{"id":11739,"date":"2018-03-22T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/?p=11739"},"modified":"2020-01-30T21:36:44","modified_gmt":"2020-01-31T02:36:44","slug":"writing-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewritelife.com\/writing-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Miss Having Coworkers? Here\u2019s How to Start a Writing Group"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing can be a <\/span>lonely road<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though working solo has many benefits, everyone has moments when they wish they could stop by a coworker\u2019s desk to ask a question, get feedback on an idea or simply share a crazy client story. <\/span><\/p>\n

I worked on my own for several years before going in-house as a staff writer for a personal finance website. And, while I missed the freedom of <\/span>working remotely<\/span><\/a>, I loved the daily banter with my colleagues. Not only was the camaraderie enjoyable, it often sparked my creativity. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, when I returned to freelancing a year ago, I wanted to bring a bit of that feeling along with me \u2014\u00a0and I started a writers mastermind group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a mastermind group? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Napoleon Hill, author of <\/span>The Law of Success and Think and Grow Rich<\/span><\/i><\/a>, is largely credited with introducing the word \u201cmastermind\u201d in the 1920s, though the concept has been around far longer than that. <\/span><\/p>\n

Organized by entrepreneurs across industries, a mastermind is a group of peers who meet regularly to <\/span>set goals<\/span><\/a>, overcome challenges and use their collective brainpower to accelerate business growth. <\/span><\/p>\n

Famous mastermind participants <\/span>include<\/span><\/a> Franklin Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates \u2014\u00a0even the Knights of the Round Table! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they\u2019re still very much in vogue today. As the legendary online entrepreneur Pat Flynn <\/span>writes<\/span><\/a>: \u201cA mastermind group is mandatory to achieve online success\u2026 I would not be where I\u2019m at today if it weren\u2019t for the mastermind groups that I\u2019ve been a part of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

My mastermind consists of five female freelance writers. We meet once a month over Google Hangouts to share highs and lows, resources and encouragement. <\/span><\/p>\n

I always look forward to our call, as it\u2019s one of the only times I get to have honest conversations about writing with people who understand what I\u2019m talking about. I also learn so much from my fellow group members, and love the support we provide each other. <\/span><\/p>\n

5 steps for starting a writers\u2019 mastermind group<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Becoming part of a writers mastermind can certainly be a boon for your career \u2014\u00a0and your mental health. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, rather than waiting around to be invited to one, why not start one yourself?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s how to start a writing group.<\/p>\n

1. Outline your goals and rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The first thing to figure out is what you want to gain from your mastermind. Collect your thoughts in a Google Doc that you can share with potential members. <\/span><\/p>\n

For example, here was my mastermind\u2019s main goal: \u201cTo <\/span>grow our writing careers<\/span><\/a> while traveling the world \u2014\u00a0and without going crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the document, I also included secondary goals about accountability, perspective, support and inspiration, as well as the proposed schedule and rules. Some examples: \u201cShow up every month (if you miss three calls, you\u2019ll be asked to leave the group)\u201d and \u201cListen openly and without judgment.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Though I\u2019m generally not a stickler for rules, I thought they were important to mention. That way, potential members would take the group seriously, as well as understand the type of environment I hoped to create. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Determine your meeting cadence<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most mastermind groups meet once a week or once a month. <\/span><\/p>\n

My mastermind meets from 3-5 p.m. EST on the first Wednesday of every month. Having a regular time makes it easier for us to fit the meeting into our schedules (and to remember when it\u2019s occurring!). <\/span><\/p>\n

Determining your meeting cadence will also determine your meeting structure. In many weekly masterminds, for example, each member offers a brief update, then one person is in the \u201chot seat\u201d with the rest of the meeting focused on their business and goals. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since my mastermind only meets once a month, we all take turns sharing our highs, lows and goals, then it\u2019s an open floor for any member to discuss challenges they\u2019re facing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"writing3. Choose your tribe<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This is the most important step in creating a writers mastermind: Who are you going to invite? <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s some common advice for choosing your mastermind\u2019s members: <\/span><\/p>\n