some people's favourites are another's ho-hums. But that leads to the fact that there are so many different personalities in these groups. Dynamic mover and shakers as well as introverted observers. Lots of different personalities and lots of different ways of writing. This I think is what makes a group work. It's also why I get so much from both these groups. It's understanding that everybody is so very different. In what they write, in how they write. In how they plan or plot, or simply wri...

I belong to a writing group, The Lazy River Writers (named after the restaurant/bar we first met not after our work habits!) and this year marks our tenth anniversary. Tenth I believe is tin- malleable yet with a strength that deceives. Fitting for the group. We began as a collection of strangers, brought together via a writing workshop run at Belgrave library. The tutor suggested that since we worked well as a group, we should keep meeting once a month. And so we have. Members have left, new ones arrived, some have left for a duration then returned. My husband often asks why a writing group? The answer is quite complex. Firstly it's for the support and understanding. All members of the LRW can relate to a month of rejections, even the nice ones. They understand the frustration when the words in our head don't magically appear on the page. They know there are the months when life intrudes and nothing gets written, those months when the best plans are tossed aside, or ...