Columns: Tag – Writing Group
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Writing Quips and Tips
Rules of Engagement
It’s something to do with the nature of creativity, I suppose. But people in writing groups share intimacies.
They may not intend to write about themselves, but somehow the creative process forces them to introspect. It makes sense. How can you begin to understand the motivations of others, if you haven’t looked starkly at yourself?
Writing itself is an extremely personal process. Bringing it into the open can make the most confident person feel exposed. It know it has to happen eventually and you understand that you shouldn’t take criticism personally (Yeah right!).
Okay, let’s say no more about that. We all pretend to be mature (some more successfully than others), but deep down we all want to kill anyone who suggests we murder any of our babies.
We recently ran a creative writing weekend during which participants expressed fears about having exposed themselves. They felt incredibly vulnerable. We’ve always talked about the way to behave in writing groups. But this group made us realise that perhaps we should formalise it.
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