Many of you had lots to say on the subject of writing groups and how to find readers in response to my founding rule number one: every writer needs readers.
This month we’ll focus on rule number two, which many of you have already hinted at: establish the writing group’s goals.
For me in Qatar, when I was setting up the Doha Writers’ Workshop, the aim was fairly simple: create a sustainable community to help me stay motivated toward my writing goals. Over the years I’ve attended many residences and one-day retreats, and in so doing I’ve had a chance to observe a variety of approaches.
The main ingredients are simple and may sound similiar to the conduct at primary school: respect everyone and their work equally.
If this is the founding tenet, then the one number complaint people have about workshops can be avoided: that their group so lambasted their piece, they will never put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) again.
The other basic principles spread outwards like a web from the agreement of mutual respect:
- people will be sure to first mention the strengths of the manuscript under discussion
- submitted material will not necessarily be assumed as autobiographical
- writers will adhere to submission deadlines to give readers enough time
From this base, your group will have to decide what it really wants. Is it focused on a particular genre: fiction, non-fiction, poetry? Will people submit only certain page limits or entire manuscripts?
This can depend on who is starting the group as well. If it is a publishing professional, agent or editor, then he/she may set the rules, ask for applications and charge a fee. If, as in the case of my writers’ workshop, the goals are more community development oriented, then consensus might be appropriate.
The key is to establish the core values and procedures in the first few months of meeting so that as the group's membership rotates, those who stay can help communicate them to joiners.
Best wishes,
(Reading & Writing Development Director)
Dear Ms. Claire Fogg,
Thank you very much for your kind and prompt response and explanation regarding the series of irregular numbers appearing on the copyright page of a book.
In is indeed very helpful of you to suggest that you would be interested to find out as to why the numbers are sometimes written in a different irregular order.
As and when you do find the answer, I would request you to post it on this blog.
Many thanks and best regards,
G. Venkatesh.
Dear Vengu,
I believe that the same principle applies - it is just that the numbers are not necessarily written in descending order. So, '1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2' would be a first printing. Why the numbers are sometimes written in a different order, I could not tell you - but I would be interested to find out.
Best wishes,
Claire
Dear Ms. Claire Fogg,
On revisiting my query on a series of numbers printed on the copyright page of a book, on further scrutiny, I have just one further question.
As per your explanation, the series of numbers indicate the reprinting details of the book.
If so, in the case of the book ' The world is what it is' by Patrick French, cited in my earlier query, why do the following numbers appear, which are not in a linear or consecutive order.
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
When you notice the above numbers, it is in an incremental order of two numbers for each of the next number upto the number 9 ( i.e. 1 3 5 7 9) and then the next number is 8 and then it decreases by two number for each of the next number upto the number 2 ( i.e. 8 6 4 2).
Sorry to bother you and tax your time.
But I would be very thankful, if in due course, you or any of your fellow bloggers or readers can crack this.
With best regards,
G. Venkatesh