22 Days of Gratitude - Day 17: Writers Groups

http://writingjourney.co/featured/writing-groups-amazing-every-writer-needs-one/

I am a member of a couple writers' groups/workshops.  Even though I don't always attend, I always feel like I am there in spirit.  I have made some great writing friends in both groups.  No matter how many sessions I miss, these folks are always there ready and willing to take me back and give me the feedback and affirmation and even kindly critiques I need.

Friday Night Writes has been meeting for many years.  We alternate meetings in members' homes.  We often break bread and drink wine, but mostly to write together.  We do "free" writes based on prompts by the host.  It is always amazing how our writing resonates with each other.  Often the same themes emerge in each of our writings as we share after 20 minutes more or less of jotting down our words.  I love this group and treasure my time with them.

The other group is through Inlandia Institute here in the Inland Empire.  I.I. facilitates several workshops throughout the IE.  The one I attend is in Ontario.  The members are inspiring to me in that most of them are in the mix to publish and have been published.  They are poets, fiction writers and non-fiction too.  I don't think they realize how much it means to me to included even though I often find very poor excuses not to attend.  They always welcome me back. We submit something we are working on for an honest, constructive critique by the group.  I always leave feeling like a "real" writer.

I need to be more regular in my attendance of these two groups I am so grateful for.  And I probably should seek out other communities of creatives to participate in.  If I'm ever gonna do something with my writing and buckle down on my memoir and other writing projects, I need all the positive support I can get.

AND THIS INCLUDES YOU, MY FAITHFUL BLOG READERS.  I feels so encouraged every time one of you makes a comment, observation, or just checks "Like".  For all of this, I am grateful.

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http://inlandiainstitute.org/