Writing Groups: A Tool for Everyone
A writing group is a tool that any writer can take advantage of. It can offer benefits to your writing and maybe help generate ideas, while also encourage the less outgoing writer to overcome their fears.
There are many reasons to consider joining a writing group. First, the obvious: Reading your work to others will enable you to get honest feedback for improving your story. While your friends and family certainly want to see you succeed, they can something have a hard time being critical of your creative masterpieces. However, this will not be a problem at a writing group; the other members are writer and are there to support and help everyone along the way.
Another benefit to a writing group is that sitting and talking about your story or other people’s story may spark some creative flow. If you are in a room with other creative and imaginative people; hopefully you will be able to generate ideas and focus on writing.
Another benefit is overcoming the fear of reading—especially your own work—out loud and in front of others. Authors often do book readings and book signings, so it is important for them to be comfortable talking about their own writing in front of people. And a writing group is the perfect place to overcome this obstacle as the other people in the group are there because they want to hear your work. Remember, they are there to support you and help you, not to tear you down or rip you apart. Though it may be tough at time to hear constructive criticism, it is important to be able to take it. All the advice you may hear is probably not going to be great, but a lot of it may be worth thinking about and considering. Besides, after you finally get something published, there may be a review of your work that is not entirely positive. Being able to handle constructive criticism is the first step to accepting your work and not crumble at the first mention of negativity.
Joining a writing group is also a great way to connect with other people with similar interests. While it is great to have a diversified group of friends, it is definitely nice to have friends who share your passion and can relate to you on a creative level. Also, it is always nice to make connections where you can.
Finding a writing group shouldn’t be too difficult; today, anything can be found on the Internet. You can search for writing groups in your area to find out where and when they meet. You could also contact your local library and see if they have anything similar set up.
Attending a writing group meeting is something every writer should try at least once. With all the possible benefits, it’s certainly worth a short. And if it’s not for you, hey, at least you tried!
Here are a few links to check out for writer’s groups online or in your area:
http://www.forwriters.com/groups.html
http://www.writermag.com/wrt/community/groups/locations.asp
Michelle Mudry
Editorial Assistant
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
The Never-ending Debate: The Book or Movie?
With the newest Harry Potter movie right around the corner, the thought of books being made into movies stuck in my mind. So many books have been made into movies in the last few years that it appears society would rather watch television than read a good book. It also shows that Hollywood is having trouble finding an original idea. While these are debates in themselves, they are not the one I am focusing on at the moment. I will admit that some of these movies have been done well, but others have been extremely disappointing. In thinking about Harry Potter, I find the movies to be fitting, and little more. Since each movie had a different director, some are done better than others, but they still leave out so much of the books.
One book I found that was made well into a movie is Alexander Dumas’s ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’. It felt true to the storyline of the book, while bringing the characters to life on the big screen. Though I know some of the story line was taken out, it wasn’t obvious in the movie. This is nice; the audience isn’t fully aware they are missing something. In contrast, Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ has been made into several movies, the latest with Keira Knightley. I enjoyed it, but I could tell where pieces of the story were missing.
Another aspect of books into movies is when the whole plotline is altered. This can be found in Nicholas Sparks' ‘A Walk to Remember’. The whole premise of the boy/girl meeting is completely different from the book to the movie. The relationship between the boy and girl is still there, but everything surrounding it has changed. This is due in part to modernization of the story. However, was this necessary? Do movies need to modernize books? Looking at ‘Pride & Prejudice’ or ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, the answer is no. These movies made it big without modernizing a classic. Now, I’m not calling ‘A Walk to Remember’ a classic, but it makes one wonder if modernizing a story is a good idea. In this case, it worked, in the sense that the movie made a lot of money at the box office.
Here is where another interesting question pops up. Is it better to read the book first or to see the movie? Does the order it occur in affect one’s feeling toward one type of media versus the other? For instance, if someone watches the Disney version of ‘The Three Musketeers’ years before they ever pick up the book, will they always love the movie better than the novel? The two are different, and it could be said that falling in love with one hinders love of the other. I’m not saying this is true of all book/movie relationships, nor of every person, but simply thought it was an interesting question to explore. This situation could be the same for ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Narnia’, ‘Ella Enchanted’, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’, ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, and numerous others.
This also poses the question of whether books should ever be made into movies. On one hand, it brings a good story to a wider audience. On the other hand, it also could lessen the number of people who actually pick up the book. While much profit can be made off the movie, sometimes more than off the book itself, movies are becoming more and more expensive to see. A person could see a movie in a theatre once, and never see it again, or have to wait until it comes out on video. However, paying little more now for a book can allow someone to enjoy it for ages to come.
While it is nice to see a book come to life on the big screen, it also leads to the question of vision. Whose vision is this movie? Is it how the author truly thought it out, or is it solely the workings of the director. A director’s vision may not be at all what my vision is, deterring me from seeing the movie, liking it, or ever feeling the same way about the book. There is always the fear that the character will be different, that the way an event happens isn’t how someone pictured it, etc. While sometimes it turns out better, more often than not it doesn’t. Yet will any of this stop me from continuing to compare the two? Probably not.
