Image Credits:-
Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Photos from the Autumn Gathering and screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.
I was delighted to get to my first Association of Christian Writers in person event for a while on Saturday 12th October 2024. I went up as part of their Autumn Gathering held at Rugby Elim Church. It was a Friday night/all day Saturday event but I just went up by train on the Saturday.
The last weekend ACW in person event I went to was the Worth Your Weight in Gold weekend held at The Hayes, Swanwick and which covered up until Sunday afternoon too. I ran a flash fiction workshop there. But for the Rugby day it was lovely to be a delegate only.
It was even more lovely catching up with old friends in person, including Rosemary Johnson, whom I interviewed here re her book, Wodka or Tea With Milk. I also caught up with Fran Hill, whom I interviewed her re her novel, Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean?, as part of a two part interview with Ruth Leigh on writing humour. I still think Fran’s book title ought to get some award incidentally!
My Connections with ACW
I’ve been an ACW member for many years and for a while I was their Membership Secretary. Indeed Paul Kerensa, the guest speaker for this event, was one of those I enrolled into the organisation. Now I run a monthly Zoom group called the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Group and have been a speaker online and in person at other ACW affiliated groups.
The organisation is hugely supportive for Christians who write devotional material and those like me who are Christians writing in the secular market.
It was at an early in person event they ran many years ago in Bath I learned how to set up my own free website (via Weebly) and the importance of having a website. I’ve not looked back on this aspect since and my website now (with WordPress) is growing organically but all thanks to what I learned from that event so long ago. Having my website has helped me develop as a writer and to engage with readers, potential and actual.
The motto of ACW is to encourage, equip and inspire and it definitely does all of those things. I will share further down what I think would be useful to look out for if you’re thinking of joining any kind of writing group.
The Autumn Gathering
The topic was on Zoomed Out though there were separate workshops after the interactive talk from the main speaker, comedian, actor and writer, Paul Kerensa (best known as a scriptwriter for Miranda, Not Going Out, plus he has one man shows around the country often about the history of BBC Radio and religious broadcasting).
Paul asked us an interesting question. Did you know it could be argued Marconi was the first sports broadcaster as he was asked to report on The Americas Cup using his telegraph system and Morse code? His report or what survives of it runs to three words – yachts slowly drifting! I hadn’t known this either until this event though it doesn’t encourage me to take up an interest in watching the yachting!
Paul Kerensa gave a wonderful and funny two part talk on writing, which produced many laughs. It helps a lot when another writer “gets” the self doubts etc which hit most of us. It’s also encouraging to know those who are well known in the business still have to contend with those doubts. It helps even more when you can laugh about the writing life.
After a lovely lunch provided by ACW, there was an AGM. ACW is a charity so needs to have these. It is always short though!
Then on to the other business of the afternoon – workshops. There was a choice of three and I went to the one on triggering ideas. That topic, along with editing and marketing, will always be timely!
The last event of the day was those ACW Group Leaders present, including me, invited people to our tables to discuss what the writing groups did. My one, the Flash Fiction Group, has to meet online and I run a workshop on Zoom every month.
I usually prepare a PowerPoint on a theme and I set exercises. I do them too. Helps me get more flash fiction written too! The members live hundreds of miles apart so we can’t meet in person, except at events like this one. But it was a good opportunity to share a little about what the group does and the benefits of flash fiction writing.
One thing I thought was brilliant were the wonderful cards on all of the tables, containing nuggets of wisdom for all writers. See my photos in the slideshow. I’m sure many will will make you grin and all are truthful, especially the one on adverbs. Go on, you want to look now, don’t you?!
The time whizzed by, as it always does when you’re having a good time, and it was soon time to head home again. But it was a lovely day full of encouragement, which all writers need continual supplies of! Talking of which….
