Writing Groups Work (when you work them)

We were originally called the Project Purpose Writing Team but then, when we outgrew that name, we became the Visionary Writers On Purpose Team. We met weekly on the phone via teleconferencing and we’d share our writing projects, our successes, our failures, and our breakthroughs.  We varied in number from a half dozen to a dozen or more scattered all over the country (including Canada).
And we wrote. We wrote magazine articles. We wrote poetry. Several of us began writing books, mostly nonfiction though several of us had dreams of writing fiction as well. We met for over four years, if memory serves me (which it often doesn’t these days). Members came and went, and yet there was a nucleus that stayed true to the team from the beginning (and I thank you for that).
Eventually, when it had more or less fulfilled its purpose, we disbanded, but not before several of us became published for the first time, one member purchased her own magazine, another became an editor of a prominent magazine in her region. I published my book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life, which went on to be an award winning finalist in the Self-Help: Motivational division of the Best Books 2007 Awards sponsored by USA News. (It was beat out that year by a little book entitled The Secret. Not bad company to keep.)
I share all this because I believe strongly in writers working together whether you have a writing buddy with which you meet regularly or a group of fellow writers. Writing groups work when you work them. They can help you stay motivated and inspired to continue writing. They can help you create a big gap for yourself. They can instill confidence in your ability, not only to write, but to keep on keeping on when the rejection letters pour from your mail box (or email box) like a waterfall of ‘no’s.’

Revitalizing Visionary Writers On Purpose

I share this not only to inspire some of you reading this to start your own writing group, but to invite you to help me revitalize the Visionary Writers On Purpose Team.  Well, I know it won’t be the same team, won’t even have the exact same purpose or vision, but I still like the name so I’m reclaiming it.
The new 2013-14 version of the VWOP Team is for fellow visionary writers of fiction and non-fiction. Remember, visionary fiction entertains while also enlightening and encouraging the reader to live their own life on purpose. If you love a good nonfiction book that both enlightens and encourages you in your life while also being entertaining, that’s visionary nonfiction.
Revitalizing the Visionary Writers On Purpose team is one of the steps I’m taking to let the world and the rest of the Universe know my commitment to my writing career.  Another is writing regular blog posts. Interested in joining me? By the way, this go around we’ll be using Google Hangouts for our monthly gatherings.  Technology continues to grow and we grow with it (or we’re left behind by it).
My goal is to have at least 4 other qualified team members (and no more than 8) ready to start meeting monthly by January 1st, 2014 (and earlier would be fine as well).
The next step is to complete a simple ‘application’ form which will let me know you’re interested. I’ll then be in touch to explore if we’d be a good match.  Apply By Clicking Here. (BTW – clicking this link will redirect you to my other site — Life On Purpose Institute — where I keep my online forms.)