I’d love to hear more opinions on this…
Some others weigh in on this debate:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1134742,00.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/11/print/main528940.shtml
http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?indexID=49
Andrea Hall
Editorial Assistant
One book I found that was made well into a movie is Alexander Dumas’s ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’. It felt true to the storyline of the book, while bringing the characters to life on the big screen. Though I know some of the story line was taken out, it wasn’t obvious in the movie. This is nice; the audience isn’t fully aware they are missing something. In contrast, Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ has been made into several movies, the latest with Keira Knightley. I enjoyed it, but I could tell where pieces of the story were missing.
Another aspect of books into movies is when the whole plotline is altered. This can be found in Nicholas Sparks' ‘A Walk to Remember’. The whole premise of the boy/girl meeting is completely different from the book to the movie. The relationship between the boy and girl is still there, but everything surrounding it has changed. This is due in part to modernization of the story. However, was this necessary? Do movies need to modernize books? Looking at ‘Pride & Prejudice’ or ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, the answer is no. These movies made it big without modernizing a classic. Now, I’m not calling ‘A Walk to Remember’ a classic, but it makes one wonder if modernizing a story is a good idea. In this case, it worked, in the sense that the movie made a lot of money at the box office.
Here is where another interesting question pops up. Is it better to read the book first or to see the movie? Does the order it occur in affect one’s feeling toward one type of media versus the other? For instance, if someone watches the Disney version of ‘The Three Musketeers’ years before they ever pick up the book, will they always love the movie better than the novel? The two are different, and it could be said that falling in love with one hinders love of the other. I’m not saying this is true of all book/movie relationships, nor of every person, but simply thought it was an interesting question to explore. This situation could be the same for ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Narnia’, ‘Ella Enchanted’, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’, ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, and numerous others.
This also poses the question of whether books should ever be made into movies. On one hand, it brings a good story to a wider audience. On the other hand, it also could lessen the number of people who actually pick up the book. While much profit can be made off the movie, sometimes more than off the book itself, movies are becoming more and more expensive to see. A person could see a movie in a theatre once, and never see it again, or have to wait until it comes out on video. However, paying little more now for a book can allow someone to enjoy it for ages to come.
While it is nice to see a book come to life on the big screen, it also leads to the question of vision. Whose vision is this movie? Is it how the author truly thought it out, or is it solely the workings of the director. A director’s vision may not be at all what my vision is, deterring me from seeing the movie, liking it, or ever feeling the same way about the book. There is always the fear that the character will be different, that the way an event happens isn’t how someone pictured it, etc. While sometimes it turns out better, more often than not it doesn’t. Yet will any of this stop me from continuing to compare the two? Probably not.
I’d love to hear more opinions on this…
Some others weigh in on this debate:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1134742,00.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/11/print/main528940.shtml
http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?indexID=49
Andrea Hall
Editorial Assistant
Monday, July 2, 2007
Overcoming Writer's Block
Writer’s block is every writer’s nightmare. It can come seemingly out of nowhere, and it does not discriminate. It can affect writers at any stage of whatever they’re working on. And though some may argue as to when it’s worst (not being able to start writing can be a confidence killer, and yet what can be more frustrating than having already started something, and then just losing all sight and inspiration?), it’s always an annoying road block. However, just because writer’s block trips you up, it doesn’t mean that your work is ruined. Although there is no definitive “cure,” this article aims to help you out of this rut with various explanation and exercises to try.
There are many possible reasons why people experience writer’s block. A possibly endless number if each individual reason is taken into account. However, the following are some common ones:
-Distraction. If every time you sit down to write, you think of other things you “should” be doing, it will probably restrict your creative capabilities. Although worrying about other responsibilities can hamper anyone’s flow, there is an obvious fix: do whatever it is that you can’t take your mind off of. Pay the bills, wash the car, write a letter to Great Aunt Gert, whatever. And then, when the task is complete, tell yourself you accomplished what needed to be done, and then set aside some time to write.
-Excessive Self-Criticism. Having goals and high expectations for yourself is great, but if they’re hindering your ability to write, then it’s time to rethink them. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and writer’s block. It is not reasonable to expect everything you write to be amazingly perfect the first time you write it; this is what editing and revising are for. If this seems to be your problem, there are a few things you can do. First, take a break and remind yourself that your first draft is, after all, only a draft, and that it’s not supposed to be perfect. Then, sit down and just write. Whether it’s a short story, essay, or chapter, just write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about how crazy or “bad” it is. This will hopefully get some creative juices flowing, and when you’re done, you can take a look at whatever you’ve written and perhaps even use or revise some of it. If nothing else, it has warmed you up to start writing and has gotten the “needs to be perfect” jitters out of they way.
-Writing what you “should.” This complication affects you when you are trying to write in a particular genre or style because it is “popular” or what you think you “should” be writing. However, just because it is popular does not mean you should do it (after all, if all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you? Sorry, couldn’t resist…). This can be an easy trap to fall into. After reading some immensely popular book, you think to yourself, hey, that was a great story. I bet I could do something similar and sell a million copies too. The problem with this is that a) it might not be—and probably isn’t—that easy, and b) you are essentially planning to write a knock off story. That’s not really what you want—you want a story that you truly wrote and that shows off your unique style and strengths. In this case, you should think about what you’re writing, and why. If it’s not something you love or are passionate about, perhaps you should consider setting it aside for a bit, and working on something you are familiar with and love.
