I now have a writers group. We met for the first time last night. It was a meeting to set up ground rules and for all the members to get to know each other a little better. There are five writers in the group and two additional readers. I’m told this is a good size for a group. It is also a gender balanced group, which I’m also told is a good thing. Since I’ve never been in a writers group before and all of these other people have, I believe them.
I have mixed feelings about the group. I recognize some of the reluctance as the same feeling I used to have whenever I was given group assignments at school. Working alone always seems so much easier, so much less emotionally risky. But if I’m going to make risk-avoidance a priority, then I should stop writing right now. Everyone else in the group has known each other for years in various capacities. This makes me the social newbie as well as the writer’s group newbie. I’m certain that this will shake out as this group forms a group identity. Everyone was welcoming. They laughed when I made jokes. It was very comforting that I could see where the jokes should go and that my jokes fit into the social structure. I’m going to fit into this group, I just don’t quite fit yet.
I’m nervous about the reading load. It is something of a silly worry considering that I go through a novel or more in a week. But reading for critique is a little slower and more involving than reading for pleasure. As soon as I get into it, I’m sure it won’t be much of a burden. It’s just the anticipation of a task that I haven’t done before. And that anticipation is going to drag out because our first official meeting isn’t until August.
Part of my reluctance about the writer’s group is my simple resistence of being labelled or pigeon-holed. I know so many writers who have writers groups. A piece of me wants to separate myself from the crowd by NOT having a writers group. That one is just silly. The reason that so many writers have groups is because the groups are so helpful. I would be stupid to pass up this opportunity to interact with other writers on a weekly basis. Particularly these writers. They’re worth knowing as people and studying as writers.
I got a place in this group because I’m female, reliable, and a friend vouched for me. I’m looking forward to earning the place I’ve been given.