Just after I became ill my local library started a reading group. It’s become an important part of my ‘new’ life now, we have such wide ranging conversations and they are all so understanding and kind. One month we read Mills & Boons (a variety between us) which caused much hilarity and the development of a wide range of crazy pen names and titles etc. The surprising outcome of this entertaining exchange was that some of us decided to start a writing group. This was ostensibly to attempt to collaboratively pen a romance novel but once we began to meet this idea got lost. I’ve always written non-fiction on the odd occasions when moved to write, plus my concentration skills these days are just awful…I’ve lost my reading mojo and even my ability to concentrate on movies and some of my favourite TV shows.
So we’ve done various writing prompts and exercises. We have one poet so far and some hidden talents for excellent story telling have emerged. The lack of us tackling the M&B guidelines to try to write romance has frustrated Janet because she believes that we can do it.
So, we finally have rough plot outline and a name for our heroine. What’s next? Two of our number had made a brief stab at some opening paragraphs last meeting and we agreed on a plan of action. We will all attempt to write between 500 and 1000 words each four weeks. Bring in and share it, discuss what’s missing and where to next, then swap them. Yes, we’re going to attempt the romance equivalent of a game of consequences. (If that’s what it’s called?) I have no idea if this will work, but we should have some fun with it.
Our meeting is tonight and up until Sunday I had written nothing and was beginning to think that I’m just not going to be able to do it. It’s all very well my reading group being kind and not telling me to stop attending because I’m never able to read much of the book, but this is different. We all need to contribute for this to work…
So I resisted the addictive allure of the interweb and ignored to attention seeking call of my ever increasing inbox and only allowed myself to write. Not draw, not organise files, not clean up digital photos. Just write.
Much to my surprise I managed to squeeze out 840 words over the course of Sunday. We’ll see what my writing buddies think tonight…
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Cathy - Admin, June 07, 2010
written by sand625, June 16, 2010
Thanks for the luck
Amazingly only two of us had written anything on topic, so Mary copied both our efforts for all, to see if that would get the creative juices flowing. Now I just have to try to continue what I started before we next meet...