However, if these three reasons don’t explain your lack of creativity and inspiration, there are still tings you can try to spark an onslaught of (hopefully) writing genius.
-Brainstorm/outline. This exercise may help if you’re fuzzy about what exactly you’re writing about or where the story is going. Plotting out a story line, even if it’s just in your head, or is just a rough idea, may help get you started.
-Talk to others. This can include anyone from your friends and family to a writing group. This technique may help in more than one way; first, hearing yourself talk about your idea may clear up or trigger some kind of inspiration, while the person or people you talk to may provide some valuable feedback or bring up a point that you may not have considered.
-Start wherever you want. If you are having trouble starting, consider moving onto a different part of the story that interests or intrigues you more. If you’re telling the story, who’s to say where it has to start? Of course, when you’re done you can always go back and add the beginning you had originally envisioned.
-Take a break. You may be stressing yourself out or drying up your creative wells by forcing yourself to write. So walk away for a little bit, and give your brain a rest. After a while, take another stab at it. Additionally, if you’re working on a computer, try writing on plain old paper, or vice versa. If you always write in the same spot and you’re in a rut, try moving to a different area for a brief period.
Although none of these ideas are guaranteed, hopefully they will spark a creative flood of sorts. If none of these works for you, there are numerous other writing exercises out there geared toward helping you overcome writer’s block. To find some of these, look online. And remember, no matter how silly the reason or the exercise, if it helps, then it’s successful.
There are many possible reasons why people experience writer’s block. A possibly endless number if each individual reason is taken into account. However, the following are some common ones:
-Distraction. If every time you sit down to write, you think of other things you “should” be doing, it will probably restrict your creative capabilities. Although worrying about other responsibilities can hamper anyone’s flow, there is an obvious fix: do whatever it is that you can’t take your mind off of. Pay the bills, wash the car, write a letter to Great Aunt Gert, whatever. And then, when the task is complete, tell yourself you accomplished what needed to be done, and then set aside some time to write.
-Excessive Self-Criticism. Having goals and high expectations for yourself is great, but if they’re hindering your ability to write, then it’s time to rethink them. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and writer’s block. It is not reasonable to expect everything you write to be amazingly perfect the first time you write it; this is what editing and revising are for. If this seems to be your problem, there are a few things you can do. First, take a break and remind yourself that your first draft is, after all, only a draft, and that it’s not supposed to be perfect. Then, sit down and just write. Whether it’s a short story, essay, or chapter, just write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about how crazy or “bad” it is. This will hopefully get some creative juices flowing, and when you’re done, you can take a look at whatever you’ve written and perhaps even use or revise some of it. If nothing else, it has warmed you up to start writing and has gotten the “needs to be perfect” jitters out of they way.
-Writing what you “should.” This complication affects you when you are trying to write in a particular genre or style because it is “popular” or what you think you “should” be writing. However, just because it is popular does not mean you should do it (after all, if all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you? Sorry, couldn’t resist…). This can be an easy trap to fall into. After reading some immensely popular book, you think to yourself, hey, that was a great story. I bet I could do something similar and sell a million copies too. The problem with this is that a) it might not be—and probably isn’t—that easy, and b) you are essentially planning to write a knock off story. That’s not really what you want—you want a story that you truly wrote and that shows off your unique style and strengths. In this case, you should think about what you’re writing, and why. If it’s not something you love or are passionate about, perhaps you should consider setting it aside for a bit, and working on something you are familiar with and love.
However, if these three reasons don’t explain your lack of creativity and inspiration, there are still tings you can try to spark an onslaught of (hopefully) writing genius.
-Brainstorm/outline. This exercise may help if you’re fuzzy about what exactly you’re writing about or where the story is going. Plotting out a story line, even if it’s just in your head, or is just a rough idea, may help get you started.
-Talk to others. This can include anyone from your friends and family to a writing group. This technique may help in more than one way; first, hearing yourself talk about your idea may clear up or trigger some kind of inspiration, while the person or people you talk to may provide some valuable feedback or bring up a point that you may not have considered.
-Start wherever you want. If you are having trouble starting, consider moving onto a different part of the story that interests or intrigues you more. If you’re telling the story, who’s to say where it has to start? Of course, when you’re done you can always go back and add the beginning you had originally envisioned.
-Take a break. You may be stressing yourself out or drying up your creative wells by forcing yourself to write. So walk away for a little bit, and give your brain a rest. After a while, take another stab at it. Additionally, if you’re working on a computer, try writing on plain old paper, or vice versa. If you always write in the same spot and you’re in a rut, try moving to a different area for a brief period.
Although none of these ideas are guaranteed, hopefully they will spark a creative flood of sorts. If none of these works for you, there are numerous other writing exercises out there geared toward helping you overcome writer’s block. To find some of these, look online. And remember, no matter how silly the reason or the exercise, if it helps, then it’s successful.
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