Writing is a solitary profession, and at some point of your 

time you may wish to get a guidance to go forward, or you 

might become totally uninterested to continue your writing. 

What can you do? Joining a writers group is the answer. 

Why join a group? If you are a member of a committed writing

group with like-minded people, you will be greatly benefitted.

Each member can be benefitted from such a group. They can 

share their work and insight with the rest of the group, and 

inspire each other to continue writing.  

You can find many writers groups online and join the ones you 

like. But, there is nothing like meeting and discussing face

to face, if you can. 

Where to find a local writers group? There will be many others 

like you looking for such a group in your own city. But how

do you find them? If you can't find one you can form a 

group of your own. But how?  

• Ask yourself whether you are ready to take the initiative to form such a group. If your answer is yes, write down your purpose of forming such a group.

• Spread a word among your friends and relatives about your proposed plan. They may have writer friends among their circle of friends who would be glad to join you. In fact,they too must be longing to be a part of such a group.

• Also, place an ad in your local newspaper. Those who are looking for such a group will eagerly respond to you. Perhaps, another writer is located in your next street which you didn't know until you got her response through an ad.

• Contact them over the phone, one by one, and find out their interest and where do they stand in their writing world. It will help you to decide whether they are the writers you are seeking to support one another, as a group.

• Decide about a suitable date and place to meet them altogether to discuss about your forming a group, and inform them. Those who are enthusiastic about joining such a group will turn up for the first meeting, without fail.

• Prepare a draft of guidelines before attending your first meeting, so that you will have an idea as to what you are going to discuss and achieve in the meeting. Discuss about the need of forming a writers platform and the guidelines needed for its proper functioning, which appeals to all.

• Send a confirmation letter to all members by email about the date of next meeting and the venue. Make a phone call if you don't hear from them.

• Write down a set of proper guidelines, clearly indicating the purpose of forming a group, how often the meeting should be held, and where to be held etc, as discussed at the meeting. Distribute a copy to all the members in the next meeting.

• Once a group is formed, each one is committed towards its proper function. There need not be a leader.

• For various reasons, one or few members may leave your group. If you find suitable writers to join your group, fill the vacant membership. But remember to restrict your membership to the decided number only. Otherwise when the number increases it will become difficult to manage effectively.

It is better to form a small group of writers numbering from 

8 to 15  for its efficient functioning.  I am a member of 

such a group, and we meet once a month, at one of the 

members' house, as decided at the previous meeting. We 

support, encourage, critique, and motivate each other.