It’s been said before that the life of a writer can be a lonely one. We spend countless hours buttoned up, away from the world and we falter by getting too comfortable with that station in life. As humans, we cannot exist without social interaction, and as writers, it is detrimental to ignore the real world and the characters that inhabit it.

Belonging to a writing group is a bridge between living in our heads and breathing fresh air. A group allows us to commiserate with like minds and test out our work on people who understand our strengths and weaknesses. Even successful screenwriters use their own trusted circles to test out new ideas before pitching them, and not being a part of one is a disservice to your work and your well being.

The key however, is to find the group that fits you and your needs. Writing groups are organic in nature, and they shape shift to fit the needs of the present body of writers.  The group you join now may not suit you in the future. Do not feel any guilt for leaving a group that has grown stale or advanced itself beyond your abilities. 

It is easy to find a screenwriting group now that Meetup.Com has made the process painless. Simply type in your zip code and the key word ‘writing’ and you’ll find at least one group to investigate*. 

While you are searching for a writing group, there are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Why do you want to join this group and do your needs mesh with theirs?
   
   
   • Is it to make your writing better or fix a weakness? 
   • Is it to learn the basics? 
   • Is it to bounce your ideas off writers who are as successful as you?
   • Is it to share your advanced knowledge with writers who are starting out?
     
      
2. Does this group have a set of guidelines or expectations published?
   
   
   • An established and organized group will have one of these documents for you to peruse. This document should spell out exactly what they expect from you, whether it’s level of skill, dues to be paid, or time commitments you must make.
      
3. Do I feel safe?  Do the collective members challenge the writing and not the writer?
   
   
   • Writers come from many backgrounds, both politically and culturally. It’s imperative that your work is challenged and not your personal beliefs. I have personal experience as a group organizer with writers clashing over topics that had nothing to do with screenwriting. Feelings were hurt and it forced me to create an infantile list of behavioral expectations. I thought the list was overkill, but as it turns out, it has kept new and old members in line.

Once you’ve answered these questions about  the group you are investigating, you need to join it or move on to find another one.  Big cities tend to offer a better selection of groups to choose from, so if you’re stuck with one, join it anyway and make the best of it until a better one comes around. Even a group with opposing goals can offer insight and provide some social value. Maybe your involvement will make the group take off in a new direction and flourish.

If you’re going to start your own screenwriting group, feel free to incorporate my guidelines and make them your own.   If you are clear with your expectations, you’ll attract writers who have similar goals and run a successful group. 

Lastly, check with your state film commission if there is no group for you on Meetup.com. There may already be an official association for screenwriters in your area and the film commission will have knowledge of it.

Happy Group Meetings Everyone!

* It is remotely possible that the city you are in does not have any group to suit your needs, but don’t despair. You can either create a new one on Meetup.com or create a virtual group by using Fivesprockets.com. Solicit a few members with your writing group goals and use Skype.com to hold audio or visual web cam meetings. Groups that meet in person are always preferential in my humble opinion, but not always feasible.