How to Start a Writers Group
First, find a location. This can be at a library, college, school, bookstore, restaurant, or other public place. Contact someone in charge to ask about the possibility of having a writer’s group meet on site. Most places are happy to oblige. Common places to find writers clubs include libraries, bookstores, and college campuses. After receiving permission to hold meetings at a particular site, choose a date and time for the first meeting.
Find writers. This may seem difficult but it’s not. An amazing number of writers live in every part of the United States. To find other writers who may be interested in joining a group, put up flyers in places that writers frequent such as the library, book shops, senior citizens centers, schools, and colleges.
Write a brief press release announcing the formation of the group and send it to all area newspapers. Most newspapers will print press releases for no charge. Find out in advance if the newspaper has a particular section for club postings or similar information.
If any local or area radio stations offer free community service announcements, ask that they announce the first meeting or call in to a swap shop on-air program to announce.
Be sure to contact friends or acquaintances that may be writers to let them know about the proposed group. Last but not least, announce your plans to local English teachers so that they can tell students about the club. Remember that a community group may have writers of all ages. Be sure to put contact information on all postings so that interested writers can get in touch.
Gather information to present at the first meeting. If you have copies of writers magazines at home, writers books, and other information, be sure to bring it along. If you have notes from an outstanding writers conference, bring those along as well and be sure to bring a few samples of work. Another thing to bring along is basic information about area writers conferences, contests, or publications.
At the first meeting, be prepared for a large turnout. Until officers are elected – if you want the club to be that formal – you’ll be in charge so have an introductory program prepared. For starters, invite each writer in attendance to give a brief introduction and determine what day of the week and time are best for ongoing meetings.
Be flexible and work with others’ work or school schedules. Be prepared for a smaller turnout at the second meeting but if you begin with a good core group, even three or four writers can build an excellent local group. One way to build numbers is to present a program at each meeting. Ask a local newspaper columnist to speak or get in touch with a regional writer. Having a “name” entertainment or program can gain interest and bring more members.
Create an online group in conjunction with the physical one. Many sites offer free groups. Yahoo is one of these. This will allow members to stay in touch between meetings and also allow anyone who can’t attend meetings due to schedule conflicts a way to belong as well.
Once an online group is in place, visit other sites for writers and announce your club. You may gain more members, both local and cyber, by this method.
Starting a writers group or club is quite simple. It just takes networking and an investment of time to get one started in any location.