Supportive Writing Groups
If you’re thinking of joining any writing group what should you look out for? I suggest the following tips:-
Check their website. They should have a FAQ section which should cover a lot of what you need to know initially or have tabs at the top which will cover a lot of ground. ACW does the latter having a section on membership, a link to its blog (More than Writers), a link to its online bookshop and under sections such as About Us, there is a drop down menu covering a lot of information, plus much more. What you are looking for here is easy to find information telling you about the group, its aims, and what it does. Fees should be openly displayed too.
Check out, separately, their social media presence. ACW has a Facebook presence. You should find good communications going on here. There should be a sense of the group happily communicating with each other and sharing useful information. ACW does do well here.
If you’re thinking of joining an in person group, see if they do taster sessions. Often groups will advertise in local libraries. Get in contact with them and do ask questions about who they are, what they do, are they looking for beginner writers or the more experienced to be part of their group (some will take all ranges, others will be specific about what they want here). Ask about the format of the group too. Is it always in person? Is it online? Will exercises be set? What does the group expect from its members?
See if there is any feedback given on the group in question. On the ACW Facebook page, there is feedback on the Rugby day and I plan to share the link to this post to their page too. But you want to see things like this. It means members are actively engaged with the group and that is a good sign.
If you know other writers, can they recommend writing groups, online or in person or both? Word of mouth still remains a powerful form of advertising.
For an in person group, you should be able to “visit” (having made contact first and queried this with the group) and then decide if you want to join. It is absolutely okay to go to a group and decide it isn’t for you. That happens, it happened to me many years ago, but unless you do “visit” how else would you know?
On the happy assumption you find a supportive writing group which is just right for you, do all you can to support them. Writing groups rely on their members contributing positively to make the group work. That doesn’t necessarily mean joining a committee but it does mean joining in and seeing this as a team enterprise. Successful writing groups encourage their members and are delighted when they develop.
As you develop further as a writer, there is more you can bring to the group. I hadn’t anticipated being a group leader for ACW when I joined them or that I’d be on their committee for a while but I am glad these opportunities arose. As well as being a chance to give something back, I know both of these things have brought me on as a writer.
Do follow any group rules. It makes for a happy group and less hassle for the organisers. Sounds a strange thing to say, should be obvious, right (?), but you want the group to be a joy for you and they want you to be a joy for them. Definitely a two way process. Doesn’t always happen, sadly.
Do check out Writing Magazine as it often shares news from writing groups. Worth checking these out in case any of these groups are near you. Gives you a lead!
If exercises are set at writing groups (and I would hope they would be!), do give them a go. See these as ways to enhance your writing. It gets you used to writing to deadlines and rule requirements. It’s more useful than you might think. Some groups encourage their members to read their work at the next meeting (I do with the ACW Flash Fiction Group).
See this as a way of getting useful feedback. You do find out how your work goes down with others. Scary thought? Yes, maybe, but it does help you develop. Feedback should be constructive. There is no point in rubbishing someone’s work. That only discourages. But useful thoughts such as this bit worked well, this bit less so because… take it all on board. You will learn from this.
Conclusion
Writing groups are wonderful aids to writers. We are on our own most of the time writing away but being able to join others who “get” our urge to write without you having to explain it is liberating. Look for groups with a positive outlook – there are plenty out there. Be prepared to “put in” as well as “take out” from the group and you should find you and your writing develop.
Good luck!
Many thanks too to the ACW Committee for the Rugby Day. It was great fun and so encouraging. A healthy dose of encouragement is something all writers need. Writing groups are great places to find this.
And as you develop? Well, you’re then in a position to encourage other writers yourself, yes? Paying it forwards and backwards helps you. The writing community overall is hugely supportive. Be part of that support as well as benefit from it. You will get so much more from your own writing life doing that.
And happy writing!
Related Posts:-
Introducing Rosemary Johnson – Wodka, or Tea with Milk: The Road to Publication
The Joys and Perils of Writing Humour Part 1 – Fran Hill and Ruth Leigh
Part 2 – The Joys and Perils of Writing Humour – Fran Hill and Ruth Leigh
Author Interview: Jennifer C Wilson – The Joy of Writing Groups and Workshops
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