It’s been many years since I was part of a writing group – set up by myself and a few friends in a quiet corner of the local pub. Since then I’ve attended some wonderful writing workshops (www.writinginthehouseofdreams.com) and completed a creative writing and English Literature degree. During all that time I felt supported – by other struggling writers, by successful authors, by tutors. I was always being challenged, pushed to get assignments in, made aware of competitions, asked continuously to share my work, given careful criticism, and a friendly e-mail or hug when it got too hard.
Since this time I’ve carried on writing with the support of my mum and a close friend. But gradually, I’ve slipped back into the mire of negativity, worrying about whether it’s worth this tremendous effort all the time – and that’s just the writing, people will know how rubbish I am at submitting work to publishers! Moving home twice has meant the loss of my carefully nurtured writing practice too.
Anyway, I have finally found a new writing group via an on-line search called ‘meet up’. So this week I met a group of strangers in a coffee shop, except they aren’t strange at all, they’re just like me – people that just inexplicably need to write. With the return of my blog, my new home in good order, and some support behind me, I feel the sparks of excitement about writing again.
It’s so important for writers to have support. Find yourself a group to meet regularly with, create your own, or join an on-line forum. Do whatever you can to secure a place where you can share your writing life, otherwise you’ll feel like the rocks are blocking out the sun, and it’s not a fun place to be.
VitalWrite 
This is great, glad you’ve refound a like minded group. Maybe there are more out there!
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Thanks for being my biggest supporter x
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I loved this post, Josie. There can’t be a writer anywhere who doesn’t occasionally wonder why they’re putting so much of their time, energy and whole self into writing, when the worldly rewards are so sketchy, but it makes for such a rich and exciting inner life, in the end we always come back, with grateful hearts.
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I can totally relate to Josie’s post, too, Jenny. Moving house does disrupt good writing practice and trying to find another writers’ group has been very difficult for me. But as you say, we always come back because there’s a deep need within us.
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You’re right Jenny, and in my experience there’s always a little bit more strength of resolve each time I come back. Life is such a tumultuous journey, and I am so grateful for my writing heart.
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It takes time to get settled but it looks like your looking in the right places and making a conscious effort to pursue the writing career.Just keep sending work in to publishers and then one day you will get that big life changing letter.
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