Louisa, don't give up the plans for your group. You've already put in the time getting it off the ground so you should continue and see how it plays out.

As for the other group -- attend for now, if you like it. It's always good to see the particulars of what works in a writing group, and what you might prefer to do differently.

Good luck!

You're right Meredith. I put a lot into getting it going. It's not even really going yet. I am now starting to get responses to my press releases though. I do want to see where this will lead.

It's great to have choices. Well Louisa based on your eagerness to start/join a group, I have joined the Barnes and Noble weekly writing group. It helped me to know what my goal is: to create vignettes from the content of TEARs, and to create poems from the prose. It helps me to have a goal versus thinking, wha wha what will I write about? I know from experience that sometimes what you start writing about is not at all what you end up wriint about! This BN group has been burning my brain waves urging me to go for several YEARS and I am finally going to do it. No excuses. Thanks for the impetus! When we share here, we never know who else will be positively affected. Let us know what route you take.

That is so nice to hear Princess. I have missed a structured group so much. And yes, we often start out writing about one thing and end up doing something else entirely. Good luck with your new group too.

Congratulations Louisa. You know when it rains it pours. I agree that you should keep developing your group. It sometimes takes awhile but the rewards are so worth bringing others to the table to work together writing. The best part is as it grows you get to know the members individually and it helps form the basis of friendships and a group that works well together.

I'd also continue visiting the other group and see how the dynamics work there. You might get some great ideas for your group.

Good luck in all of it.

I have had several inquiries about my writing group. The press releases paid off. I have 3 definite and 4 possibilities who have not yet confirmed. If I get one or two of them, I would have a good group. May 17th is almost here. That is the first meeting. I'm leaving for vacation Saturday morning.

Have fun on your vacation Louisa. You lucky gal, you! And the writing group sounds like it is shaping up nicely. Do you have an agenda for the first meeting?

Looking forward to hearing about your trip...
Also, I think it's fantastic that you reached out to begin something you are intereseted in being involved with. You go girl.

Have a wonderful time Louisa on your vacation. The group will grow fast once word gets out by each of the members. I personally prefer not too large a group, have been in both kind and the smaller one is always more intense and far more informative. Just a thought!

Hi Everyone and thanks for your comments. I had a great vacation. The weather was awesome at night and hot during the day. I did go in the pool though, which was nice. the heat got to me a couple of times. But, they were filming something to do with Disney's High School Reunion and the part they were filming was of Nick LaShea. (I'm not sure if that's how you spell it.) I got some great shots of him. I'm like the paparazzi with my camera.

I was going for a small writing group, Chatty. But, I will take what I can get to start since some people may drop out. I had yet another inquiry when I got home today. She wants to join, but asked if she could do so for the next meeting. She will be away on the 17th. Another woman emailed me about a poetry reading at a local college in June that will have some fairly well-known poets (at least around here I guess) reading. she said I should go and bring my friends and that it will be a great opportunity to meet some other women writers. I will try to make that. This seems to be turning out to be a great idea.

JJ, I don't have an agenda yet, but I guess I'd better come up with one in a hurry. At first, I didn't give that much thought as I didn't know I would get such response. I am going to send out an email tomorrow to let the interested ones know I am back and see if I can find out for sure who/how many are really going to show up. I will see what kind of mix I have as to level of writers. I know I have one or two very experienced writers and some beginners. I think I will ask those who plan to attend the first meeting to bring something they have written. Maybe I will ask if they want to send it ahead of time if they want to. I may pass out some writing prompts for those who need an idea of what to writ about and would like to do "homework."

Any ideas?