These Fantastic Online Writing Groups Have Inspired Me to Get More Writing Done

Reconnecting to My Writing

Zoom Meetup accountability and support writing groups have given me the push I needed to get my writing back on track.

Prior to the pandemic, I attended a writing group almost every day. On a good week, I was able to make it there six times. While each day was led by a different organizer, they were all part of the same organization. We wrote for two and a half hours, then talked about writing for half an hour. It gave me something to look forward to, provided a social outlet and made sure I spent at least three hours a day writing.

A few months before the pandemic was officially declared, there were disagreements that occurred among organizers in the group. It caused enough turmoil that the main organizer was ousted, and others took over. There weren’t as many meetings and because the locations changed based on where the new organizers lived, there weren’t as many people who attended. Some nights I’d go, only to find no one else came, including the organizer. When a meeting was canceled last minute, I was usually on the subway and only found out when I was writing solo.

When the pandemic hit, and things began to be held online, I hoped the group would continue. I much prefer being able to attend in person, but given the situation, that wasn’t an option. Two sections were still held, but since there was no check-in before, it was now just an hour-long discussion about anything writing related. I tried to attend once but it didn’t hold my interest not did it help me with my writing goals.

I decided to search for other writing related activities on Meetup and found the Shut Up and Write Group. It is an accountability group focused on writing. Everyone in the group checks in during the first 10–15 minutes and says what they will be working on. Then you write for one to two hours. At the end everyone checks in again and reports on how the writing session went for them.

There are 338 groups in 51 countries and since they are all remote for now, you can sign up for any of them. I’ve attended ones in California, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Florida…

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