Bandersnatch, and writers' groups

[sartorias]

Using Diana Pavlac Glyer's new book on how the Inklings worked as a group, I wanted to talk about writers' groups and process and maybe get some discussion going.

Comments

[whswhs]

When I read your lines about "a kind of general complacency-stories that seem to say the same thing over and over-a group voice, and occasionally the regrettable smugness of in-jokes," they resonated for me with things that can happen with roleplaying groups. I've read a lot of comments from people who have formed little circles of friends who play together, year in and year out, hardly even inviting in new people and perhaps less often retaining them. And often they settle into playing the same rules system and the same campaign premise over and over, because there are group members who will object to anything different, or even actively sabotage a campaign with a different premise (and such measures can also act as a veto on bringing in new members

[sartorias]

I think that can be extended in all directions. There's something to be said for the comfort of habit, especially when everyone is gaining keen pleasure from keeping things exactly as they are. There are also readers who want pretty much the same story from a given author.

But those who want to do something new--to learn, to challenge themselves, need to change things up, exactly as you are doing with those groups. (Which, by the way, make me wish I lived in San Diego.)

[asakiyume]

It can be hard when you're trying something new (I'm not talking about new-to-the-world new, just new-to-you new). You wonder who you can show a thing to.

[sartorias]

Yeah, especially when you're already teetering with self doubt.

[queenoftheskies]

There have never been any local writing groups in my area, so I've never been a member of one, but it seems to me (as a non-member, of course) that being around other writers would be a great comfort to an active writer, in addition to the critiques of their work.

[sartorias]

Oh, definitely.

[sartorias]

The Inklings also read poetry, according to the book, but these were all Humanities professors of one stripe or another, for the most part.

Anyway, I love coming across your poems--it's like flavor burst surprises!