They're fun, but I feel like I've reached the tipping point where if I take on any more, they'll eat my writing time rather than spurring me to write more. But I've got one group that sees the rough stuff and let's me know what's working and what isn't, another that looks at bigger chunks of material at once and therefore has a better big picture perspective on the story, and then the newest, which is online and feels like it's going to offer really good give and take and specific ideas for strengthening the story.

I'm terrified of writing groups. I'm not so much afraid of criticism of me, but I'm an awful person. I have attended groups, and it took all my energy, gripping the chair, to not say to some folks, "let me explain why you suck and should find a new hobby that won't make my brain bleed."

I'm bad at criticism, and there's a give and take. I take way more than I give, and I'm always suspicious of encouragement without reason.

I just want a reason to write right now. I feel desperately unmotivated.

That won't last, it never does, but in the meantime, the clock's ticking and I'm staying alert doing drabbles and song lyrics.

"let me explain why you suck and should find a new hobby that won't make my brain bleed."

Oh, man, I have so been there. We had a member of my meatspace group - Betsy will remember this guy - who, heaven help us, could not put three words together without making my head explode. He was dreadful.

I wrote him and suggested that he needed a different level of group. I honestly thought, if I had to try and critique him, I would be struck by lightning.

For me I'm afraid a writing group would become some circle jerk thing that would be endless talking of writing without actual writing. Plus, there's no one I know in meat space who I respect enough--other than Amy--to see my stuff. egroups are good as far as they go--hi, folks!--but the immediacy of face-to-face is good.

connie, having done one meatspace group that I didn't host, and now doing one I do host, I find I'm all about the hosting. I like having control over it, to put it bluntly: we don't talk about process or any of that stuff. The members - I keep it at a maximum of six, including myself - bring something they're working on, they let us know upfront what it is they're looking for in feedback or commentary or input or whatever, they read their piece, they get the discussion.

I had to listen to a metric fuckload of blathering at PariSalon, people talking about writing, rather than producing anything. I prefer actual sex to masturbation, you know? The whole circle-jerk thing, I can avoid that if I'm hosting.

Aimee, you have a novel? What's it about?

I do. i started it yonks ago and just recently dragged it out from under the rock I hid it and remembered I liked it so I've been touching it up.

It's a cheesy little romance novel. Modern times, about an actress reunited with her long, lost love on a movie set and she's determined not to let him again, which, of course, she invariably does. Nothing award winning, just fun and kinda mine and Joe's story set with more money, more fame, and the same sarcastic love.

they let us know upfront what it is they're looking for in feedback or commentary or input or whatever, they read their piece, they get the discussion.

I like that idea, it's an invitation to serious work instead of "I just wrote a thousand words on daisies and I must share it!"

"I just wrote a thousand words on daisies and I must share it!"

If there's a hell, I'll have to listen to those thousand words on an endless loop while entering serial numbers on an excel speadsheet for all eternity.

I'm now rewriting the title piece in my collection, and I keep losing my point. I think the cat batted it under the fridge.

Connie, yup - serious work is right. I don't demand that anyone in the group be published, or anything like it, but I do want actual work being produced, if I'm going to feed them and all that...

If there's a hell, I'll have to listen to those thousand words on an endless loop while entering serial numbers on an excel speadsheet for all eternity.

Add having to create Powerpoint presentations, and listening to a Reagan-era economist tell me about supply-side economics, and the screams of eternal torment you hear will be mine. I'd take the Lake of Burning Fire over that shit any day.

I think the cat batted it under the fridge.

Possibly it's in Aruba, on the beach, with my motivation?