In the early 90’s, I joined a writer’s group. I was inspired by a friend who had an MFA in writing from San JoseStateUniversity—a dedicated poet, novelist, and teacher—to join her weekly writing group. On the first day, I sat in a circle on the floor with a group of people I was somewhat familiar with from my small community. They had all been in this group for a while and were comfortable with the process. My friend gave us a “seed” idea, or a suggestion for a topic, and instructed us to “free write” for thirty minutes. Now, I knew about free writing because I’d recently become a fan of Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones, and a world-famous teacher of the process of what is now known as “free writing.” I discovered Natalie by accident when perusing the non-fiction section at the library. I saw her book, Long Quiet Highway: Waking up in America, and took it home. I was deeply affected by this memoir describing her profound dedication to the craft of writing, and how the practice of Zen became intertwined with her writing practice. At the time I had no idea this book would change my life and inspire me to embark on a creative process that was life-changing.

Free Writing – the key to breaking through writer’s block

So, here I was, sitting in a group of writers who were busily engaged in putting down their “first thoughts” on paper, not stopping to bother with the conventions of punctuation, spelling, political or other kinds of correctness—just letting it rip. They were following the Natalie Goldberg process of free writing I’d just read about which involves allowing yourself to write without editing and simply putting down on paper what first comes into your mind no matter how crazy it may sound. The only rules were, there are no rules except keep your pen moving and don’t edit your writing. This reminded me of Natalie Goldberg’s books, including Wild Mind, where she explains the value of tapping into the parts of us that are uncensored and full of wildness and raw energy. By writing down these first thoughts, our language has a freshness, vibrancy, and honesty that emerges before the censure has had time to judge, correct, or dilute the power of its intensity. We are often surprised by what we have to say and by the power of our words. We discover our unique voice.

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That day, I had already told my friend that this first time, I would write but not share my writing. I needed to just observe first. When it came time for people to share, I sat in awe of their courage. Here they were willing to fearlessly read what they had just written and bare their souls and first thoughts. But, what really blew me away, was the beauty, the vibrancy, and the power of their words. I loved these pieces of free writing and decided I wanted what they had—the courage to write without censoring themselves and then read those words out loud. I belonged to this group for several years until my friend moved back to San Francisco, and continued exploring my first thoughts and experiencing delight in the process.

Why do we write?

I started writing for the same reason I’ve started all adventures in creativity—because something inside of me pushed me in a direction I felt compelled to follow. Once I took the first step, it was hooked, and found the process irresistible. I think this force exists in all human beings and moves us forward to experience deeper parts of ourselves and our potential.

I’ve learned writing is not all about the finished product, but about the process. The process is not about the ego or about looking good or sounding good to anyone else—it’s about an experience and a connection we begin to have with our deepest selves.

Since that time, I’ve joined a number other writing groups, each with its own flavor, and have found them invaluable. Some of my groups have been for “women only,” most are comprised of both experienced authors and newbies, all have been supportive and nurturing.

Here are some things to consider if you want to join writing group:

Find a supportive group where you feel safe to share your writing.

Find a group that follows a free writing model (such as, Natalie Goldberg’s).

Be willing to be a beginner.

Be willing to suspend judgment about your writing.

Be willing to take risks.

Be willing to sound stupid.

There are many free “free writing” groups—these groups are comprised of people who share a love of writing and enjoy the supportive atmosphere of writing regularly with other people. A good friend of mine has had a regular group that meets at her home one night a week for a Natalie Goldberg type free writing session followed by sharing. Now, this friend is writing beautiful personal narratives about growing up with her grandmother in England.

There are great writing groups created and led by experienced writers—these are generally inexpensive because everyone pays a small fee, and the leader takes time to prepare for sessions and brings some level of expertise to the group. I have really benefited from groups with an experienced teacher who brings valuable techniques and resources to the group.

Editing comes later!

If you take your writing seriously and want to create finished pieces to publish, your free writing can provide material and inspiration for your novel, memoir, book of poetry, or prose pieces. Editing is part of the process and is the time to pull out your Elements of Style by Jr. William Strunk, a classic English style manual.

As Jim Lehrer says, "The Elements of Style remains an unwavering beacon of light in these grammatically troubled times. I would be lost without it."

Here are some great books on writing by my favorite authors on the subject:

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life by Natalie Golberg

Long Quiet Highway: Waking up in America by Natalie Goldberg

Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir by Natalie Goldberg

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

The Artists Way by Julia Cameron

The Writer's Life: Insights from The Right to Write by Julia Cameron

Please share your experiences with writing groups or your writing journey.